The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-04


There was ..u uncomfortable silence as he
examined me minutely from head to foot.
On both sides of him sat his ministers
ugly, crafty, pitiless looking dogs, with
sort of grin OF expectation on their faces
but none dared TO disturb the governors
scrutiny. Presently he gave signal, and
without word the guards pushed me
closer to him. Fora moment he scrutinized
me again, and his eyes had in them the
leaping lights of hawks when it bends
over its prey.
"Thou hast the face of a Christian, an
infideI, and the garb of an Arab. a believer"
he said sharply at length. How cometh
it?"
my lord" l replied, with a profound
bow. "a generous and charitable man Of
this town bestowed these clothes upon me-"
His charity was i'll at ease, me thinks.
What is his namei"
hesitated, not wishing to compromise
Said Achmet.
"Thou wilt find it best TO be quick with
thy answers" said Abou Kuram sternly.
"His name' replied, lis Said Achmet."
"Thou meanest to tell me he sheltered
and clothed theeg'
"He succored thy servant when he was
In need, answered humbly.
go bring Said Achmct, " he called out.
"We will zee into this matter"
Three men instantly bent themselves to
the earth and hurried off TO arrest my ben
efactor.
Whence contest thou and what is thy
businesss" he asked, turning to me again
and looking rather through me than at me.
AS briefly and suecinctly as possible
told him my tale.
His lip curled and his eyes danced as he
listened.
1T is likely story" he remarked, with a
sneer, when had finished. How comest
thou, an utter stranger, and, asthou sayest,
with no desire to come hither, TO speak our
tongues"
told him of the tuition of Abram ben
Adam.
"Thou seest yonder towerF'' he said sig
nifcantly. ut is not many days since Il.
was adorned wi h the head OF a spy who
added lying TO his other virtues"
'As my lord liveth. speak the truth, F" i
returned earnestly, for it was n hardship
that my proficiency rs a linguist should
stand against me-
Never liar yet but was as true as the
prophet. Thine own ears shall hear the
confederation OF thy words"
Whereupon he called the witnesses. They
appeared in appalling numbers, with ap
palling testimony, delivered with the glib
ness and assurance Of actors who had well
conned their parts. | had anticipated much
The reality was beyond my widest concep
ton; beyond anything indeed that the slug
gish western imagination could conceive
Speechless with amazcment and horror, /
heard the damning evidence heaped up that
would have convicted with jury sworn to
acQuit. At times | was almost moved 10
indignation at my own villainy, for / had
difficulty in remembering that / was the
scoundrel depicted, so atrocious above all
belief were the crimes | had committed
Never did odious rogue swing from gibbet
or yardarm OF dangle from castle wall with
half the felonies on his head that bore.
] was the emissary Of a hostile power
scheming TO conquer and enslave | had
been caught spying by honorable and re
spectacle men, whose word was as far above
suspicion as Casar's wife | had sought
entrance TO the castle in order TO assassi.
nate the prince, my judge, and 80 clear the
way 90 the throne for a foreign usurper
Failing in that, / had tried 10 bribe Others
to do the foul deed, and the actual money
had given was exhibited by the recipients.
These and other enormities far above any
ordinary capacity for crime were trium.
phantly brought home 20 me. There could
not be the shadow OF n doubt that | was n
rare monster of wickedness, n disgrace 20
the species.
The clown appeared against me with
enough of incrimatory evidence to hang 1C
honest men, aud the impertinent youth ON
whom had drawn backed him up with n
readiness and resource that must have
admired had be not chanced 90 be swearing
away my life. After them trooped the ma
jor part Of the population, each with a
darker tale and clearer proof Of guilt and
dcpravity than the other. IL was wonder.
full how one man could have sinned "a
much. how one head could have devised 80
much wickelness. Long before my nc.
cusers were finished was loaded with a
psss VI iniguitX ard inlapy sufficient 70