mohammed ali and his house-第55部分

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The　general　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　glanced　angrily　at　the　quiet；　defiant　countenance　of　the　young　officer。

〃A　very　welcome　misunderstanding　it　seems　to　have　been　to　all　of　you。　A　misunderstanding　you　call　it；　and　did　you　not　know　that　I；　Lord　Hutchinson；　had　pledged　my　word　to　the　Mameluke　beys　that　their　lives　should　not　be　endangered？　Did　you　not　know　that　they　had　come　tome　to　inquire　whether　they　could　safely　trust　the　Turks；　and　that　I；　in　my　blindness；　had　said　to　them：　'You　can　safely　trust　them；　they　are　men　of　honor；　and　they　have　solemnly　pledged　their　word　for　your　security？'　You　have　broken　the　holy　law　of　your　prophet；　of　hospitality；　and　have　betrayed　those　to　whom　you　had　extended　the　hand　of　friendship。〃

〃Not　so；　general；　by　Allah！　Of　such　a　crime　I　could　not　be　guilty；〃　replied　Mohammed；　quietly。　〃I　broke　no　bread；　and　exchanged　no　vows　of　friendship；　with　the　Mamelukes。　I　have　only　just　arrived　from　a　distant　land；　and　know　nothing　of　your　enmities　or　friendships。　My　orders　were；　to　arrest　the　Mamelukes；　and　bring　them　fettered　to　the　admiral's　ship。　If　I　misunderstood　the　order；　I　was　wrong；　but　no　such　crime　burdens　my　soul；　and　I　cannot　be　justly　accused　of　broken　faith　or　treachery。　I　have　nothing　more　to　say。　I　submit　humbly　to　your　displeasure；　and　can　only　repeat　that　I　deplore　the　misunderstanding。〃

〃Your　quiet；　defiant　bearing　is；　it　seems　to　me；　inconsistent　with　your　words。　I　deplore　this　treachery；　and　deplore　it　doubly；　because　my　assurances　lulled　the　beys　into　a　sense　of　security。　But　I　tell　you　I　will　have　justice；　satisfaction　for　this　outrage；　I　will　call　you　all　to　account。　Go　to　your　master　and　say　to　him；　in　my　name；　that　his　treatment　of　the　Mameluke　beys　has　been　treacherous。〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　replied　the　boulouk　bashi；　composedly；　〃but　perhaps　your　excellency　does　not　know　what　commands　respecting　these　Mameluke　beys　were　given　the　capitan　pacha　by　his　master；　by　the　Sublime　Porte。〃

〃I　read　in　your　countenance　what　the　sultan's　intentions　and　commands　were；　and　see　it　in　what　has　occurred。　It　is　his　purpose　to　destroy　the　Mamelukes；　whom　he　has　entrapped　with　flattering　words　and　loving　promises。　But　it　shall　not　be　done　while　I　am　here。　I　demand　justice　and　satisfaction　for　myself。　Let　the　world　pronounce　you　Turks　liars　and　traitors；　but　the　same　shall　not　be　said　of　me　and　my　people！　I　have　pledged　my　word　and　the　honor　of　England　for　the　safety　of　the　Mamelukes；　and；　though　I　cannot　recall　the　dead　to　life；　I　will　at　least　care　for　the　living。　Go　to　your　master　and　tell　him　this：　‘Lord　Hutchinson　demands　that　all　the　captured　Mameluke　beys　be　immediately　brought　to　the　shore　and　placed　under　his　protection。　Lord　Hutchinson　insists　that　they　be　at　once　set　at　liberty；　and　that　they　shall　not　be　regarded　as　prisoners　of　the　grand…sultan。〃'

〃Excellency；　it　will　be　very　difficult　to　comply　with　your　demands；〃　replied　Mohammed。　〃An　alternative　has　just　been　offered　the　prisoners。　I　was　present；　and　can　vouch　for　itthey　were　to　choose　between　death　by　the　sword　and　submission。　Not　one　of　the　beys；　however；　chose　to　die　rather　than　submit。　They　swore　on　the　holy　Koran　than　they　would　remain　the　prisoners　of　the　Turks；　and　make　no　effort　to　have　themselves　demanded　back　by　the　English；　and；　as　they　have　nevertheless　done　so；　and　sent　to　you；　they　have　broken　their　holy　oath。〃

