mohammed ali and his house-第56部分

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g　to　be　held　in　readiness　for　immediate　conflict　should　his　demand　not　be　complied　with；　stood　on　the　shore　with　his　staff；　awaiting　the　arrival　of　the　boats。　His　eyes　filled　with　tears　as　he　saw　them　approach。　〃Forgive　me；　poor；　bleeding　victims　of　treachery；　for　having　allowed　myself　to　be　deceived　by　flatteries　and　promises！〃

The　wounded　bowed　their　heads；　and　looked　at　him　almost　compassionately。

〃It　is　well　that　there　are　men　who　can　still　be　deceived；　who　still　have　faith　in　the　word　and　honor　of　men。　We　will　trust　them　no　more；　and　will　have　vengeance　for　this　deed　of　treachery；　bloody　vengeance　on　him　who　is　about　to　enter　our　holy　city　as　king。　Our　curse　accompany　him　to　the　holy　mosque；　and；　wherever　he　may　go；　may　it　rest　beside　him　on　his　couch　in　the　citadel！　Cairo；　the　holy；　the　beloved；　is　ours。　We　will　fight　him　who　calls　himself　viceroy；　and　contend　with　him　for　every　inch　of　land。　And　you；　brave　Englishmen；　will　help　us　in　our　struggle；　will　you　not？〃

Lord　Hutchinson　shook　his　head。

〃No；　Osman　Bey　Bardissi！　God　be　praised；　we　are　about　to　leave　here！　my　king　and　my　duty　call　me　away；　and　I　am　pleased　that　it　is　so。　Continue　your　conflict　with　the　Turks；　and　I　confess　I　wish　you　success　in　your　struggle。　I　am　glad　that　I　shall　no　longer　be　compelled　to　breathe　this　air；　polluted　with　treachery！　Your　rescue　is　my　last　act　here。　Now；　let　us　go　and　see　whether　any　of　you　are　missing。　They　shall　bring　you　all　here；　I　swear　it　by　my　king；　I　will　have　you　all；　and　not　one　shall　be　withheld！〃

Three　of　the　number　who　had　gone　out　in　the　boats　in　the　morning　were　missing。

〃These　three　must　be　brought　here！〃

This　was　the　import　of　Lord　Hutchinson's　message　to　the　capitan　pacha；　and　the　latter；　all　complacency　and　obedience；　now　that　the　bloody　work　was　done；　sent　out　divers　to　look　for　the　dead　in　the　sea。　They　were　recovered；　and　humbly　deposited　at　the　feet　of　the　Englishman。

While　Lord　Hutchinson　and　Sitta　Nefysseh　returned　with　the　wounded　to　Alexandria；　where　the　wives　of　the　disabled　and　dead　Mamelukes　were　weeping　and　lamenting；　Mohammed　Ali　returned　to　the　ship。　The　soldiers　were　nearly　all　disembarked；　silence　reigned　in　the　ship；　and　its　blood…stained　deck　alone　bore　evidence　of　the　murderous　deed　that　had　been　done。

Mohammed　caused　these　stains　to　be　hastily　removed；　he　well　knew　that　these　traces　of　bloody　treachery　would　be　viewed　by　the　delicate　and　sensitive　Osman　with　horror。

He　then　went　down　into　the　cabin　to　his　friend。　Osman　received　him　with　outstretched　arms；　gazing　at　him　sadly　but　tenderly。

〃I　have　done　as　you　requested；　Mohammed；　and　have　not　left　my　cabin；　though　alarmed　by　the　cries　and　tumult　above　me。　I　knew　my　Mohammed　had　bloody　work　to　do。　I　was　sorry　for　you；　and　yet　I　knew　that　you　could　not　prevent　it。〃

〃No；　I　could　not　prevent　it；〃　said　Mohammed；　gloomily；　〃and　yet；　Osman；　my　soul　shudders　when　I　think　of　it。　I　have　received　to…day　the　baptism　of　my　new　existence；　and　it　is　no　longer　the　Mohammed　you　loved　who　stands　before　you。　I　have　to…day　been　compelled　to　lend　a　helping　hand　to　treachery；　but　it　was　Allah's　will；　and　the　soldier　must　obey　his　superior's　commands。　I　obeyed；　Osman；　nothing　more。　The　curse　of　this　evil　deed　does　not　fall　on　me。　Though　my　hand　is　blood…stained；　it　is　yet　innocent。〃

