United States or Iceland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Ximen's countenance fell; he looked round in doubt and fear, and then, after a short pause, answered, "A wealthy man, good sir a Moor of Africa; but he hath also gone; he but seldom visits us; Granada is not so peaceful a residence as it was, I would go too, if I could." Muza released his hold of Ximen, who gazed at the Moor's working countenance with a malignant smile for Ximen hated all men.
"My lord speaks riddles," said Ximen, with well-feigned astonishment in his glassy eyes. "Why dost thou wind and turn, good Ximen?" said the Jew, shaking his head; "thou knowest well what my words drive at. Holy Abraham! this Jew hath cost me more than fifty Nazarenes and a hundred Moors."
When Ximen recognised the wonted signal of his brethren, he crawled to the door; and, after the precaution of a Hebrew watchword, replied to in the same tongue, he gave admittance to the tall and stooping frame of the rich Elias. "Worthy and excellent master!" said Ximen, after again securing the entrance; "what can bring the honoured and wealthy Elias to the chamber of the poor hireling?"
"Thou dost not know him," said Ximen, alarmed at the thought of a repayment, which might grievously diminish his own heritage of Almamen's effects in Granada. "But if I threaten him with exposure?" "Thou wouldst feed the fishes of the Darro," interrupted Ximen. "Nay, even now, if Almamen learn that thou knowest his birth and race, tremble! for thy days in the land will be numbered."
Ximen sought me this day: 'Maiden, said he, 'men's footsteps have been tracked within the gardens; if your sire know this, you will have looked your last on Granada. Learn, he added, in a softer voice, as he saw me tremble, 'that permission were easier given to thee to wed the wild tiger than to mate with the loftiest noble of Morisca! Beware! He spoke, and left me.
Ximen, alone, growing, if possible, a shade more ghastly retained something of self-possession, as he muttered to himself "He lives! and his gold is not mine! Curse him!" Seemingly unconscious of the strange guests his sanctuary shrouded, Almamen stalked on, like a man walking in his sleep.
"The Nazarene will seize it all!" cried Elias; "I see it already in his grasp!" "Nay, thinkest thou so? and wherefore?" asked Ximen, startled into sincere, because selfish anxiety. "Mark me! Under licence of the truce, I went, last night, to the Christian camp: I had an interview with the Christian king; and when he heard my name and faith, his very beard curled with ire.
The crowd dispersed, but not yet to their homes. The crime of Almamen worked against his whole race. Some rushed to the Jews' quarter, which they set on fire; others to the lonely mansion of Almamen. Ximen, on quitting the king, had been before the mob. Not anticipating such an effect of the popular rage, he had hastened to the house, which he now deemed at length his own.
"Know you not his name?" "Nor, I nor any one of the household; save perhaps Ximen, the chief of the slaves, an old and withered man, whose very eye chills me into fear and silence." "Strange!" said the Moor, musingly; "yet why think you our love is discovered, or can be thwarted?" "Hush!
"Through passages none that I know of, save my master, hath trodden," answered Ximen. "I have heard that they reach even to the Alhambra. Come, worthy Elias! thy form trembles with the cold: take this wine." "Hist!" said Elias, shaking from limb to limb; "our pursuers are upon us I hear a step!" As he spoke, the door to which Isaac had pointed slowly opened and Almamen entered the vault.
Word Of The Day