〃They　have　not　done　so；〃　replied　Lord　Hutchinson。　〃I　heard　of　this　infamous　treachery　by　other　means；　others　informed　me　of　what　has　occurred。　I　am；　therefore；　entirely　justified　in　making　my　demand；　moreover；　the　oath　obtained　from　them　by　the　threat　of　death　is　valueless。　I　insist　that　the　Mamelukes　who　are　still　alive　be　delivered　over　to　me；　and　the　dead　also；　in　order　that　I　may　count　them　and　assure　myself　that　none　have　been　kept　back　as　prisoners。　Go；　and　tell　your　master　this；　and　say　to　him　that　a　refusal　on　his　part　will　be　equivalent　to　a　declaration　of　war　by　England。　My　ships　lie　at　anchor　in　the　harbor　of　Alexandria　awaiting　his　decision；　and　they　are　ready　for　war。　Tell　this　to　the　capitan　pacha。〃

With　a　respectful　inclination　of　the　head　Mohammed　withdrew；　and；　returning　to　his　boat；　was　rapidly　conveyed　on　board　the　admiral's　ship；　where　the　capitan　pacha　awaited　him。

The　latter　listened　attentively　to　the　report　of　the　boulouk　bashi；　and　inclined　his　head　graciously　when　told　that　he　had　taken　the　sole　responsibility　upon　himself；　and　had　attributed　the　much…to…be…　regretted…occurrence　to　a　misunderstanding。

〃You　did　well；〃　said　the　capitan　pacha。　〃Why　should　we　not　appear　to　regret　this　deed　of　bloodshed；　now　that　it　is　accomplished？　Why　not　deplore　that　which　is　irrevocable？　Death　holds　fast　to　its　victims。　The　living；　we　must；　however；　deliver　over　to　the　stormy　Englishman；　as　I　have　no　desire　to　take　upon　myself　the　responsibility　of　a　war　with　England。　Moreover；　I　shall　be　well　pleased　to　leave　this　place。　My　work　is　done。　Let　the　newly　appointed　viceroy　see　what　he　can　do　with　these　Mamelukes。　Egypt　is　dripping　with　blood；　and　the　atmosphere　of　this　land　is　freighted　with　the　scent　of　corpses。　I　can　no　longer　endure　it；　and　am　about　to　return　to　beautiful；　sunny　Stamboul。　Let　my　last　deed　be　to　comply　with　the　demand　of　this　haughty　Englishman。　Have　the　wounded　put　into　the　boats；　Bim　Bashi　Mohammed　Ali；　you　understand　meI　call　you　bim　bashi。　You　may　inform　your　friend；　Bim　Bashi　Osman；　that　his　request　is　granted；　you　will　take　his　place；　and　it　rests　with　you　to　make　it　the　stepping…stone　to　future　greatness。　I　believe　such　will　be　the　case；　for　I　can　read　your　soul　in　your　eyes；　and　this　one　thing；　it　seems　to　me；　you　still　have　to　learn：　to　keep　your　eyes　from　betraying　your　thoughts；　Remember　that　this　is　essential　to　success。　And　now；　you　may　have　the　prisoners　conveyed　to　the　shore。　Lord　Hutchinson　shall　count　the　living；　and　the　dead；　too；　not　one　of　his　favorites　shall　be　withheld！　When　this　is　done；　bim　bashi；　return　to　the　ship　on　which　you　came。　Are　the　soldiers　disembarked？〃

〃Yes；　excellency；　and　already；　I　believe；　on　the　march　to　Cairo。〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　pacha；　〃let　them　figure　at　the　grand　entrance　of　the　viceroy　into　Cairo。　I　will　intrust　you　with　a　message　to　his　highness；　and　will　recommend　you　to　him　as　a　useful　man。　Cousrouf　Pacha　has　need　of　such　men。〃

Mohammed　started　at　the　mention　of　this　name；　but　quickly　recovered　his　composure；　and　bowed　his　head　in　gratitude。

〃You　make　me　happy；　indeed！　You　will　send　me　to　Cousrouf　Pacha。　I　thank　you；　for　it　has　long　been　my　most　ardent　wish　to　be　in　his　service。〃

〃It　has　long　been　your　wish！〃　said　the　capitan　pacha；　in　surprise。　〃I　thought　you　had　only　been　here　a　short　time？〃

〃True；　excellency；　yet　I　have　heard　much　of　the　great　Cousrouf　Pacha　in　my　distant　home；　and　to　serve　him　was　my　most　ardent　wish。　I　swear；　capitan　pacha；　that　I　will　serve　him　as　my　heart　prompts。〃

