mohammed ali and his house-第71部分

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on　the　ground　that　smoked　with　the　blood　of　so　many　victims？　Was　this　his　mission；　and　was　there　a　way　that　would　lead　him　up　the　steep　ascent　to　the　throne？　All　this　he　considered　earnestly　and　profoundly　throughout　the　entire　night；　and；　when　the　rising　sun　had　dispelled　the　clouds　of　the　morning；　it　was　clear；　too；　in　his　soul。　He　saw　the　way　he　must　go　to　reach　his　goal。

〃And　this　way　I　will　go；〃　said　he　to　himself；　in　low　tones。　〃I　will　consider　nothing　but　my　interest　and　my　aim。　I　will　avail　myself　of　all　means　that　are　useful。　Wise；　shrewd；　cautious；　using　every　thing；　and　recoiling　from　nothing；　let　this　be　the　motto　of　my　immediate　future：　'To　overthrow　the　enemy　by　rebellion　were　unwise；　he　who　usurps　another's　place　is　always　a　rebel；　and　deserving　of　punishment。'　I　must　be　called　to　the　throne　by　the　people　themselves；　then　I　shall　be　a　legitimate　ruler。　To　attain　this　be　your　task；　Mohammed　Ali。　Equip　yourself　and　collect　your　energies。　Be　the　lion　and　the　tiger；　the　serpent　and　the　hero：　in　this　way　only　can　you　accomplish　your　end。〃

Early　on　the　following　morning　the　videttes　announced　to　the　sarechsme　that　no　trace　of　the　enemy　was　anywhere　to　be　seen。

〃Then　we　shall　return　to　Cairo；〃　said　the　sarechsme　to　his　bim　bashis；　〃give　orders　to　prepare　to　march。〃

The　loud　shouts　of　joy　that　resounded　without　announced　to　the　sarechsme　that　the　soldiers　were　well　pleased　to　return　home。　〃I　am；　too！〃　said　he　to　himself；　smiling。　〃I　am　well　pleased　that　we　are　not　compelled　to　confront　the　Mamelukes！　Perhaps　we　shall　soon　be　fighting　side　by　side！〃

In　the　meanwhile　intelligence　of　the　defeat　of　the　Turkish　army　had　reached　Cairo。　Many　had　heard　it　with　intense　satisfaction；　many　with　sorrow；　according　to　whether　they　were　friends　or　enemies　of　the　viceroy。

Yet；　when　Mohammed　Ali's　troops　marched　through　the　streets；　they　were　greeted　with　shouts　of　joy。　They　returned；　as　the　sarechsme　had　ordered；　quietly　to　their　barracks。

Mohammed　Ali　also　repaired　to　his　house　to　rest　and　to　wait。

In　the　meanwhile　the　remnant　of　the　defeated　army　had　also　returned　to　Cairo；　and　Youssouf　Bey；　who　had　succeeded　in　making　his　escape　from　the　slaughter；　repaired；　at　the　very　hour　when　Mohammed　entered　the　city　with　his　troops　to　the　citadel；　to　the　viceroy。　With　furious　despair　and　tears　of　rage；　he　told　the　story　of　his　terrible　defeat；　thinking　by　this　display　of　anguish　to　wash　his　hands　of　the　disgrace　of　having　been　vanquished　with　three　thousand　Turks　by　eight　hundred　Mamelukes！　But；　as　though　the　number　of　his　troops　ought　not　to　have　been　sufficient　to　insure　victory　over　the　small　force　of　the　Mamelukes；　he　sought　to　throw　the　blame　on　others。

〃I　was　betrayedbetrayed！　Mohammed　Ali　and　Taher　Pacha　are　to　blame　for　this　disaster。　They　should　have　come　to　my　assistance；　but　they　left　me　to　shift　for　myself。　That　is　infamous　conduct！　Here；　before　your　throne；　I　accuse　of　treason；　above　all；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　also　Taher　Pacha！　They　knew　I　was　in　danger：　had　they　come　up；　I　should　not　have　lost　the　battle；　but　they　did　not　come；　because　they　desired　my　downfall；　in　order　that　they　might　ascend　to　the　height　of　your　favor　over　my　neck！　They　are　both　traitors。　I　entreat　you　to　cause　searching　inquiries　to　be　made；　and　to　hold　to　a　strict　accountability　those　who　so　shamefully　deserted　me。〃

