As For Me, I Of Course Stood Aloof From Dthemetri's Crusades, And
Did Not Even Render Him Any Active Assistance When He Was Striving
(As He Almost Always Was, Poor Fellow) On My Behalf; I Was Only The
Death's Head And White Sheet With Which He Scared The Enemy.
I
think, however, that I played this spectral part exceedingly well,
for I seldom appeared at all in any discussion, and whenever I did,
I was sure to be white and calm.
The event which induced the Christians of Nablus to seek for my
assistance was this. A beautiful young Christian, between fifteen
and sixteen years old, had lately been married to a man of her own
creed. About the same time (probably on the occasion of her
wedding) she was accidentally seen by a Mussulman Sheik of great
wealth and local influence, who instantly became madly enamoured of
her. The strict morality which so generally prevails where the
Mussulmans have complete ascendency prevented the Sheik from
entertaining any such sinful hopes as an European might have
ventured to cherish under the like circumstances, and he saw no
chance of gratifying his love except by inducing the girl to
embrace his own creed. If he could induce her to take this step,
her marriage with the Christian would be dissolved, and then there
would be nothing to prevent him from making her the last and
brightest of his wives. The Sheik was a practical man, and quickly
began his attack upon the theological opinions of the bride.
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