第43章

Butthistimehisrestwasnotunbroken；forhewasawakenedbythevoiceofthephysicianatthedoorofthetent，inquiringafterhishealth，andwhetherhehadrestedsufficiently-

MayIenteryourtent？’’heconcluded，forthecurtainisdrawnbeforetheentrance。’’

Themaster，’’repliedSirKenneth，determinedtoshowthathewasnotsurprisedintoforgetfulnessofhisowncondition，needdemandnopermissiontoenterthetentoftheslave。’’

ButifIcomenotasamaster？’’saidElHakim，stillwithoutentering。

Thephysician，’’answeredtheknight，hathfreeaccesstothebedsideofhispatient。’’

NeithercomeInowasaphysician，’’repliedElHakimandthereforeIstillrequestpermission，ereIcomeunderthecoveringofthytent。’’

Whoevercomesasafriend，’’saidSirKenneth，andsuchthouhasthithertoshownthyselftome，thehabitationofthefriendiseveropentohim。’’

Yetonceagain，’’saidtheEasternsage，aftertheperiphrasticalmannerofhiscountrymen，supposingthatIcomenotasafriend？’’

Comeasthouwilt，’’saidtheScottishknight，somewhatimpatientofthiscircumlocution，-bewhatthouwilt-thouknowestwellitisneitherinmypowernormyinclinationtorefusetheeentrance。’’

Icomethen，’’saidElHakim，asyourancientfoe；butafairandagenerousone。’’

Heenteredashespoke；andwhenhestoodbeforethebedsideofSirKenneth，thevoicecontinuedtobethatofAdonbectheArabianphysician，buttheform，dress，andfeatures，werethoseofIlderimofKurdistan，calledSheerkohf。SirKennethgazeduponhim，asifheexpectedthevisiontodepart，likesomethingcreatedbyhisimagination。

Dothitsosurprisethee，’’saidIlderim，andthouanapprovedwarrior，toseethatasoldierknowssomewhatoftheartofhealing？-Isaytothee，Nazarene，thatanaccomplishedcavaliershouldknowhowtodresshissteedaswellashowtoridehim；howtoforgehissworduponthestithy，aswellashowtouseitinbattle；howtoburnishhisarms，aswellashowtowearthem；and，aboveall，howtocurewoundsaswellashowtoinflictthem。’’

Ashespoke，theChristianknightrepeatedlyshuthiseyes，andwhiletheyremainedclosed，theideaoftheHakim，withhislongflowingdarkrobes，highTartarcap，andgravegestures，waspresenttohisimagination；butsosoonasheopenedthem，thegracefulandrichly-gemmedturban，thelighthauberkofsteelringsentwistedwithsilver，whichglancedbrilliantlyasitobeyedeveryinflectionofthebody，thefeaturesfreedfromtheirformalexpression，lessswarthy，andnolongershadowedbythemassofhair(nowlimitedtoawell-trimmedbeard)，announcedthesoldierandnotthesage。

Artthoustillsomuchsurprised，’’saidtheEmir，andhastthouwalkedintheworldwithsuchlittleobservance，astowonderthatmenarenotalwayswhattheyseem？-Thouthyself-artthouwhatthouseemest？’’

No，bySt。Andrew！’’exclaimedtheknight；fortothewholeChristiancampIseematraitor，andIknowmyselftobeatruethoughanerringman。’’

EvensoIjudgedthee，’’saidIlderim；andaswehadeatensalttogether，Ideemedmyselfboundtorescuetheefromdeathandcontumely-Butwhereforelieyoustillonyourcouch，sincethesunishighintheheavens？orarethevestmentswhichmysumpter-camelshaveaffordedunworthyofyourwearing？’’

Notunworthy，surely，butunfittingforit，’’repliedtheScot；givemethedressofaslave，nobleIlderim，andIwilldonitwithpleasure；butIcannotbrooktowearthehabitofthefreeEasternwarrior，withtheturbanoftheMoslem。’’

Nazarene，’’answeredtheEmir，thynationsoeasilyentertainssuspicion，thatitmaywellrenderthemselvessuspected。

HaveInottoldtheethatSaladindesiresnoconvertssavingthosewhomtheholyprophetshalldisposetosubmitthemselvestohislaw；violenceandbriberyarealikealientohisplanforextendingthetruefaith。Hearkentome，mybrother。Whentheblindmanwasmiraculouslyrestoredtosight，thescalesdroppedfromhiseyesattheDivinepleasure-think’stthouthatanyearthlyleechcouldhaveremovedthem？N

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