mohammed ali and his house-第72部分

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h　to　pay　the　general's　salary。〃

Cousrouf　Pacha　takes　from　his　own　private　funds　ten　purses　of　gold…　pieces。　He　carries　them　himself　to　the　apartment　in　which　be　intends　to　receive　the　sarechsme。

In　the　mean　while　the　minister　of　finance　had；　in　accordance　with　the　viceroy's　instructions；　repaired　with　great　haste　to　the　palace　in　which　the　sarechsme　resided。　A　body　of　Albanian　soldiers　were　encamped　about　the　palace。　They　called　themselves　the　body…guard　of　the　sarechsme。　The　heart　of　the　finance　minister　throbbed　with　dismay　when　he　beheld　their　daring；　resolute　faces。

〃If　this　is　the　sarechsme's　body…guard；　then　woe　to　the　viceroy！〃　said　he　to　himself；　as　he　ascended　the　stairway　that　led　to　the　general's　apartment。　With　a　trembling　voice　and　humble　demeanor；　he　delivered　the　viceroy's　message　to　the　general。

〃He　begs　you　to　come　to　him。　He　wishes　to　be　reconciled　to　you；　he　will　himself　hand　you　the　arrearages　of　pay。　But　I　entreat　you；　come　without　your　great　suiteit　might　be　wrongly　interpreted。　I　mean　well　with　you；　I　am　your　friend。　Do　not　come　with　your　body…guard；　sarechsme。〃

〃We　two　should　understand　each　other　better；〃　replied　Mohammed；　smiling　derisively。　〃You　tremble　for　me。　I　thank　you；　but　see；　I　am　not　trembling　at　all　myself。　He　who　pursues　an　honest　course　and　is　faithful　to　his　master　and　his　service；　has　no　occasion　to　tremble。　This　you　shall　see；　for　I　intend　to　go　to　the　viceroy　entirely　alone。　Only　my　men　shall　at　least　know　where　I　have　gone；　that　is　all。　Come！〃

With　a　haughty　smile；　the　defterdar　following；　he　descended　the　broad　stairway　of　his　palace；　and　cordially　greeted　the　soldiers　standing　about　the　gateway；　who　received　him　with　shouts　of　joy。

〃Be　patient；　my　friends；　I　entreat　you；　be　patient；　and　await　my　return。　I　will　return　in　an　hour；　wait　here　for　me　that　long。　Should　I　not　return　by　that　time；　seek　me。〃

The　defterdar；　who　hears　every　word　of　this；　murmurs　to　himself：　〃It　will　be　necessary　to　acquaint　his　highness　with　this；　that　he　may　be　on　his　guard；　and　not　detain　the　sarechsme　in　his　fortress　too　long。　The　consequences　might　be　dangerous。〃

In　humble　terms　he　begs　to　be　permitted　to　hasten　in　advance　to　announce　his　coming　to　the　viceroy。　The　sarechsme　assents　with　a　gracious　inclination　of　the　head；　and　smiles　benignantly　on　the　finance　minister。

〃We　understand　each　other　right　well；　my　good　defterdar。　You　are　right；　go　in　advance；　and　announce　me　to　the　viceroy。〃

He　waited　a　short　time　in　the　court…yard；　conversing　with　the　soldiers　who　gathered　around　him　to　complain　of　their　wrongs。

〃I　am　going　up　to　the　citadel　to　the　viceroy；　in　your　interests。　Wait　patiently　for　an　entire　hour；〃　repeated　Mohammed。

He　then　mounts　his　horse　and　rides　up　to　the　citadel。　The　defterdar　has　hardly　had　time　to　convey　the　warning　to　the　viceroy：

〃Do　not　detain　him　here　too　long；　highness。　If　he　remains　here　longer　than　an　hour；　his　soldiers　will　come　up　here　after　him　in　open　revolt。　Taher's　troops　have　not　gone　to　their　barracks；　and　are　only　awaiting　the　signal　to　join　them。〃

Cousrouf　nodded　his　assent；　and　muttered　to　himself：　〃I　was　wrong　in　not　treading　this　viper　under　foot　in　Cavalla；　now　it　intends　to　bite　meI　feel　it；　it　intends　to　bite　me；　but　it　shall　not。　I　will　draw　its　fangs。〃

His　Nubian　slave　now　enters　and　announces　to　his　master　that　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　stands　without；　awaiting　his　pleasure。　Cousrouf's　countenance　quickly　assumes　a　friendly　expression。

〃Leave　me；　defterdar；　and　await　me　in　the　next　room。　I　shall　not　detain　the　sarechsme　long。〃

The　defterdar　withdrew；　and　the　Nubian　slave　opened　the　door　to　admit　the　general。　With　a　military　greeting；　Mohammed　Ali　entered；　and　advanced　toward　the　viceroy；　who；　on　this　occasion；　received　him　standing；　and　not　indolently　reclining　on　his　cushions；　as　was　his　habit；　he　even　stepped　forward　to　meet　him；　extending　his　hand；　and　saluting　more　cordially　than　usual。

〃Sarechsme；　when　we　last　met；　it　was　in　anger。　This　I　have　deeply　regretted；　for　you　know　what　I　think　of　you。〃

