Kaid’s eyes fell, and he murmured to himself a moment, then he said slowly: “Thou didst save Egypt, thou and my friend”—he gestured towards David”—and my life also, and all else that is worth. Therefore bounty, and safety, and all thy desires were thy due. Kaid is no ingrate—no, by the hand of Moses that smote at Sinai!”
She made a pathetic motion of her hands. “By Harrik’s death I am free, a slave no longer. O my lord, where I go bounty and famine are the same.”
Kaid took a step forward. “Let me see thy face,” he said, something strange in her tone moving him with awe.
She lowered her veil and looked him in the eyes. Her wan beauty smote him, conquered him, the exquisite pain in her face filled Kaid’s eyes with foreboding, and pierced his heart.
“O cursed day that saw thee leave these walls! I did it for thy good—thou wert so young; thy life was all before thee! But now—come, Zaida, here in Kaid’s Palace thou shalt have a home, and be at peace, for I see that thou hast suffered. Surely it shall be said that Kaid honours thee.” He reached out to take her hand.
She had listened like one in a dream, but, as he was about to touch her, she suddenly drew back, veiled her face, save for the eyes, and said in a voice of agony: “Unclean, unclean! My lord, I am a leper!”
An awed and awful silence fell upon them all. Kaid drew back as though smitten by a blow.
Presently, upon the silence, her voice sharp with agony said: “I am a leper, and I go to that desert place which my lord has set apart for lepers, where, dead to the world, I shall watch the dreadful years come and go. Behold, I would die, but that I have a sister there these many years, and her sick soul lives in loneliness. O my lord, forgive me! Here was I happy; here of old I did sing to thee, and I came to sing to thee once more a death-song. Also, I came to see thee do justice, ere I went from thy face for ever.”
Kaid’s head was lowered on his breast. He shuddered. “Thou art so beautiful—thy voice, all! Thou wouldst see justice—speak! Justice shall be made plain before thee.”
Twice she essayed to speak, and could not; but from his sweetmeats and the shadows Mahommed crept forward, kissed the ground before Kaid, and said: “Effendina, thou knowest me as the servant of thy high servant, Claridge Pasha.”