Gradually the golden censer ceased swinging; the fire in the brazier
slowly died out, and the only light in the mysterious chamber was shed
by the blue flame of the lamp that had guided our footsteps thither.
"Come, let us return," she said, with a shudder. She took up the lamp
and gazed into the cavernous darkness where the light did not penetrate.
Suddenly, just as she was about to turn towards the door, she noticed
my face, and became alarmed.
"Ah!" she cried, horrified. "I had forgotten thee. See; thine eyes are
already glazing. Thou art dying!"
"Dying?" I gasped, holding my breath.
"Yes. Thou hast not learned the Secret of the Crescent, therefore thou
art not rendered invulnerable against the hand of the King of Terrors.
The poison hath done its work, and thy spark of life will die out like
yonder brazier."
"Why? Dost thou mean that thou hast actually murdered me?"
"I am no murderess," she answered, reproachfully. "Thou hast submitted
to the fatal inoculation, yet to every poison there is an antidote."
Then, drawing from her breast a little jewelled scent-bottle, about the
size and shape of a pigeon's egg, that was suspended by a chain around
her neck, she removed the cap and shook into the hollow of her hand a
small quantity of a dark brown powder.
"See! place this upon thy tongue and swallow it. Life and health will
return to thee, and no ill effects wilt thou feel to-morrow of thy near
approach to the Realm of Silence."
She emptied it into my hand, and I swallowed it. The drug was bitter as
gall and burned my mouth with fiery pungency, but ere I could make
another observation, she had snatched up the lamp and was disappearing
through the arched doorway. Following, we retraced our steps along the
gloomy corridors, until at last she pushed open a door, and we found
ourselves back again in the fragrant, luxurious harem.
Placing the lamp upon one of the little tables of ebony and pearl, she
sank upon her divan exhausted, but still grasping the Crescent. Her
long hair strayed over her shoulders and breast, and as she lay back in
utter abandon she panted as if the strain of the past hour had been too
great. Taking one of the great silken cushions I placed it tenderly
under her wearied head, then sank upon my knee at her side.
"Tell me, Zoraida," I said. "Tell me more of the strange scenes which I
have just witnessed. What giveth thee the wondrous power to recall the
dead from the grave, and invoke the assistance of the Great Unknown?"
Turning her brilliant eyes to mine, she hesitated.
"True, O Cecil," she exclaimed, after a short, silent interval, "I have
power that is not vouchsafed to some; but what thou hast seen to-night
is not so wonderful as the secret contained within this piece of
Damascus steel;" and she raised the Crescent for me to gaze upon.
"What secret can a piece of metal possibly contain?" I inquired, almost
inclined to laugh at her earnest assertion.
"Thou thinkest that I fool thee," she answered in a tone of reproach.
"I tell thee, nevertheless, that knowledge of certain things giveth me
power over both friend and enemy, power that I use at will for good or
for evil. They who are cursed from my lips find no solace in this life,
and descend to Eblis, where hot winds blow and there is no water; but
those who have my blessing prosper, grow wealthy, and find peace."
"Have I thy blessing?"
"Thou hast," she murmured calmly, raising her lips to mine in a long,
fierce caress. "My wishes are that thou mayest find happiness and
riches, and that thou mayest receive the mercy of the Merciful is my
heartfelt desire."
"My only happiness is at thy side," I said, with fervent promptitude.
"Ah! it is, alas! but brief," she replied, sighing. "There are
circumstances which prevent our marriage--even though we love each other
so well."
"Circumstances? What are they? Tell me. Thou always speakest in
enigmas."
"The first and most serious is the uncertainty of my life. Even
to-night I may die;" and she raised her finely-moulded hand and
thoughtfully examined my ancient signet ring upon her finger.
"Absurd!" I said. "What ground hast thou for such gloomy
apprehensions? Art thou not safe here, surrounded by every luxury, with
slaves to do thy bidding, and guarded from every evil?"
"Not from _every_ evil," she replied slowly. "When thou art absent,
unhappiness consumeth me, and sadness, like a corrosive acid, eateth
away all life and gaiety from mine heart."
"But I may see thee more often, surely? How long wilt thou remain
here?"
"I cannot tell," she answered, speaking like one in a dream. "To-morrow
thou mayest only find my corpse."
"Bah! Why entertain Despair when Joy desireth to dwell within thine
heart? We love each other, and may meet often, even though these
mysterious circumstances of which thou speakest may, for a time, prevent
our marriage."
With a look of bitter sorrow she shook her head, replying, "No. We must
not meet, or our friendship may prove fatal. When I invited thee
hither, it was to impart to thee the secret of the Crescent of Glorious
Wonders that would give thee power to work for our mutual benefit. But,
alas! thou, an infidel, mayest not learn the extraordinary truth; the
Unseen hath decreed that thou shalt remain in the outer darkness called
Ignorance."
