Asad looked down upon her, sneering. "That attitude becomes thee best,"
he said. "Continue it in future." Contemptuously he shook himself free
of her grasp, turned and stalked majestically out, wearing his anger
like a royal mantle, and leaving behind him two terror-shaken beings,
who felt as if they had looked over the very edge of death.
There was a long silence between them. Then at long length Fenzileh
rose and crossed to the meshra-biyah--the latticed window-box. She
opened it and took from one of its shelves an earthenware jar,
placed there so as to receive the slightest breeze. From it she poured
water into a little cup and drank greedily. That she could perform this
menial service for herself when a mere clapping of hands would have
brought slaves to minister to her need betrayed something of her
disordered state of mind.
She slammed the inner lattice and turned to Marzak. "And now?" quoth
she.
"Now?" said the lad.
"Ay, what now? What are we to do? Are we to lie crushed under his rage
until we are ruined indeed? He is bewitched. That jackal has enchanted
him, so that he must deem well done all that is done by him. Allah
guide us here, Marzak, or thou'lt be trampled into dust by
Sakr-el-Bahr."
Marzak hung his head; slowly he moved to the divan and flung himself
down upon its pillows; there he lay prone, his hands cupping his chin,
his heels in the air.
"What can I do?" he asked at last.
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