〃But　then　it　depends　on　what　your　heart　prompts；〃　said　the　pacha；　casting　a　long；　searching　glance　at　the　pale　countenance　of　the　young　bim　bashi。　〃The　tone　in　which　you　say　this　has　a　strange　ring；　and　sounds　almost　like　a　threat！　Yet；　deal　with　his　highness；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　as　you　think　proper；　and　serve　him　as　your　heart　prompts。　I　will　recommend　you　to　him。　We　are　good　friends；　the　viceroy　and　I；　very　good　friends；　and　I　have　no　doubt　it　will　sadden　him　to　see　me　escape　out　of　this　confusion；　which　will　require　bold　and　fearless　management　at　his　hands。　I　go　to　Stamboul；　you　go　to　Cousrouf　Pacha　to　serve　himto　serve　him　as　your　heart　prompts；　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　excellency；　as　my　heart　prompts；　in　humility　and　devotion。〃

〃Now　you　may　go；　I　will　furnish　you　with　a　written　testimonial；　and　warmly　recommend　you　to　the　viceroy；　as　I　have　promised。〃

He　dismissed　the　young　bim　bashi　with　a　gracious　inclination　of　the　head；　and　the　latter　returned　to　his　ship　to　see　that　the　prisoners　were　conveyed　to　the　shore。　He　walked　beside　Osman　Bey　Bardissi　as　he　was　being　carried　down　on　a　stretcher　to　a　boat；　by　four　soldiers；　speaking　kind；　consoling　words　to　the　wounded　man；　and　expressing　the　hope　that　Allah；　in　his　mercy；　would　soon　restore　him　to　health；　as　his　injuries　were　light。

Bardissi　gazed　at　him　fixedly　with　his　dark；　glittering　eyes。　〃And　is　it　then　really　true；　Mohammed　Aliare　we　to　be　conveyed　to　the　shore；　and　set　at　liberty？　Are　we　not　to　die？〃

〃It　is　true。　Lord　Hutchinson　demands　that　you　be　set　at　liberty。　The　capitan　has　consented；　and　you　are　now　to　be　conveyed　to　the　shore。〃

〃Is　it　not　a　new　trap　set　for　us？　Will　the　bottom　of　our　boats　not　open；　and　let　us　sink　down　into　the　sea？〃

〃You　are　to　be　delivered　up　to　the　Englishman；〃　replied　Mohammed　Ali；　quietly。

〃I　do　not　trust　the　word　of　the　capitan　pacha；〃　said　Bardissi；　shaking　his　head。　〃Give　me　your　word；　Mohammed　Ali；　that　we　shall　be　safely　conveyed　to　the　shoreI　will　believe　you。　Tell　me；　truly；　shall　we　not　be　cast　into　the　sea；　or　assassinated　before　we　reach　the　land？〃

〃No；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　no！　You　will　land　safely；　and　if　it　be　Allah's　will；　a　day　will　come　when　Mohammed　Ali　will　extend　his　hand　to　you　and　call　you　his　friend。　Who　knows？　Allah's　sun　shines　everywhere。　Men　call　themselves　friends　to…day；　who　but　yesterday　were　enemies；　and　the　friends　of　to…day　may　to…morrow　be　enemies。　Allah's　will　alone　decides　our　destiny！〃

〃To…day　you　call　yourself　my　enemy；〃　said　Bardissi；　〃but　I　already　call　you　my　friend！　You　have　preserved　my　life；　and；　by　Allah；　Bardissi　swears　that　you　are　henceforth　his　friend！　If　you　should　ever　need　a　friend；　call　Bardissi；　the　Mameluke　bey；　and　he　will　hear　your　call　wherever　he　may　be；　if　not　above　with　Allah。　And　now；　farewell！〃

〃Farewell；　and　may　Allah　restore　you　to　health！〃　said　Mohammed；　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　am　thinking　of　the　hour　when　we　two　foolish　boys　first　met；　and　tried　to　outdo　each　other　in　vain　and　frivolous　words。　Men　speak　little；　but　think　much；　and　prepare　for　the　future。　Allah's　blessing　attend　you！〃

Mohammed　returned　to　the　deck　of　the　ship；　and　looked　down　at　the　boats　that　were　now　steering　with　their　bleeding；　groaning　burden　toward　the　shore。　Lord　Hutchinson；　who　had　ordered　everything　to　be　held　in　readiness　for　immediate　conflict　should　his　demand　not　be　comp