Whatever was the impression made upon Tancred by this unusual
apparition, it appeared to be only transient. His glance withdrawn, his
voice again broke into incoherent but violent exclamations. Suddenly he
said, with more moderation, but with firmness and distinctness, 'I am
guarded by angels.'
Fakredeen shot a glance at Eva and Baroni, as if to remind them of the
tenor of the discourse for which he had prepared them.
After a pause he became somewhat violent, and seemed as if he would have
waved his wounded arm; but Baroni, whose eye, though himself unobserved,
never quitted his charge, laid his finger upon the arm, and Tancred did
not struggle. Again he spoke of angels, but in a milder and mournful
tone.
'Methinks you look like one,' thought Eva, as she beheld his spiritual
countenance lit up by a superhuman fire.
After a few minutes, she glanced at Baroni, to signify her wish to leave
the tent, and he rose and accompanied her. Fakredeen also rose, with
streaming eyes, and making the sign of the cross.
'Forgive me,' he said to Eva, 'but I cannot help it. Whenever I am in
affliction I cannot help remembering that I am a Christian.'
'I wish you would remember it at all times,' said Eva, 'and then,
perhaps, none of us need have been here;' and then not waiting for his
reply, she addressed herself to Baroni.
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