〃You　have　undergone　a　fearful　baptism；〃　murmured　Osman；　shuddering。　〃I　read　it　in　your　pale　countenance；　my　Mohammeda　fearful　baptism。　You　must；　however；　march　on　boldly　in　your　career。　Do　you　now　understand　why　Osman　was　so　anxious　to　accept　the　position　of　captain　of　the　troops？　Do　you　now　understand　why　I　took　this　step；　and　do　you　now　comprehend　my　love　and　friendship；　Mohammed？〃

〃I　understand　it　all；　and　I　bless　you；　my　Osman；　creator　of　my　new　existence！　I　thank　you；　Osman；　and　when　after　long　years　the　fame　of　your　Mohammed's　deeds　shall　reach　your　ear；　when　my　mother's　dream　is　fulfilled；　and　I　am　crowned　and　seated　on　a　throne　that　stands　on　the　summit　of　a　palace；　then　remember；　my　Osman；　that　you　are　the　creator　of　my　fortune；　and　that　Mohammed　Ali　blesses　his　friend　with　every　breath。　I　swear　eternal　love　and　friendship　for　you；　my　Osman；　and　I　swear；　too；　that　the　thought　of　you　shall　make　me　mild　and　humane　toward　my　enemies。〃

〃Even　when　you　stand　before　your　enemy；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　Mohammed？〃　asked　Osman。

〃Why　do　you　name　him　at　such　a　time？　〃　murmured　Mohammed；　with　a　slight　shudder。　〃Do　you　know　that　I　am　to　be　sent　to　him？　The　capitan　pacha　perhaps　observed；　by　my　manner　and　voice；　that　I　also　do　not　love　Cousrouf　Pacha；　whom　he　hates；　he　warmly　recommends　me　to　him；　and　I　am　to　go　to　him　to　serve　him。〃

〃And　will　you　enter　his　service？〃　asked　Osman。

〃I　will　do　so；〃　replied　Mohammed；　〃and　I　have　sworn　that　I　will　serve　the　Viceroy　of　Egypt　as　my　heart　prompts。〃

Both　were　still　for　a　while；　and　seemed　disinclined　to　break　the　silence。

〃You　will　serve　him　as　your　heart　prompts；〃　said　Osman；　in　a　low　voice。　〃In　this　case；　do　you　think　Cousrouf　Pacha　will　long　remain　great　and　mighty　in　Cairo？〃

Mohammed　smiled　faintly。

〃Osman；　I　am　almost　disposed　to　be　afraid　of　you。　Your　question　tells　me　that　you　read　my　most　secret　thoughts。　Let　your　question　remain　unanswered　for　the　present。　I　will　communicate　with　you　from　time　to　time；　Osman；　and　send　you　loving　messages；　you　may　rest　assured。　I　have　one　request　to　make　still：　when　you　return　home　to　Cavalla；　greet　the　wife　that　you　gave　me；　and　also　greet　and　kiss　my　children。　And　then；　Osman；　if　you　are　able；　go　down　to　the　cliffs；　take　up　a　stone　from　the　shore　and　throw　it　into　the　sea；　and　when　the　circles　form　around　the　place　where　it　went　down；　and　the　waves　curl　upon　the　shore；　say　this：　'Mohammed　greets　you；　Masa；　and　he　begins　the　work　of　holy　vengeance！　Rest　quietly　in　your　grave；　Masa；　Mohammed　Ali　is　keeping　watch　for　you　and　for　himself；　the　work　of　vengeance　is　begun！'〃




CHAPTER　VIII

THE　VICEROY　OF　EGYPT。


To…day　all　Cairo　is　in　a　state　of　joyous　excitement。　The　days　of　want　and　care　have　passedwho　now　remembers　the　terrors　of　yesterday？　Who　still　remembers　the　days　when　the　Frank　ruled　here；　when　the　terrible　general　made　the　people　bow　their　heads　beneath　the　yoke？　Yes；　on　this　same　square　of　the　Esbekieh；　have　they　lain　in　the　dust　before　the　mighty　general　who　stood　before　them　a　giant；　though　small　in　stature。　Who　still　thinks　of　the　misery　and　disgrace　of　those　days？　Forgotten！　all　forgotten！　Two　years　are　a　long　period　for　the　remembrance　of　a　people；　and　two　years　have　passed　since　Bonaparte　departed；　and　more　than　a　year　has　elapsed　since　the　last　of　the　Franks　withdrew　from　Egypt。

