THE RING RETURNS
The Prince, at the announcement of Mirza, took position near the centre
of the room where the light was ample. His black velvet pelisse
contrasting strongly with his white hair and beard, he looked a
mysterious Indian potentate to whom occult Nature was a familiar, and
the stars oracular friends.
Mirza's cheeks were scarcely so sun and sand stained as when we first
beheld him in conduct of the caravan to Mecca; in other respects he was
unchanged. His attire, like the lord Mahommed's at the reception on the
landing, was of chain mail very light and flexible. He carried a dagger
in his belt, and to further signify confidence in the Prince, the flat
steel cap forming his headgear was swinging loosely from his left arm;
or he might have intended to help his friend to a more ready
recognition by presenting himself bareheaded. He met his survey with
unaffected pleasure, took the hand extended in greeting, and kissed it
reverentially.
"Forgive me, O Prince, if my first greeting have the appearance of a
reproach," Mirza said, as he gave up the hand. "Why have you kept us
waiting so long?"
The Prince's countenance assumed a severe expression.
"Emir, I gave you confidence under seal."
The Emir flushed deeply.
"Was it knightly to betray me? To whom have you told the secret? How
many have been waiting for my coming?"
"Be merciful, I pray."
"But the stars. You have made me culprit with them. I may pardon you;
can you assure me of their pardon?"
The Emir raised his head, and with an expostulatory gesture, was about
to reply, when the Prince continued, "Put thy words in the tongue
coinage of Italy, for to be overheard now were to make me an offender
like unto thyself."
Mirza glanced hastily at Sergius, still praying before the loophole,
and at Nilo; then he surveyed the cell critically, and said, in
Italian, "This is the prison of the Castle--and thou--can it be I see
thee a prisoner?"
The Prince smiled. "The Governor led me here with my friends; and what
you behold of accommodations he sent in afterwards, saying the better
rooms were filled with soldiery."
"He will rue the deed. My Lord is swift at righting a wrong, and trust
me, O Prince, to make report. But to return"--Mirza paused, and looked
into the Prince's eyes earnestly--"Is your accusation just? Hear me;
then by the motive judge. When I stood before my master, Prince
Mahommed, a returned pilgrim, if not taller in fact, his bearing was
more majestic. I kissed his hand wondering if some servant of the
Compassionate, some angel or travelling Jinn, had not arrived before
me, and whispered him of what you told me, speaking for the stars. And
when we were alone, he would have account of the countries journeyed
through, of the people met, of Medina and Mecca, and the other holy
places; nor would he rest until he had from me the sayings I had heard
on the way, everything from calls to prayer to the Khatib's sermon.
When I told him I had not heard the sermon, nor seen the preacher or
his camel, he demanded why, and--what else was there to do, O
Prince?--I related how we had been pursued by the terrible Yellow Air;
how it had overtaken me; how I fell down dying at the corner of the
Kaaba, and by whom I was saved even as the life was departing. This
last directed him to you. My efforts to put him off but whetted his
desire. He would not be diverted or denied. He
insisted--urged--threatened. At last I told him all--of your joining us
with the Hajj from El Khatif--your rank and train--your marches in the
rear--the hundreds of miserables you saved from the plague--of our
meeting at Zaribah, your hospitality, your learning in all that
pertains to the greatest of the prophets, your wisdom above the wisdom
of other men. And you grew upon him as I proceeded. 'Oh, a good man
truly!' 'What courage!' 'What charity!' 'The Prophet himself!' 'Oh,
that I had been you!' 'O foolish Mirza, to suffer such a man to
escape!' With such exclamations he kept breaking up my story. It was
not long until he fastened upon our meeting in the tent. He plied me to
know of what we talked--what you said, and all you said. O Prince, if
you did but know him; if you knew the soul possessing him, the
intellectual things he has mastered, his sagacity, his art, his will,
his day-dreams pursuing him in sleep, the deeds he is prepared to do,
the depth and strength of his passions, his admiration for heroes, his
resolve to ring the world with the greatness of his name--Oh, knew you
the man as I do, were you his lover as I am, his confidant--had you,
for teaching him to ride and strike with sword and spear, his promise
of a share in the glory beckoning him on, making his mighty
expectations a part of you even as they are of him, would you--ah,
Prince, could you have withheld the secret? Think of the revelation!
The old East to awake, and march against the West! Constantinople
doomed! And he the leader for whom the opportunity is waiting! And to
call my weakness betrayal! Unsay it, unsay it, Prince!"
