Then, after the last chorus, the remainder surrounded the Tsigane
in the windings of their dance.
At that moment a shower of gold fell from the hands of the Emir and
his train, and from the hands of his officers of all ranks; to the noise
which the pieces made as they struck the cymbals of the dancers,
being added the last murmurs of the doutares and tambourines.
"Lavish as robbers," said Alcide in the ear of his companion.
And in fact it was the result of plunder which was falling;
for, with the Tartar tomans and sequins, rained also Russian
ducats and roubles.
Then silence followed for an instant, and the voice of the executioner,
who laid his hand on Michael's shoulder, once more pronounced the words,
which this repetition rendered more and more sinister:
"Look while you may"
But this time Alcide observed that the executioner no longer held
the saber bare in his hand.
Meanwhile the sun had sunk behind the horizon. A semi-obscurity began
to envelop the plain. The mass of cedars and pines became blacker
and blacker, and the waters of the Tom, totally obscured in the distance,
mingled with the approaching shadows.
But at that instant several hundreds of slaves, bearing lighted
torches, entered the square. Led by Sangarre, Tsiganes and
Persians reappeared before the Emir's throne, and showed off,
by the contrast, their dances of styles so different.
The instruments of the Tartar orchestra sounded forth in harmony
still more savage, accompanied by the guttural cries of the singers.
Pages:
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256