In the meantime, Butros Keramy opened his heart to Rafael Farah.
‘I begin,’ said Butros, quaffing a cup of the Vino d’Oro, ‘to believe in nationality.’
‘It cannot be denied,’ said Rafael Farah, judiciously shaking his head, ‘that the two nations were once under the same prince. If the great powers would agree to a Shehaab, and we could sometimes meet together in the present fashion, there is no saying, prejudices might wear off.’
‘Shall it ever be said that I am of the same nation as Hamood Abuneked?’ said Butros.
‘Ah! it is very dreadful,’ said Rafael; ‘a man who has burned convents!’
‘And who has five hundred Maronite horns in his castle,’ said Butros.
‘But suppose he restores them?’ said Francis El Kazin.
‘That would make a difference,’ said Rafael Farah.
‘There can be no difference while he lives,’ said Butros.
‘I fear ‘tis an affair of blood,’ said Rafael Farah.