The face of the auditor as Mirza proceeded with his defence would have
been a profitable study. He saw himself succeeding in the purpose of
his affected severity; he was drawing from Mahommed's intimate the
information he most desired; and thus advised in advance, his role in
the interview coming would be of easy foresight and performance. Not to
appear too lightly satisfied, however, he said gravely, "I see the
strain you underwent, my gallant friend. I see also the earnestness of
your affection for your most noble pupil. He is to be congratulated
upon the possession of a servant capable of such discernment and
devotion. But I recall my question--How many are there waiting for me?"
"Your revelations, O Prince, were imparted to my master alone; and with
such certainty as you know yourself, you may believe them at rest in
his bosom. No one better than he appreciates the importance of keeping
them there under triple lock. More than one defeat--I think he would
permit the confession--has taught him that secrecy is the life of every
enterprise."
"Say you so, Emir? I feel warmth returning to my hope. Nay, listening
to you, and not believing in improvised heroes, I see how your course
may have been for the best. The years gone since you yielded to his
importunities, wisely used, have doubtless served him providentially."
The Prince extended his hand again, and it was ardently taken; then, on
his part, more than pleased, Mirza said, "I bring you a message from my
Lord Mahommed. I was with him when the Governor came and delivered your
ring to me--and, lest I forget a duty, Prince, here it is--take it at
some future time it may be serviceable as today."
"Yes, well thought!" the Jew exclaimed, replacing the signet on his
finger, and immediately, while looking at the turquoise eye, he dropped
his tone into the solemn, "Ay, the obligations of the Pentagram
endure--they are like a decree of God."
The words and manner greatly impressed Mirza.
"My Lord Mahommed," he said, "observed the delivery of the ring to me
by the Governor; and when we were alone, and I had recounted the story
of the jewels, 'What!' my Lord cried, quite as transported as myself.
'That wonderful man--he here--here in this Castle! He shall not escape
me. Send for him at once. I brook no delay.' He stamped his foot. 'Lest
he vanish in the storm--go!' When I was at the door, he bade me come
back. 'The elder man with the white beard and black eyes, said you? It
were well for me to begin by consulting his comfort. He may be tired,
and in want of repose; his accommodations may be insufficient;
wherefore go see him first, and ascertain his state and wishes.' And as
I was going, he summoned me to return again. 'A moment--stay!' he
said.'The circumstance enlarges with thought. Thou knowest, Mirza, I
did not come here with a special object; I was drawn involuntarily; now
I see it was to meet him. It is a doing of the stars. I shall hear from
them!' O Prince"--Mirza's eyes sparkled, arid he threw up both his
hands--"if ever man believed what he said, my master did."
"A wise master truly," said the Jew, struggling with his exultation.
"What said he next?"
"'While I am honoring their messenger'--thus my Lord continued--'why
not honor the stars? Their hour is midnight, for then they are all out,
from this horizon and that calling unto each other, and merging their
influences into the harmony the preachers call the Will of the Most
Merciful. A good hour for the meeting. Hear, Mirza--at midnight--in
this room. Go now.' And so it is appointed."
"And well appointed, Emir."
"Shall I so report?"
"With my most dutiful protestations."
"Look for me then at midnight."
"I shall be awake, and ready."
"Meantime, Prince, I will seek an apartment more in correspondence with
the degree of my Lord's most honored guest."
"Nay, good Mirza, suffer me to advise in that matter. The bringing me
into this place was a mistake of the Governor's. He could not divine
the merit I have in your master's eyes. He took me for a Christian. I
forgive him, and pray he may not be disturbed. He may be useful to me.
Upon the springing of a mischance--there is one such this instant in my
mind's eye--I may be driven to come back to this Castle. In such an
event, I prefer him my servant rather than my enemy."
"O Prince!"
"Nay, Emir, the idea is only a suggestion of one of the Prophets whom
Allah stations at the turns in every man's career."
"But every man cannot see the Prophets."
The Jew finished gravely: "Rather than disturb the Governor further,
soothe him for me; and when the Lord Mahommed goes hence, do thou see
an instruction is left putting the Castle and its chief at my order.
Also, as thou art a grateful friend, Mirza, serve me by looking into
the kettles out of which we are to have our refreshment, and order
concerning them as for thyself. I feel a stir of appetite."
The Emir backed from the apartment, leaving a low salaam just outside
the door.
If the reader thinks the Prince content now, he is not mistaken. True
he paced the floor long and rapidly; but, feeling himself close upon a
turn in his course, he was making ready for it perfectly as possible by
consulting the Prophet whom he saw waiting there.
And as the Lord Mahommed failed not to remember them what time he
betook himself to supper, the three guests up in the prison fared well,
nor cared for the howling of the wind, and the bursting and beating of
the rain still rioting without the walls.