This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
CHAPTER I. [Note: In the print copy of this eBook, the chapter numbers and page numbers here start over at one.]
If Philippus found no sleep that night, neither did Orion. He no longerdoubted Paula, but his heart was full of longing to hear her say oncemore that she loved him and him alone, and the yearning kept him awake.He sprang from his bed at the first glimmer of dawn, glad that the nightwas past, and started to cross the Nile in order to place half of Paula'sfortune in the hands of Salech, the brother of Haschim the merchant.
In Memphis all was still silent, and all he saw in the old town struckhim as strangely worn-out, torpid, and decayed; it seemed only fit to beleft to ruin, while on the other side of the river, in the new town ofFostat, on all hands busy, eager, new-born vitality met his eyes.
He involuntarily compared the old capital of the Pharaohs to a time-eatenmummy, and Amru's new city to a vigorous youth. Here every one was astirand in brisk activity. The money-changer, who had risen, like allMoslems, to perform his morning prayer, "as soon as a white thread couldbe distinguished from a black one," was already busy with his rolls ofgold and silver coin; and how quick, clear, and decisive the Arab was inconcluding his bargain with Orion and with Nilus, who had accompaniedhim!
Whichever way the young man turned, bright and flashing eyes met hisgaze, energetic, resolute, and enterprising faces; no bowed heads, nodull, brooding looks, no gloomy resignation like those in his native townon the other shore. Here, in Fostat, his blood flowed more swiftly;there, existence was an oppressive burden. Everything attracted him tothe Arabs!
The changer's shop, like all those in the Sook or Bazaar of Fostat,consisted of a wooden stall in which he sat with his assistants. On theside open to the street he transacted business with his customers, who,when the affair promised to be lengthy, were invited by the Arab to seatthemselves with him on his little platform.
Orion and Nilus had accepted such an invitation, and it happened that,while they sat in treaty with Salech, visible to the passers-by, theVekeel Obada, who had so deeply stirred the wrath of the governor's sonon the previous evening, came by, close to him. To Orion's amazement hegreeted him with great amiability, and he, remembering Amru's warning,responded, though not without an effort, to his hated foe's civility.When Obada passed the stall a second and a third time, Orion felt that hewas watching him; however, it was quite possible that the Vekeel mightalso have business with the money-changer and be waiting only for theconclusion of his.
At any rate Orion ere long forgot the incident, for matters of morepressing importance claimed his attention at home.
As often happens, the death of one man had changed everything in hishouse so utterly as to make it unlike the same; though his removal hadmade it neither richer nor poorer, and though his secluded presence oflate had scarcely had an appreciable influence. The rooms formerly sofull of life now seemed dead. Petitioners and suppliants no longercrowded the anteroom, and all visits of condolence had, according to theancient custom, been received on t