CHAPTER VI.

As Orion rode across the bridge of boats to Fostat, the gladness that had inspired him died away.  Could not—­ought not Paula to have spared him a small part of the time she had devoted to the child?  He had been left to make the most of a kind grasp of the hand and a grateful look of welcome.  Would she not have flown to meet him, if the love of which she had assured him yesterday were as fervent, as ardent as his own?  Was the proud spirit of this girl, who, as his mother said, was cold and unapproachable, incapable of passionate, self-forgetting devotion?  Was there no way of lighting up in her the sacred fire which burnt in him?  He was tormented by many doubts and a bitter feeling of disappointment, and a crowd of suspicions forced themselves upon him, which would never have troubled him if only he had seen her once more, had heard her happy words of love, and felt his lips consecrated by his mistress’ first kiss.

He was out of spirits, indeed out of temper, as he entered the Arab general’s dwelling.  In the anteroom he was met by rejected petitioners, and he said to himself, with a bitter smile, that he had just been sent about his business in the same unsatisfied mood—­yes, sent about his business—­and by whom?

He was announced, and his spirits rose a little when he was at once admitted and led past many, who were left waiting, into the Arab governor’s presence-chamber.  He was received with paternal warmth; and, when Amru heard that Orion and the patriarch had come to high words, he jumped up and holding out both his hands exclaimed: 

“My right hand on that, my friend; come over to Islam, and with my left I will appoint you your father’s successor, in the Khaliff’s name, in spite of your youth.  Away with hesitation!  Clasp hands; at once, quickly!  I cannot bear to quit Egypt and know that there is no governor at Memphis!”

The blood tingled in the young man’s veins.  His father’s successor!  He, the new Mukaukas!  How it flattered his ambition, what a way to all activity it opened out to him!  It dazzled his vision, and moved him strongly to grasp the right hand which his generous patron still held out to him.  But suddenly his excited fancy showed him the image of the Redeemer with whom he had entered into a silent covenant in the church, sadly averting his gentle face.  At this he remembered what he had vowed; at this he forgot all his grievance against Paula; he took the general’s hand, indeed, but only to raise it to his lips as he thanked him with all his heart.  But then he implored him, with earnest, pleading urgency, not to be wroth with him if he remained firm and clung to the faith of his father and his ancestors.  And Amru was not wroth, though it was with none of the hearty interest with which he had at first welcomed him, that he hastily warned Orion to be on his guard against the prelate, since, so long as he remained a Christian, he had no power to protect him against Benjamin.