“We have no time to lose,” said the eunuch to Iskander. “Bring with you whatever you may require, and follow me.”
The eunuch led the way, Iskander and Nic?|us maintaining a respectful distance. After proceeding5 down several streets, they arrived at the burial-ground, where they had conversed6 in the morning; and when they had entered that more retired7 spot, the eunuch fell back, and addressed his companion.
“Now, worthy8 Hakim,” he said, “if you deceive me, I will never patronize a man of science again. I found an opportunity of speaking to the Prince this afternoon of your talisman9, and he has taken from my representations such a fancy for its immediate10 proof, that I found it quite impossible to postpone11 its trial even until to-morrow. I mentioned the terms. I told the Prince your life was the pledge. I said nothing of the moiety12 of the reward, worthy Hakim. That is an affair between ourselves. I trust to your honour, and I always act thus with men of science.”
“I shall not disgrace my profession or your confidence, rest assured,” replied Iskander. “And am I to see the captive to-night?”
“I doubt it not. Are you prepared? We might, perhaps, gain a little time, if very necessary.”
“By no means, sir; Truth is ever prepared.”
Thus conversing13, they passed through the burial-ground, and approached some high, broad walls, forming a terrace, and planted with young sycamore-trees. The eunuch tapped with his silver stick, at a small gate, which opened, and admitted them into a garden, full of large clumps14 of massy shrubs15. Through these a winding16 walk led for some way, and then conducted them to an open lawn, on which was situate a vast and irregular building. As they approached the pile, a young man of very imperious aspect rushed forward from a gate, and abruptly17 accosted18 Iskander.
“Are you the Armenian physician?” he inquired.
“Have you got your talisman? You know the terms? Cure this Christian20 girl and you shall name your own reward; fail, and I shall claim your forfeit21 head.”
“The terms are well understood, mighty22 Prince,” said Iskander, for the young man was no less a personage than the son of Amurath, and future conqueror23 of Constantinople; “but I am confident there will be no necessity for the terror of Christendom claiming any other heads than those of his enemies.”
“Kaflis will conduct you at once to your patient,” said Mahomed. “For myself, I cannot rest until I know the result of your visit. I shall wander about these gardens, and destroy the flowers, which is the only pleasure now left me.”
Kaflis motioned to his companions to advance, and they entered the Seraglio.
At the end of a long gallery they came to a great portal, which Kaflis opened, and Iskander and Nic?|us for a moment supposed that they had arrived at the chief hall of the Tower of Babel, but they found the shrill24 din4 only proceeded from a large company of women, who were employed in distilling25 the rare atar of the jasmine flower. All their voices ceased on the entrance of the strangers, as if by a miracle; but when they had examined them, and observed that it was only a physician and his boy, their awe26, or their surprise, disappeared; and they crowded round Iskander, some holding out their wrists, others lolling out their tongues, and some asking questions, which perplexed27 alike the skill and the modesty28 of the adventurous dealer29 in magical medicine. The annoyance30, however, was not of great duration, for Kaflis so belaboured their fair shoulders with his official baton31, that they instantly retreated with precipitation, uttering the most violent shrieks32, and bestowing33 on the eunuch so many titles, that Iskander and his page were quite astounded34 at the intuitive knowledge which the imprisoned35 damsels possessed36 of that vocabulary of abuse, which is in general mastered only by the experience of active existence.
Quitting this chamber37, the eunuch and his companions ascended38 a lofty staircase. They halted at length before a door. “This is the chamber of the tower,” said their guide, “and here we shall find the fair captive.” He knocked, the door was opened by a female slave, and Iskander and Nic?|us, with an anxiety they could with difficulty conceal39, were ushered40 into a small but sumptuous41 apartment. In the extremity42 was a recess43 covered with a light gauzy curtain. The eunuch bidding them keep in the background, advanced, and cautiously withdrawing the curtain slightly aside, addressed some words in a low voice to the inmate44 of the recess. In a few minutes the eunuch beckoned45 to Iskander to advance, and whispered to him: “She would not at first see you, but I have told her you are a Christian, the more the pity, and she consents.” So saying, he withdrew the curtain, and exhibited a veiled female figure lying on a couch.
“Noble lady,” said the physician in Greek, which he had ascertained46 the eunuch did not comprehend; “pardon the zeal47 of a Christian friend. Though habited in this garb48, I have served under your illustrious sire. I should deem my life well spent in serving the daughter of the great Hunniades.”
“Kind stranger,” replied the captive, “I was ill prepared for such a meeting. I thank you for your sympathy, but my sad fortunes are beyond human aid.”
“God works by humble49 instruments, noble lady,” said Iskander, “and with his blessing50 we may yet prosper51.”
