 | IX. Pelayo |  |
9. IX.
Let us return for a brief moment to Amri. That
day he condescended to visit his father, whom he still
maintained within the dungeon to which he had been
himself consigned. He carried him a sufficient supply
of food, but spoke nothing of his release. The old
man simply looked up to the opening above the door,
through which the youth let down the provisions in a
small basket by the use of a string, but he said nothing
to him either in the way of solicitation or complaint.
This taciturnity irritated the youth, who addressed him
somewhat tauntingly with certain inquiries touching his
captivity—demanding to know upon what terms he
would be willing to procure his release. To all of
which the old man deigned him nothing in answer; but,
with clasped hands, he murmured his repeated prayer
to Heaven, imploring protection from the Most High,
and preferring once more the terrible imprecation which
the ears of Amri had already heard, but which now, unhappily,
went by them unheeded. Secure, as he esteemed
himself, in his triumphant position, he permitted
himself to speak harsh words to his father in return.
fears of overthrow. Confident of Edacer's success
with Melchior, and of his own with the lovely daughter
of the outlaw, he was too buoyant in hope at this moment
either to fear the wrath of Heaven, or to heed the
curse which his father had invoked upon his head. He
bade the old man a scornful defiance, and departed ungraciously
from his presence. To Mahlon, however,
he gave directions for his release on the ensuing morning,
when he imagined that his projects would be fully
executed, and the events fairly over from which he hoped
to derive so much.
“On the morrow, Mahlon,” said he, “thou shalt release
Adoniakin—not before. And, hear me—thou shalt
not give entrance through the day to any who may seek
him. Say that he is gone forth to those who ask for
him—he is gone forth on pressing occasion, and will not
return till the night. To-morrow we shall neither of us
care whether his mood be pleasant or angry. For thyself,
Mahlon, here is the money thou hast demanded—
there is more for thee to-morrow when I return, if thou
hast truly done as I bid thee.”
That day the plans of Amri were perfected with
Edacer—the latter had portioned out his men for the
investment of the Cave of Wamba, while the former had
received from his hands the desired authority in writing,
by which, in the name of the king, he should obtain access
into the dwelling of the Hebrew Samuel, or any
other dwelling in the Hebrew Quarter where the maiden
Thyrza might be concealed. Nor was he altogether
content to await the hour of midnight, which he had
himself set aside for the proposed search, when the
probabilities were so much the greater of finding her in
the dwelling; but, attended by one of the officers who
had been allotted to him by Edacer, he prowled in a
partial disguise around the neighbourhood in which the
Hebrew Samuel had his abode, and cautiously pointed
His disguise, however, was not equal to his perfect security
from detection, and quick eyes were as watchful
to save the maiden and her sire as his who strove for
their undoing. Elate and satisfied that the hour of his
triumph was at hand, he retired to the palace of Edacer,
with whom he had a farther conference on the subject
of their common pursuits; and towards nightfall, with
beating heart and impatient spirit, Amri proceeded to
the dwelling of Urraca, anxious to gain the intelligence
which he so much wished for, that she could no longer
be to him an object of fear, as she was no longer an object
of desire. In this hope, however, he was destined
to be disappointed. The deadly work had not yet been
done; and, cunningly advised, Zitta framed a story
which satisfied him to await patiently for the events of
the following day. A brief time only was allowed him
for interview with the slave, ere he found it necessary
to ascend to the upper apartment in search of her devoted
mistress.
| IX. Pelayo | |