“O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with a song.” CHAPTER XXXIII. THE DARK INDENTURE Nahoum had forgotten one very important thing: that what affected David as a Christian in Egypt would tell equally against himself. If, in his ill-health and dejection, Kaid drank deep of the cup of Mahomet, the red eyes of fanaticism would be turned upon the Armenian, as upon the European Christian. He had forgotten it for the moment, but when, coming into Kaid’s Palace, a little knot of loiterers spat upon the ground and snarled, “Infidel--Nazarene!” with contempt and hatred, the significance of the position came home to him. He made his way to a far quarter of the Palace, thoughtfully weighing the circumstances, and was met by Mizraim. Mizraim salaamed. “The height of thy renown be as the cedar of Lebanon, Excellency.” “May thy feet tread the corn of everlasting fortune, son of Mahomet.” They entered the room together. Nahoum looked at Mizraim curiously. He was not satisfied with what he saw. Mizraim’s impassive face had little expression, but the eyes were furtively eager and sinister. “Well, so it is, and if it is, what then?” asked Nahoum coolly. “Ki di, so it is,” answered Mizraim, and a ghastly smile came to his lips. This infidel pasha, Nahoum, had a mind that pierced to the meaning of words ere they were spoken. Mizraim’s hand touched his forehead, his breast, his lips, and, clasping and unclasping his long, snakelike fingers, he began the story he had come to tell. “The Inglesi, whom Allah confound, the Effendina hath blackened by a look, his words have smitten him in the vital parts--” “Mizraim, thou dove, speak to the purpose!” Mizraim showed a dark pleasure at the interruption. Nahoum was impatient, anxious; that made the tale better worth telling. “Sharif and the discontented ones who dare not act, like the vultures, they flee the living man, but swoop upon the corpse. The consuls of those countries who love not England or Claridge Pasha, and the holy men, and the Cadi, all scatter smouldering fires. There is a spirit in the Palace and beyond which is blowing fast to a great flame.” “Then, so it is, great one, and what bodes it?” “It may kill the Inglesi; but it will also sweep thee from the fields of life where thou dost flourish.” “It is not against the foreigner, but against the Christian, Mizraim?” “Thy tongue hath wisdom, Excellency.” “Thou art a Muslim--” “Why do I warn thee? For service done to me; and because there is none other worth serving in Egypt. Behold, it is my destiny to rule others, to serve thee.” “Once more thy turban full of gold, Mizraim, if thou dost service now that hath meaning and is not a belching of wind and words. Thou hast a thing to say--say it, and see if Nahoum hath lost his wit, or hath a palsied arm.”