At that the two black servants, Abdullah and Zogal, who had been standing before Gordon in silence, tried to utter some homely words of comfort, and old Mahmud, wiping his wet eyes, said—
"May God be merciful to your mother, my son, and forgive her all her sins."
"She was a saint—she never had any," replied Gordon, whereupon the Arab nurse, who alone of all that household had looked on at this scene with dry and evil eyes, said bitterly—
"Nevertheless she died as a Christian and an unbeliever, therefore she cannot look for mercy."
Then Helena's eyes flashed like fire into the woman's face, and Gordon felt the blood rush to his head, but Ishmael was before them both.
"Zenoba, ask pardon of God," he said, and before the thunder of his voice and the majesty of his glance the Arab woman fell back.
"Heed her not, my brother," said Ishmael, turning back to Gordon; and then he added—
"We all serve under the same General, and though some of us wear uniform of red, and some of brown, and some of blue, he who serves best is the best soldier. In the day of victory will our General ask us the colour of our garments? No!"
At that generous word Gordon burst into tears once more, but Ishmael said—
"Don't weep for one who has entered into the joys of Paradise."