Aleph, the Chaldean; or, the Messiah as Seen from Alexandria

by E. F. Burr

“Certainly he will go,” cried Rachel, “and will walk by the side of the chair, and will steady it with his hand, and will every now and then look in upon us through the curtains to see that we are all right; and when we reach home he will take you out all carefully and tenderly and carry you in his strong arms up to your own room and lay you on your own bed—of course he will. He shall not have my approbation for what he has done to-day till he sees us both safe at home”—and the great dewy eyes flashed half merrily and half timidly on Aleph.

Aleph bowed. “The approbation of the lady Rachel is very far from being a matter of indifference to me. So I will do as she says. We will all go—our friends of the khans, the leech, and all the servants, save the janitor, who on demand shall put Malus in possession. Do you approve?”—he had turned toward Shaphan and his brother.

“We do,” said Shaphan, “but before we go into the street, I wish to mention a fact which perhaps may concern you. We saw Malus to-day in close talk with Simon, the famous magician; and later in the day, on going to your khan, we found that Simon and the beautiful Helena, whom he sometimes calls his daughter and sometimes his sister, had established themselves there and had placarded the neighborhood with invitations to the public to come and witness his wonderful performances at a stater a head. For as much more fee he promises to put the resources of his art at the service of any visitor; whether he wishes to have his fortune told, or to consult spirits, or to prosper in love, or in war, or in money-getting.”

“Have I not heard,” said Rachel anxiously, “that this magician is an agent of Malus and is suspected of aiding him in his undertakings by the magical art?”

“As much is said,” answered the Jew. “The two men are cousins, though not often seen together. It is supposed, however, by some that there is much secret intercourse between them, and that the great success of Malus in his affairs is largely due to his being in league with evil spirits. This, of course, he stoutly denies. He laughs at the idea. At the same time he speaks highly of his cousin, the sorcerer, and does not a little to give him patronage.”

“And yet,” said Aleph, “the Law is severe against sorcerers.”

“But Malus denies that Simon is a sorcerer in the sense used in our Scriptures. He does not deal with evil spirits. He is only a man of great skill and learning, who has studied nature profoundly and so found out many scientific means of doing many wonderful things, and even of subjecting the elemental spirits that inhabit water and fire and lightnings and stars to his will and the public service. His spirits are not devils. His sorcery is only science. And God forbid that the Law should denounce science. So Malus presents the case. The two men certainly uphold each other and play into each other’s hands. I wonder what mischief they are brewing now between them!”

“I thank you for this information,” said Aleph. “It may prove of service to me. But now let us proceed to the work before us.”

Under the direction of Rachel, the servants in a few moments collected the various articles of furniture and comfort that had been sent from the mansion of Alexander. She then placed herself in the sedan: and, the nurse having wrapped Miriam in the bed-coverings, Aleph carefully took the light burden in his arms and placed it in the arms of Rachel. As carefully the porters lifted the chair and made their way into the street—preceded by the two brothers, accompanied by Aleph, and followed by the remaining servants. In a few moments the house was in the solitary charge of the janitor, with instructions to wait a while and, if no one should appear, to lock the door and carry the key to the police headquarters for the district.

The escort stopped at the private family entrance. Here the two brothers took leave; and Aleph, receiving the sick woman into his arms, followed Rachel into the mansion, along halls and courts and flights of steps, to the room the nurse had formerly occupied. When he had laid his light burden on the bed and had satisfied himself that she had borne the transfer without serious harm, though much wearied and needing to be left in profound quiet, he turned to depart.