Page:The White Stone.djvu/121

Rh General Desaix with his famous dervish. After the battle of the Pyramids, General Desaix, at the head of twelve hundred cavalry, pursued into Upper Egypt the Mamelukes of Murad Bey. On arriving at Girgeh, he heard that an old dervish, who had acquired among the Arabs a wide reputation for learning and sanctity, was living near that city. Desaix was endowed with both philosophy and humanity. Desirous of making the acquaintance of a man esteemed of his fellows, he caused the dervish to be summoned to headquarters, received him with honour, and entered into conversation with him through an interpreter.

"'Venerable old man,' he said, 'the French have come to bring Egypt justice and liberty.'

"'I knew they would come,' replied the dervish.

"'How did you come to know it?'

"'Through an eclipse of the sun.'

"'How can an eclipse of the sun have informed you as to the movement of our armies?'

"'Eclipses are brought about by the angel Gabriel, who places himself before the sun in order to announce to the faithful the misfortunes which threaten them.'

"'Venerable old man, you are ignorant of the true cause of eclipses; I shall impart the knowledge of it to you.'