Cousrouf　Pacha　felt　deeply　touched　by　the　anguish　and　despair　of　his　favorite；　and　perhaps　he　also　felt　a　foreboding　rise　in　his　heart　that　Mohammed　Ali　was　still　his　enemy；　and　was　seeking　revenge　for　his　long…since…destroyed　happiness。

〃You　are　right；　Youssouf　Bey。　I　promise　you　strict　investigation　shall　be　made；　and　woe　to　them　if　they　fail　to　justify　themselves！〃

A　messenger　entered　to　announce　to　the　viceroy　that　Mohammed　Ali　had　returned　to　Cairo　with　his　troops。　The　viceroy　immediately　dispatched　a　messenger　to　the　sarechsme；　ordering　him　to　come　up　to　the　citadel　at　once；　and　without　any　delay　whatever；　to　render　account　to　the　viceroy　of　his　action。

Mohammed　heard　the　command　with　perfect　composure。　〃Tell　the　viceroy　that　I　will　come　up　to　the　citadel　tomorrow；　in　the　broad　light　of　day；　with　my　soldiers。　My　weary　troops　must　rest　tonight；　and　without　them　I　do　not　desire　to　appear　before　your　master。　Therefore；　tomorrow　morning；　rest　assured　that　I　shall　come。〃

As　he　had　said；　in　the　broad　light　of　day；　and　accompanied　by　his　soldiers；　the　sarechsme　repaired　to　the　citadel。　An　ominous　cry　resounded　from　their　lips　as　they　stood　before　the　gateway；　and　this　cry　was　heard　in　the　apartment　of　the　viceroy。

〃We　demand　our　pay！　We　want　bread；　we　want　money！〃　This　was　the　soldiers'　cry。　Now；　surrounded　by　his　bim　bashis　and　boulouk　bashis；　the　sarechsme　entered　the　apartment　of　the　viceroy；　Cousrouf　Pacha；　who　was　awaiting　him。　In　utter　disregard　of　deference　and　usage；　the　general　did　not　wait　to　be　addressed　by　the　viceroy。　With　a　military　greeting；　he　stepped　forward　and　said；　in　a　loud　voice：

〃As　you　hear；　highness；　your　troops　have　come　to　demand　of　you　that　to　which　they　have　assuredly　long　been　entitledthey　have　come　to　demand　their　pay！〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Cousrouf；　in　low　tones；　casting　a　furtive　glance　of　hatred　at　Mohammed〃I　see　that　you　are　still　the　insolent　boy　of　Cavalla！〃

〃I　believe；〃　replied　Mohammed；　also　speaking　in　subdued　tones〃　I　believe　we　are　both　what　we　then　were；　and　I　shall　prove　it　to　you！〃

He　stepped　back。　No　one　had　heard　the　brief　conversation　that　passed　between　them；　but　every　one　saw　Cousrouf's　cheek　grow　pale；　and　his　eye　sparkle　with　anger。

〃I　will　send　you　an　answer；〃　said　he；　after　a　pause。　〃Return　to　your　house；　and　order　the　soldiers　to　return　to　their　barracks。　My　defterdar　will　bring　you　an　answer。〃

He　turned　and　left　the　apartment。

〃Well；　for　this　time　we　will　be　patient　and　wait；〃　said　Mohammed；　addressing　his　officers。

His　voice　was　threatening；　and　his　officers　understood　that　their　general　was　prepared　to　resort　to　extreme　measures；　and　they　rejoiced　over　it；　for　the　viceroy　was　always　haughty　and　overbearing　in　his　manner　toward　them；　and　they　all　hated　him。　They　would　all　have　been　pleased　to　see　their　bold　general　revolt　against　him。

〃We　will　wait；〃　they　whispered　to　each　other〃　we　will　wait！　What　our　sarechsme　does；　we　will　do　also！〃

They　returned；　in　obedience　to　his　command；　to　their　quarters　and　barracks。

The　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　a　peculiar　smile　on　his　lips；　also　returned　to　his　palace。

〃The　decisive　hour　approaches！　Cousrouf　Pacha　shall　be　convinced　that　I；　as　he　says；　am　still　the　same　Mohammed　Ali　I　was　at　Cavalla！　Yes；　still　the　same；　and　still　determined　to　have　revenge！