〃All　hail　the　new　viceroy　sent　us　by　our　master　in　Stamboul！　he　will　make　us　happy；　and　relieve　us　of　the　unending　struggles　of　the　Mameluke　beys！　Long　live　Cousrouf　Pacha；　our　new　viceroy！〃

These　cries　rend　the　air　as　the　surging　crowds　make　their　way　toward　Boulak；　from　which　place　Cousrouf　Pacha　is　to　make　his　grand　entrance　into　the　holy　city。　All　the　authorities　have　assembled　there　to　participate　in　the　celebration；　there　are　the　ulemas　in　their　long　caftans；　and　the　sheiks　in　their　green　robes；　the　crescent　embroidered　on　their　turbans　in　token　of　their　dignity；　there　are　also　the　generals　of　the　Turkish　and　English　regiments；　the　latter　only　remaining　in　Cairo　to　take　part　in　the　festivities　of　the　viceroy's　entrance。　And　now　the　new　ruler　approaches　in　his　splendor。　The　Nile；　broad　as　it　is　at　Boulak；　is　nevertheless　covered　with　boats；　in　which　the　viceroy　is　approaching　with　his　numerous　and　glittering　suite。　He　stands　on　the　deck　of　a　large　boat；　surrounded　by　a　group　of　distinguished　Turks　and　Englishmen；　all　the　consuls　of　the　friendly　powers　are　with　him；　and　this　seems　to　the　shouting　populace　a　guarantee　of　returning　peace。

The　boat　is　brought　alongside　the　bridge　of　boats　that　connects　Boulak　with　the　opposite　shore。　As　Cousrouf　Pacha　now　steps　out　upon　the　bridge　covered　with　costly　carpets　and　strewed　with　flowers；　thousands　of　voices　from　both　shores　hail　the　viceroy　as　their　deliverer　with　shouts　of　joy。　The　pacha　bows　a　kindly　greeting　in　every　direction；　and　then　casts　a　glance　toward　the　horizon；　where；　in　the　purple　distance；　the　pyramids　stand　out；　sharply　defined　against　the　sky。　He　bows　his　head　still　more　profoundly；　and　remembers　that　he　is　now　the　successor　of　the　great　Pharaohs　who　erected　these　monuments　to　themselves。

〃I；　too；　will　erect　such　a　monument。　After　thousands　of　years　the　world　shall　still　speak　of　meof　the　Viceroy；　perhaps　of　the　King；　of　Egypt。〃

Such　are　his　thoughts　as　be　walks　across　the　bridge　to　the　carriage　of　state　in　which　he　is　to　make　his　entrance。　The　ulemas　receive　him。　〃Long　live　the　ambassador　of　the　prophet！　Long　live　the　blessed　of　Allah！〃　resound　from　the　lips　of　the　thousands　assembled　upon　the　shore　and　in　the　streets　of　the　city。

How　radiant　is　Cousrouf　Pacha's　countenance！　How　little　the　viceroy　of　to…day　resembles　the　exiled　pacha　of　the　past；　during　his　weary　sojourn　in　Cavalla；　with　nothing　to　enliven　him　but　his　little　struggle　with　the　boy　Mohammed　and　his　harem！　A　land　is　now　at　his　feet。　Onward　the　procession　moves　through　the　crowds　that　throng　the　streets；　they　have　now　turned　into　the　Muskj　Streetthe　beautiful　street；　the　pride　of　the　inhabitants；　with　its　old…fashioned；　lofty　houses。　Onward　the　procession　moves　toward　the　citadel。　There；　in　the　beautiful　palace；　will　the　viceroy　be　enthroned。　〃Long　live　our　new　ruler！　Long　live　our　viceroy！〃　These　are　the　cries　that　greet　him　throughout　his　entire　march　to　the　citadel；　and　these　cries　still　rend　the　air　long　after　Cousrouf　Pacha　has　entered　the　palace；　at　whose　gates　he　had　been　received　by　the　grand　dignitaries　of　the　land。　He　greeted　them　all　in　brief　but　kindly　terms；　and　then　retired　to　the　private　apartments　of　his　palace。

He　now　reclines　on　his　cushions；　thinking　of　his　past　and　of　his　future。　A　glad　smile　lights　up　his　countenance。　The　way　was　long　and　weary；　but　its　obstacles　have　now　been　overcome。　Once　he　was　a　slave；　but　he　had　sworn　to　struggle　for　a　great　aim。　He　has　kept　his　oath。　Here　he　is　the　first；　the　ruler。　Who　knows　but　he　may　yet　completely　cast　off　the　burden　of　dependence；　and　become　absolutely　free