But the soldiers did not move, and Ben Aboo fell back on his seat, and Mohammed, fearing nothing, spoke again.
"In a vision of last night I saw you, O Ben Aboo and for the contempt you had cast upon our holy laws, and for the destruction you had wrought on our poor people, the sword of vengeance had fallen upon you.
And within this very court, and on that very spot where your feet now rest, your whole body did lie; and that woman beside you lay over you wailing and your blood was on her face and on her hands, and only she was with you, for all else had forsaken you--all save one, and that was your enemy, and he had come to see you with his eyes, and to rejoice over you with his heart, because you were fallen and dead."Then, in the creeping of his terror, Ben Aboo rose up again and reeled backward and his eyes were fixed steadfastly downward at his feet where the eyes of Mohammed had rested.It was almost as if he saw the awful thing of which Mohammed had spoken, so strong was the power of the vision upon him.
But recovering himself quickly, he cried, "Away! In the name of God, away!""I will go," said Mohammed; "and beware what you do while I am gone.""Do you threaten me?" cried Ben Aboo."Will you go to the Sultan?
Will you appeal to Abd er-Rahman?"
"No, Ben Aboo; but to God."
So saying, Mohammed of Mequinez strode out of the place, for no man hindered him.Then Ben Aboo sank back on to his seat as one that was speechless, and nothing had the crimson on his body availed him, or the silver on his breast, against that simple man in camel-skin, who owned nothing and asked nothing, and feared neither Kaid nor King.
When Ben Aboo had regained himself, he saw Israel standing at the doorway, and he beckoned to him with the downward motion, which is the Moorish manner.And rising on his quaking limbs he took him aside and said, "I know this fellow.Ya Allah! Allah!
For all his vaunts and visions he has gone to Abd er-Rahman.
God will show! God will show! I dare not take him! Abd er-Rahman uses him to spy and pry on his Bashas! Camel-skin coat? Allah!
a fine disguise! Bismillah! Bismillah!"Then, looking back at the place where Mohammed in the vision saw his body lie outstretched, he dropped his voice to a whisper, and said, "Listen! You have my seal?"Israel without a word, put his hand into the pocket of his waistband, and drew out the seal of Ben Aboo.
"Right! Now hear me, in the name of the merciful God.
Do not liberate these infidel dogs at Shawan and do not give them so much as bread to eat or water to drink, but let such as own them feed them.And if ever the thing of which that fellow has spoken should come to pass--do you hear?--in the hour wherein it befalls--Allah preserve me!--in that hour draw a warrant on the Kaid of Shawan and seal it with my seal--are you listening?--a warrant to put every man, woman, and child to the sword.Ya Allah! Allah! We will deal with these spies of Abd er-Rahman! So shall there be mourning at my burial--Holy Saints! Holy Saints!--mourning, I say, among them that look for joy at my death."Thus in a quaking voice, sometimes whispering, and again breaking into loud exclamations, Ben Aboo in his terror poured his broken words into Israel's ear.
Israel made no answer.His eyes had become dim--he scarcely saw the walls of the place wherein they stood.His ears had become dense--he scarcely heard the voice of Ben Aboo, though the Kaid's hot breath was beating upon his cheek.
But through the haze he saw the shadow of one figure tramping furiously to and fro, and through the thick air the voice of another figure came muffled and harsh.For Katrina, having chased away with smiles the evil looks of Ben Aboo, had turned to Israel and was saying--"What is this I hear of your beautiful daughter--this Naomi of yours--that she has recovered her speech and hearing!
When did that happen, pray? No answer? Ah, I see, you are tired of the deception.You kept it up well between you.But is she still blind? So? Dear me! Blind, poor child.Think of it!"Israel neither answered nor looked up, but stood motionless on the same place, holding the seal in his hand.And Ben Aboo, in his restless tramping up and down, came to him again, and said, "Why are you a Jew, Israel ben Oliel? The dogs of your people hate you.
Witness to the Prophet! Resign yourself! Turn Muslim, man--what's to hinder you?"Still Israel made no reply.But Ben Aboo continued: "Listen!
The people about me are in the pay of the Sultan, and after all you are the best servant I have ever had.Say the Kelmah, and I'll make you my Khaleefa.Do you hear?--my Khaleefa, with power equal to my own.Man, why don't you speak?
Are you grown stupid of late as well as weak and womanish?"