CHAPTER　IV

THE　REVOLT。


To　have　gained　a　week　is　to　have　gained　a　great　deal。

Within　this　time　the　viceroy　will　succeed　in　replenishing　his　coffers。　His　defterdar　is　very　skillful　in　the　art　of　getting　money；　and　who　should　understand　the　art　if　not　the　minister　of　finance？　He　will　find　means　to　collect　from　the　ulemas；　from　the　rich　sheiks；　and　from　the　merchants；　money　enough　to　quiet　his　rebellious　troops。　A　week　is　a　long　period；　and　he　will　find　means　to　satisfy　them　all。

But；　after　a　few　days；　the　terrible　intelligence　reaches　Cousrouf　pacha：　Taher　Pacha　is　defeated；　the　stronghold　Migne　has　been　captured　by　the　Mameluke　beys。　Taher　Pacha　is　defeated；　and　is　returning　with　his　army…corps　to　Cairo！

〃He　shall　not　come；　he　must　not　come！〃　cried　the　viceroy；　angrily。　〃No；　he　must　not　come；　as　it　is；　we　have　rebellious　soldiers　enough　here　now。　They　would　unite　with　Taher's　troops；　and　clamor　for　pay　again。　And　our　coffers　are　empty。　Send　messengers　to　meet　the　advancing　troops；　with　instructions　to　General　Taher　to　march　with　his　corps　to　Tantah；　and　there　await　further　orders。　In　any　case；　I　forbid　him　to　return　here　to　Cairo。　Is　my　capital　to　be　made　a　camp？　Is　it　merely　an　immense　barrack　in　which　these　insolent　fellows　are　to　puff　themselves　up　and　do　violence　to　all　honest　and　respectable　people？　It　is　enough　to　have　to　tolerate　Mohammed　Ali　and　his　men　here。　Taher　Pacha　shall　not　unite　with　them。　Quick；　dispatch　the　messengers　at　once！〃

The　messengers；　in　accordance　with　the　viceroy's　instructions；　hastened　forth　in　the　direction　from　which　Taher　must　come。　But　the　messengers　did　not　meet　him。　He　did　not　come　by　the　expected　route。　He　had　taken　anothera　secret　messenger　having　come　to　him　with　this　warning：

〃Hasten　forward；　Taheryou　are　to　be　kept　at　a　distance　from　the　capitol！　It　is　intended　to　withhold　their　pay　from　your　soldiers！〃

He　did　not　know　from　whom　this　messenger　came；　but　he　believed　him。　Resolved　not　to　remain　where　a　message　from　the　viceroy　could　reach　him；　Taher　Pacha　took　another　road；　and；　before　another　messenger　could　reach　him；　Taher　entered　Cairo　with　his　army。　The　uproar　in　the　streets；　the　shouting　of　the　soldiers　as　they　greeted　their　friends；　announced　to　the　viceroy　what　had　taken　place。　And　in　great　wrath　he　learned　from　the　defterdar；　who　came　running　to　the　viceroy　in　despair；　that　his　fears　were　only　too　well　founded。

Yes；　it　was　as　he　expected。　The　soldiers　had　not　gone　to　their　barracks；　Taher　had　not　come　to　seek　repose　in　his　house；　but　to　demand　his　and　his　soldiers'　pay。　〃We　are　in　rags；　and　starving；　we　need　shoes　and　clothes。　Give　us　our　pay；　that　we　may　satisfy　our　hunger　and　clothe　ourselves！〃

〃But　how　am　I　to　pay　them？〃　said　the　defterdar；　addressing　the　viceroy　in　anxious　tones。　〃Our　coffers　are　empty；　and　all　resources　exhausted。　I　know　not　what　to　do　or　where　to　turn。〃

The　viceroy　sat　gazing　at　him　gloomily。　Suddenly　a　thought　seemed　to　occur　to　him；　his　countenance　brightened。　〃Mohammed　Ali　is　shrewd　and　fertile　in　resources。　We　must　apply　to　him。　He　will　help　us　out　of　our　difficulty。　He　is　thoughtful；　cool；　and　resolute。　True；　he　assumed　a　hostile　attitude　toward　me　a　few　days　ago；　but　he　must　be　reconciled。

He　must　be　prevented　from　uniting　with　Taher。　The　two　united　would　be　a　fearful　combination　against　me。〃

He　instructs　the　defterdar　to　go　in　person　to　Mohammed　Ali　to　request　him　to　come　to　the　viceroy。　〃We　cannot　pay　the　troops；　but　we　can　find　enough　to　pay　the　general's　salary。〃

Cousrouf　Pacha　takes　from　his　own　private　funds　ten　purses　of　gol