Come,
think of your father, of his anxiety, his grief. One glimpse of you will
do him more service than the most cunning leech.'
Eva burst into passionate tears. 'He will never see us again. I saw him
fall; never shall I forget that moment!' and she hid her face in her
hands.
'But he lives,' said Fakredeen. 'I have been speaking to some of the
Turkish prisoners. They also saw him fall; but he was borne off the
field, and, though insensible, it was believed that the wound was not
fatal. Trust me, he is at Aleppo.' 'They saw him borne off the field?'
'Safe, and, if not well, far from desperate.' 'O God of my fathers!'
said Eva, falling on her knees; 'thine is indeed a mercy-seat!'
'Yes, yes; there is nothing like the God of your fathers, Eva. If you
knew the things that are going on in this place, even in these vaults
and caverns, you would not tarry here an instant. They worship nothing
but graven images, and the Queen has fallen in love with Tancred,
because he resembles a marble statue older than the times of the
pre-Adamite Sultans. Come, come!'
'But how could they know that he was far from desperate?'
'I will show you the man who spoke to him,' said Fakredeen; 'he is only
with our horses. You can ask him any questions you like.
Pages:
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660