"I have brought her," he said breathlessly; "Naomi, Israel's daughter, this is she." And then there was a moment of surprise and joy, and pain and shame and despair, all gathered up together into one look of the eyes of the three.
The Mahdi looked at Naomi, and his face lightened.Naomi looked at Ali, and her pale face grew paler, and she passed a tress of her fair hair across her lips to smother a little nervous cry that began to break from her mouth.Then she looked at the Mahdi, and her lips parted and her eyes shone.Ali looked at both, and his face twitched and fell.
This was only the work of an instant, but it was enough.
Enough for the Mahdi, for it told him a secret that the wisdom of life had not yet revealed; enough for Naomi, for a new sense, a sixth sense, had surely come to her; enough for Ali also, for his big little heart was broken.
"What matter about me?" thought Ali again."Take her, Mahdi,"he said aloud in a shrill voice."Her father is waiting for her--take her to him."
"Lady," said the Mahdi, "can you trust me?"And then without a word she went to him; like the needle to the magnet she went to the Mahdi--a stranger to her, when all strangers were as enemies--and laid her hand in his.
Ali began to laugh, "I'm a fool," he cried."Who could have believed it?
Why, I've forgotten to lock the Kasbah! The villains will escape.
No matter, I'll go back."
"Stop!" cried the Mahdi.
But Ali laughed so loudly that he did not hear."I'll see to it yet,"he cried, turning on his heel."Good night, Sidi! God bless you!
My love to my father! Farewell!"
And in another moment he was gone.