“I fear that I must look to death as my only refuge,” replied Iduna, “and still more, I fear that it is not so present a refuge as my oppressors themselves imagine. But you are a physician; tell me then how speedily Nature will make me free.”
She held forth52 her hand, which Iskander took and involuntarily pressed. “Noble lady,” he said, “my skill is a mere53 pretence54 to enter these walls. The only talisman I bear with me is a message from your friends.”
“Restrain yourself, noble lady,” said Iskander, interposing, “restrain yourself. Were you any other but the daughter of Hunniades I would not have ventured upon this perilous56 exploit. But I know that the Lady Iduna has inherited something more than the name of her great ancestors—their heroic soul. If ever there were a moment in her life in which it behoved her to exert all her energies, that moment has arrived. The physician who addresses her, and his attendant who waits at hand, are two of the Lady Iduna’s most devoted57 friends. There is nothing that they will not hazard, to effect her delivery; and they have matured a plan of escape which they are sanguine58 must succeed. Yet its completion will require, on her part, great anxiety of mind, greater exertion59 of body, danger, fatigue60, privation. Is the Lady Iduna prepared for all this endurance, and all this hazard?”
“Noble friend,” replied Iduna, “for I cannot deem you a stranger, and none but a most chivalric61 knight62 could have entered upon this almost forlorn adventure; you have not, I trust, miscalculated my character. I am a slave, and unless heaven will interpose, must soon be a dishonoured63 one. My freedom and my fame are alike at stake. There is no danger, and no suffering which I will not gladly welcome, provided there be even a remote chance of regaining64 my liberty and securing my honour.”
“You are in the mind I counted on. Now, mark my words, dear lady. Seize an opportunity this evening of expressing to your gaolers that you have already experienced some benefit from my visit, and announce your rising confidence in my skill. In the meantime I will make such a report that our daily meetings will not be difficult. For the present, farewell. The Prince Mahomed waits without, and I would exchange some words with him before I go.”
“And must we part without my being acquainted with the generous friends to whom I am indebted for an act of devotion which almost reconciles me to my sad fate?” said Iduna. “You will not, perhaps, deem the implicit65 trust reposed66 in you by one whom you have no interest to deceive, and who, if deceived, cannot be placed in a worse position than she at present fills, as a very gratifying mark of confidence, yet that trust is reposed in you; and let me, at least, soothe67 the galling68 dreariness69 of my solitary70 hours, by the recollection of the friends to whom I am indebted for a deed of friendship which has filled me with a feeling of wonder from which I have not yet recovered.”
“The person who has penetrated71 the Seraglio of Constantinople in disguise to rescue the Lady Iduna,” answered Iskander, “is the Prince Nic?|us.”
“Nic?|us!” exclaimed Iduna, in an agitated tone. “The voice to which I listen is surely not that of the Prince Nic?|us; nor the form on which I gaze,” she added, as she unveiled. Beside her stood the tall figure of the Armenian physician. She beheld72 his swarthy and unrecognised countenance73. She cast her dark eyes around with an air of beautiful perplexity.
“I am a friend of the Prince Nic?|us,” said the physician. “He is here. Shall he advance? Alexis,” called cut, Iskander, not waiting for her reply. The page of the physician came forward, but the eunuch accompanied him. “All is right,” said Iskander to Kaflis. “We are sure of our hundred purses. But, without doubt, with any other aid, the case were desperate.”
“There is but one God,” said the eunuch, polishing his carbuncle, with a visage radiant as the gem74. “I never repented75 patronizing men of science. The prince waits without. Come along!” He took Iskander by the arm. “Where is your boy? What are you doing there, sir?” inquired the eunuch, sharply, of Nic?|us, who, was tarrying behind, and kissing the hand of Iduna.
“I was asking the lady for a favour to go to the coffee-house with;” replied Nic?|us, “you forget that I am to have none of the hundred purses.”
“True,” said the eunuch; “there is something in that. Here, boy, here is a piastre for you. I like to encourage men of science, and all that belong to them. Do not go and spend it all in one morning, boy, and when the fair captive is cured, if you remind me, boy, perhaps I may give you another.”
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1
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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minarets
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| n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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8
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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moiety
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| n.一半；部分 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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15
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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18
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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20
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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22
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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25
distilling
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| n.蒸馏（作用）v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )( distilled的过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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26
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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32
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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33
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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34
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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38
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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40
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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42
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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44
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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45
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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48
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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49
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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50
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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51
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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52
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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53
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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54
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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55
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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56
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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57
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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58
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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61
chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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64
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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66
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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69
dreariness
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| 沉寂，可怕，凄凉 | |
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70
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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71
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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72
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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73
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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74
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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75
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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