"But how can I act in order to break down this strange barrier that
precludeth our happiness? Hast thou--hast thou already a _husband_?"
She started. Her lips quivered, and the colour left her cheeks.
"If I had a husband, I should not ask thee hither, neither would I dare
to enter the Kingdom of Shades with thee, a lover. To endeavour to
learn my secret at present will be futile. Suffice it for thee to know
that there is more mystery to penetrate than thou hast ever dreamed of,
and that only by seeking knowledge from afar canst thou hope ever to
bring us nearer to each other--to--"
A sigh finished the sentence.
"I am prepared to do anything, to go anywhere, to render thee service,"
I replied, pressing her jewelled fingers to my lips.
"Then hearken," she said, raising herself upon her arm and looking
earnestly at me. "The secret of this, the Crescent of Glorious Wonders,
is forbidden thee; yet if thou darest to travel to a distant country far
away over the waterless regions beyond the Touareg; if thou wilt
penetrate the lands of hostile tribes in the disguise of a True
Believer, thou canst learn that which will give thee wealth and power,
and will at last bring us together."
"To marry?"
"Yes. To marry."
"Tell me all I must do," I exclaimed excitedly. "Can I learn that which
thou callest the Great Secret?"
"Alas! it is impossible," she replied. "If thou wilt undertake this
perilous journey, thou shalt carry with thee the Crescent of Glorious
Wonders as my pledge that I do not deceive thee, and as a talisman
which, if thou canst learn its secret, will make thee wealthy beyond the
dreams of avarice."
"But what of thyself--what of happiness with thee?"
"Until thou hast accomplished thy mission, I shall remain with my
clansmen awaiting thee. Remember, whatever gossip thou mayest hear, or
whatever may be revealed to thee about myself, seek no explanation. Set
out upon thy journey as soon as possible, and travel on the wings of
haste, for the way is long and the approach difficult. My movements
concern thee not until thy return, for although to-night thou art here
in the harem, do not forget the awful fate that awaiteth women of
Al-Islam who hold converse with Infidels. Therefore, before I give thee
instructions, swear by thine own Deity, thine Allah, to heed nothing
that thou mayest see or hear concerning me, but perform thy journey
speedily, and learn the Great Secret ere thou seekest any explanation."
"I swear I will obey thee unswervingly. I will act upon thy commands as
blindly and devotedly as I have to-night."
"Then know, O Cecil," she said, regaining her feet slowly and standing
erect before me, "there is but one spot on earth where the Great Secret
may be imparted unto thee, now that it hath been withheld even at the
portal of the Land of Shades. Before thou mayest again enter my
presence, thou must have gained the power and the riches that it can
bestow. Whilst thou art in the distant Desert I shall not forget thee;
it is even possible that secret communications may pass between us, for
do not forget that in future a fatal affinity existeth between our
souls, and that, irrespective of distance, we may have a dream-like
consciousness of each other's well-being." Her dark eyes fixed upon me
seemed to hold me with a strange magnetism. Truly I was under her
spell. Even in the brief space that had elapsed, she had now entirely
reassumed her marvellous beauty. Stretching forth her hand she poured
water from an ewer of chased silver into two drinking-cups. Over them
both she passed her fingers swiftly, and then sipped one of them. The
sweet odours that hung about the harem had caused a dryness in my
throat, and, raising the other cup to my lips, I took several gulps,
while she regarded me keenly.
"Shall I always know thy whereabouts?" I asked eagerly.
"No. There will be a certain affinity between our thoughts, but I shall
remain hidden from thee until thou hast returned."
For a few moments we were silent. She was no longer haggard and cold as
she had been while the poison coursed through her veins, but the
rose-garden of her beauty had forthwith recovered its freshness; in the
delicate, rounded limbs and bust there glowed the natural warmth and
yielding softness of flesh and blood. Her great lustrous eyes, standing
well apart under her darkened brows, the broad white forehead, the
perfect nose, the small, well-formed mouth, the pearly teeth, the
rounded chin, each added grace to grace. Her beauty was perfect.
"Wilt thou remain here, or go back to the Desert with thy tribe?" I
asked, gazing at her enraptured.
"To--to the Desert--peradventure," she replied hesitatingly. "If the
_homards_ are thrown off our scent."
"What! are thy people about to resume their murderous marauding
expeditions?" I asked in surprise.
"I--I know not, Cecil," she replied, laying her hand upon my arm. "I
would prevent their terrible crimes if I could, but, alas! it is
impossible. Thou knowest not in what constant peril I exist, or--or how
unhappy is my life. A single imprudent word may seal my fate. I may be
tied in a sack even to-night, and cast into the sea!"
"How can I help thee? How can I save thee?" I asked, with eagerness.
"Only by undertaking the journey of which I have already spoken," she
answered slowly. "If thy mission is accomplished successfully, then
thou wilt rescue me from a cruel fate--a fate far worse than death."