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Updated: September 27, 2025
No wonder that the Frank preferred him to the son of a poor washerwoman, whose lowliness Elias himself was always emphasising. Thus attacked, and without defence, since there was no denying that his origin was humble, Iskender's pride took refuge in its old imaginings.
Well I am a Muslim, and resign my cause to God!" In the tabernacle of the chief, superior only in size to the rest of the tents, the elders of the tribe were set in council, the Emîr before them. At the moment of Iskender's entrance there was a puzzled look upon each bearded face, directed towards the Frank in perfect courtesy. The arrival of an interpreter was hailed with exclamations of relief.
There, having sent his wife out on an errand, he called for Iskender's tale without delay, saying: "I am much distressed on thy account; for the whole world speaks evil against thee. It is said that thou hast robbed and slain the English Emîr who trusted thee. A lie, no doubt; but still I fear for thee, for the common voice outcries the truth down here.
Asad had a father aye, and a clever one a father who dwelt at the Mission-house, and was always at the ladies' ears with cunning falsehoods. If only Iskender's father the righteous Yâcûb had been still alive! . . . Thus brooding on her wrongs, with lips still murmurous, the mother of Iskender brushed a hand across her eyes, and looked about her.
It is some lying fable of that mad Elias!" "That, Allah knows, is possible," put in a bystander. "Elias is the very prince of fable-mongers." Yuhanna still kept grinning in Iskender's face. "Wilt thou swear by the Blessed Sacrament that thou knowest nothing of the whereabouts of any treasure?" "Art mad? How should I know of any treasure?" "Swear by the Blessed Sacrament!
They had retired from business, but they loved him dearly and would come forward willingly, he felt sure, to save so excellent a prince from vile indignity. This outpour of his indignation was addressed to Iskender in fierce Arabic. When his proposal was translated, the Emîr pooh-poohed it, declaring Iskender's arrangement to be all he could desire.
It was a simple fancy of Iskender's, done in leisure moments, of angels fighting devils in mid-air, with clouds like solid cushions spread to fall on. "Aye, that may pass," she admitted grudgingly, "the fiends at all events, for they believe in them."
For the love of Allah, speak for me with his noble Highness! Thou knowest how I always loved thee, and stood thy friend when others scoffed at thee. Persuade thy Emîr to forgive me and keep silence, or I shall lose my employment, and my wife and little ones will come to want!" Iskender's heart leapt up in thanks to Allah for thus abasing one who had conspired against him.
For hours he played on indefatigably, repeating his whole repertory of Frankish discords at least a score of times, and telling all who asked that he had acquired his skill in foreign music by instruction from the greatest living master of the art a certain English mariner named William. Of Iskender's family not one was present.
Indeed, there is no cause to fear for me. The praise to Allah!" "Praise to Allah!" echoed Asad sneeringly, stung to reprisals by Iskender's tone. "But concerning that Emîr of thine I have a word to say. They have heard up there how thou hast fastened on him like a leech, and dost boast to all men that his wealth is thine.
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