“Noble sir!” said the Armenian physician; “may I trespass1 for a moment on your lordship’s attention?”
“Worthy2 Hakim, is it you?” replied the chief eunuch, turning round with an encouraging smile of courteous3 condescension4, “your pleasure?”
“I would speak to you of important matters,” said the physician.
The eunuch carelessly seated himself on a richly-carved tomb, and crossing his legs with an air of pleasant superiority, adjusted a fine emerald that sparkled on his finger, and bade the Hakim address him without hesitation5.
“I am a physician,” said the Armenian.
The eunuch nodded.
“And I heard your lordship in the coffee-house mention that the Sultan, our sublime6 Master, had offered a rich reward to any one who could effect the cure of a favourite captive.”
“No less a reward than one hundred purses of gold,” remarked the eunuch. “The reward is proportioned to the exigency7 of the cue. Believe me, worthy sir, it is desperate.”
“With mortal means,” replied the Armenian; “but I possess a talisman8 of magical influence, which no disorder9 can resist. I would fain try its efficacy.”
“This is not the first talisman that has been offered us, worthy doctor,” said the eunuch, smiling incredulously.
“But the first that has been offered on these terms,” said the Armenian. “Let me cure the captive, and of the one hundred purses, a moiety10 shall belong to yourself. Ay! so confident am I of success, that I deem it no hazard to commence our contract by this surety.” And so saying, the Armenian took from his finger a gorgeous carbuncle, and offered it to the eunuch. The worthy dependent of the Seraglio had a great taste in jewellery. He examined the stone with admiration11, and placed it on his finger with complacency. “I require no inducements to promote the interests of science, and the purposes of charity,” said the eunuch, with a patronising air. “‘Tis assuredly a pretty stone, and, as the memorial of an ingenious stranger, whom I respect, I shall, with pleasure, retain it. You were saying something about a talisman. Are you serious? I doubt not that there are means which might obtain you the desired trial; but the Prince Mahomed is as violent when displeased12 or disappointed as munificent13 when gratified. Cure this Christian14 captive, and we may certainly receive the promised purses: fail, and your head will as assuredly be flung into the Seraglio moat, to say nothing of my own.”
“Most noble sir!” said the physician, “I am willing to undertake the experiment on the terms you mention. Rest assured that the patient, if alive, must, with this remedy, speedily recover. You marvel15! Believe me, had you witnessed the cures which it has already effected, you would only wonder at its otherwise incredible influence.”
“You have the advantage,” replied the eunuch, “of addressing a man who has seen something of the world. I travel every year to Anatolia with the Prince Mahomed. Were I a narrow-minded bigot, and had never been five miles from Adrianople in the whole course of my life, I might indeed be sceptical. But I am a patron of science, and have heard of talismans16. How much might this ring weigh, think you?”
“At the Khan of Bedreddin.”
“A very proper dwelling19. Well, we shall see. Have you more jewels? I might, perhaps, put you in the way of parting with some at good prices. The Khan of Bedreddin is very conveniently situated20. I may, perhaps, towards evening, taste your coffee at the Khan of Bedreddin, and we will talk of this said talisman. Allah be with you, worthy Hakim!” The eunuch nodded, not without encouragement, and went his way.
“Anxiety alone enabled me to keep my countenance,” said Nic?|us. “A patron of science, forsooth! Of all the insolent21, shallow-brained, rapacious22 coxcombs—”
“Hush, my friend!” said Iskander, with a smile. “The chief eunuch of the heir apparent of the Turkish empire is a far greater man than a poor prince, or a proscribed23 rebel. This worthy can do our business, and I trust will. He clearly bites, and a richer bait will, perhaps, secure him. In the meantime, we must be patient, and remember whose destiny is at stake.”
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1
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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3
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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exigency
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| n.紧急；迫切需要 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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moiety
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| n.一半；部分 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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munificent
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| adj.慷慨的，大方的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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talismans
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| n.护身符( talisman的名词复数 )；驱邪物；有不可思议的力量之物；法宝 | |
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17
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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18
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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rapacious
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| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
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proscribed
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| v.正式宣布（某事物）有危险或被禁止( proscribe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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