I was aware that in forming this appointment with Iola I was making a sad breach in the trust Hussein had been compelled to repose in me; but what the deuce was I to do? An oriental woman is not to be trifled with; for love and hate are strong and sudden passions under an eastern sun; and while heartily despising and wholly disliking Hussein on one hand, I felt myself dazzled and fascinated by his imprisoned odalisque on the other. Then I remembered his cool admissions of the hundred piastres of Ali Pasha, and the fifty piastres of Hussein Aga, the steward, and my scruples melted away.
I lighted one of Jack Belton's 'prime cheroots,' and sat down to think over the matter, and viewed it through the mellowing medium of a glass of brandy-and-water. I resolved to finish my flirtation with all propriety and speed; looked at my watch, and longed exceedingly for the dark hour, which, in that climate, follows the sinking of the sun.
Alas! how weak are the best resolutions of the human heart, when opposed to the magic influence of two charming eyes!
CHAPTER XLIII.
I SCALE THE WINDOW.
When remembering Laura Everingham and the pleasant days of other times, I sighed with mingled regret and bitterness. Was it the old love for her that could not be crushed, or the new love for my beautiful Oriental that I could but imperfectly comprehend, and which had so much of stirring novelty and imminent danger among its chief allurements?
Perhaps I found myself a little in that dilemma which—-I trust all fair ladies will pardon the avowal—is not uncommon among men—loving two women at once—'a way we often have in the army,' as Belton would say.
The new passion which had seized me was certainly strengthened by a sentiment of pique at Laura (oh, Laura, I could love you still!); yet this passion, improper, unwarrantable, name it as you will, friend reader, for this beautiful and too facile Moslem, filled all my heart and fired my imagination with a thousand romantic fancies. I saw all her danger and my own. One moment I lamented the evil chance which had sent me on this solitary duty, and cast me in her path; and the next, I looked at my watch, impatient of the lagging sunset.
Thus did love fire, and reason cool me by turns.
'I know,' says a recent writer, 'that five feet eight inches of female flesh and blood, when accompanied by a pale complexion, black eyes, and raven hair, is synonymous with strong passions and an unfortunate destiny.' And most unfortunate was your destiny, poor Iola!