4 African Mysteries: Zoraida, The Great White Queen, The Eye of Istar & The Veiled Man (Illustrated Edition). William Le Queux

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      Chapter Twenty Five

       The Eunuch’s Scimitar

       Table of Contents

      What dire events had led to the summary execution of the beauty who had just been carried out a corpse? Probably she had held brief sway over His Majesty, ruling the land from her soft silken divan, until one of her jealous sisters had, by intrigue, succeeded in displacing her in her fickle lord’s affections, and immediately the new favourite’s influence was sufficiently strong, she had used it to cause the death of her discarded but troublesome rival.

      Sitting in my little den, with the shutter half closed, I was trying to picture to myself the scenes of brilliant festivity, of fierce hatred, and merciless revenge that were ever occurring within those zealously-guarded Courts of Love, when suddenly I heard Arabic spoken softly quite close to the entrance to my workshop. Without stirring, I listened with bated breath.

      “But apparently thou dost not fully realise that, now the Sultana Krenfla is dead, our power hath vanished,” exclaimed a voice, the tones of which I instantly recognised as those of the Grand Vizier.

      “Nakrifoh colloh,” replied his companion. “Thou art indeed right. Well do I remember that when we were but janissaries at yon gate, we conveyed messages for the pretty Krenfla to her lover, and sometimes would allow her to secretly meet him. But he was killed in the war against Awelimimiden, and then his mistress, having mourned for him many days, devoted herself wholly to our lord the Sultan, and became Sultana. In recognition of our services as Cupid’s messengers, she caused our advancement, you to be Grand Vizier of the Ahír, and I to be Chief of the Eunuchs. But, alas! her sway hath ended, and consequently our careers are abruptly cut short. To-morrow we too may lose our heads — who knoweth?”

      “True, O Amagay! unless Allah showeth us mercy, the death of Krenfla sealeth our doom. If it pleaseth our lord the Sultan to fall under the bewitching caresses of Khadidja, our degradation and dismissal will be inevitable; while if Zobeide should secure the favour of Hámed, her power will be immediately directed towards our decapitation. Long hast thou held in the harem the lives of the houris in thine hands, and in consequence thou art held in awe and hatred; while, to tell the truth, I, as Grand Vizier, have ruled with the sword and bastinado, and the people would rejoice could they see my head mounted on a spear in the Azarmádarangh (place of execution). But,” His Excellency added with a pause, “art thou convinced we shall not be overheard?”

      “Quite,” replied my master reassuringly, peering in at my half-open shutter, but failing to detect me in the deep shadow. “Fear not eavesdroppers here. In thine own pavilion the very walls have ears; here, in the Court of the Eunuchs, it is different.”

      “Then it is thine opinion that we must act quickly if we would save our heads?”

      “Ma akindana al-ân wákt lilliakb” (“We have no time to play at present”), acquiesced the Chief of the Eunuchs.

      “Taakâla challina náhn al-ithnine natáhaddath showy-yah,” the Grand Vizier said. Then, dropping his voice until I could scarcely catch his words, he continued, “Viewed from all sides, our position is one of extreme peril, therefore we must set ourselves to avert the disaster which threateneth. The choice of the Sultan remaineth between Khadidja and Zobeide, and even to-night one or other may secure His Majesty’s favour. In any case, our necks at this moment lie under the scimitar of the executioner, therefore must we act swiftly, firmly, and in a manner that showeth not mercy.”

      “But how? I can see no way of saving ourselves except by flight.”

      “Thy suggestion is impracticable. Such a course would condemn thee,” interrupted the Grand Vizier. “Unless we could first secure the contents of the treasury, flight would avail us nought, and even then we should be overtaken ere we could get away to the Tsâd. No; long have I foreseen the downfall of Krenfla, and have evolved a scheme by which men shall still abundantly utter the memory of our great goodness and sing of our greatness.”

      “Thou hast? How?”

      “Listen. My words are for thine ears alone,” whispered the Grand Vizier. “My opinion is that Hámed, our Sultan, hath ruled the Ahír for sufficient time. Dost thou agree?”

      “Yes,” replied the Chief of the Eunuchs eagerly. “Art — art thou thinking of his deposition?”

      “Hath it never occurred to thee that his son, ’Abd-el-Kerim, who is already in his twentieth year, is now fitted to rule?” he asked slowly.

      “Once or twice I have reflected that the youth hath been always under our tuition and influence, and that, trusting us as implicitly as he doth, we should be absolute masters were he to reign in his father’s stead.”

      “Truly, O Amagay, thou hast wisdom. If we placed ’Abd-el-Kerim upon the White Divan, I should most certainly remain Grand Vizier, while thou mightest even secure a post more lucrative than Chief of the Eunuchs. Instead of death, such an event meaneth for us increased wealth and the retention of our power.”

      “But how dost thou propose to effect this sweeping change?” asked Amagay, interested.

      “Render me thine assistance, and the means are simple. Our Sultan Hámed hath already ruled too long,” exclaimed Mukhtar, adding, in a low, intense voice, after a pause, the ominous words, “He must die — to-morrow!”

      “Dost thou then intend to assassinate him?” gasped the Chief Eunuch, amazed at the bold daring of the high official’s suggestion.

      “Certainly. If he were thrown into prison, those who now bask in his favours would raise a serious agitation for his release; whereas, once dead, his memory will immediately be forgotten, and we shall hold the fortunes of the Fáda entirely in our own hands. Think, O Amagay, will it not be better to act fearlessly, and by one sharp, decisive blow attain increased riches and honour, than to remain inactive and fall hapless victims to the hatred of those black-eyed doves in yonder cage who would deliver us unto the sword. We must decide upon our policy now — to-night.”

      “Hast thou the co-operation of any others in this thy daring scheme?” asked his companion.

      “Yes, the Chamberlain, and the Aga of the Janissaries have both promised to bear their part; but thine own trusty, unerring scimitar must deliver the death blow.”

      “No! no!” he cried in a low voice. “By the Prophet! I cannot strike. My nerve would fail!”

      “Bah! Didst thou not strike off СКАЧАТЬ