〃Yes；　highness；　I　know　what　you　think　of　me；〃　replied　Mohammed；　quietly。

The　viceroy　saw　the　derisive　smile　that　played　about　his　lips。

〃I　think　well　of　you；　Mohammed！　I　expect　great　things　of　you；　and　know　that　you　are　the　truest　and　most　devoted　of　my　servants。〃

Mohammed　looked　up　at　him　with　a　strange；　inquiring　glance。　〃Of　your　servants；　highness？　I　did　not　know　that　I　was　one　of　them。　I　am　devoted　to　you；　as　the　general　of　the　viceroy's　troops　should　be；　yet　both　of　us　are　the　servants　of　our　master；　the　grand…sultan；　at　Stamboul。〃

〃You　are　right；　both　of　us　are　servants；　the　grand…sultan　is　master　of　us　both；　but　I　am　his　representative　here；　and　it　therefore　follows　that　the　proud　sarechsme　need　not　blush　when　I　call　him　my　faithful　servant；　as　I　stand　for　him　in　the　place　of　the　grand…　sultan。　And　it　is　because　you　recognize　in　me　his　representative；　and　because　you　have　sworn　to　serve　him　faithfully；　that　I　have　such　confidence　in　your　devotion　to　me。〃

〃Highness；　I　am　faithful　to　my　oath；　faithful　to　the　grand…sultan；　and　faithful　to　you。　I　deeply　regret　that　discord　has　arisen　between　you　and　me；　ever　devoted　to　you　as　I　am。　But　let　us　not　speak　of　this。　I　suppose　you　have　called　me　on　account　of　my　troops。　They　have　long　received　no　pay；　they　are　without　food；　and　their　clothes　are　in　rags。　They　need　and　demand　their　pay。　I；　as　their　protector　and　general；　must　insist　on　your　compliance　with　their　just　demand。〃

〃The　week　within　which　I　promised　to　pay　them　has　not　yet　elapsed；　four　days　still　remain；〃　said　Cousrouf；　suppressing　his　rage　with　difficulty；　〃therefore　wait　for　your　soldiers'　pay；　but　you；　Mohammed；　you　shall　not　wait。　See　how　I　honor　and　esteem　you！　There　lie　ten　purses　of　gold…pieces；　that　is　your　salary。　I　joyously　give　it　you　out　of　my　own　private　funds。　Take　your　pay；　my　sarechsme！〃

He　pointed　to　a　little　marble　table；　on　which　the　ten　purses；　through　whose　meshes　the　gold…pieces　glittered；　were　laid　in　a　row。

〃I　accept　them；　highness。　It　is　my　salary；　and　I　am　justly　entitled　to　it。　I　accept　them；　and；　though　you　only　gave　me　my　due；　I　nevertheless　thank　you　for　having　done　so。〃

〃And　you　are　now　reconciled；　Mohammed　Ali；　and　no　longer　angry？〃　said　Cousrouf；　in　flattering　tones。

Mohammed　bowed　profoundly。

〃How　could　I　presume　to　be　angry　with　your　gracious　highness？　You　know　my　devotion　to　you；　Cousrouf。〃

〃Prove　it！　Give　me　your　advice。　You　know　the　country；　you　know　the　city；　your　eye　is　quick；　and　you　observe　much。　I　know　Mohammed　Ali　never　walks　indolently　through　the　streets；　his　eye　sees　more　than　other　eyes；　his　ear　hears　more　than　other　ears；　he　knows　far　more　than　any　of　my　servants。　O　Mohammed；　if　many　of　them　were　like　you；　I　need　not　be　anxious　and　pass　sleepless　nights。　But　you；　Mohammed；　are　wise　and　shrewd；　and　have　much　experience　and　knowledge　of　the　world。　Advise　me；　sarechsme；　as　to　the　means　of　raising　money。　I　myself；　I　confess；　am　at　a　loss　to　devise　new　means　of　replenishing　my　empty　coffers。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　the　high　honor　you　do　me；〃　replied　Mohammed。　〃Advise　you；　the　wise　and　experienced　statesman！　How　flattering　such　a　privilege　to　me！　Yet；　unfortunately；　I　must　confess　that　I　know　not　what　to　advise。　But；〃　he　suddenly　added；　〃one　thing　occurs　to　me。　You　have　taxed　the　merchants；　you　have　taken　money　from　the　ulemas；　you　have　exacted　it　from　the　sheiks；　but　one　thing　you　have　forgottento　tax　the　women；　highness！〃

〃The　women！〃　said　Cousrouf；　recoiling　a　step。　〃How　could　I　tax　the　women？　What　women？〃

〃The　wives　of　the　Mameluke　beys！〃　replied　Mohammed。　〃You　were　gracious　enough；　highness；　to　permit　these　ladies　to　remain　here　in　their　palaces；　in　which　they　were　accustomed　to　live　like　princesses。〃

〃I　gave　my　word；　Mohammed　Ali；　that　the　wives　of　the　Mameluke　beys　should　remain　here；　and　that　they　should　not　be　molested。　I　gave　my　word。　I　did　it　because　I　knew　that　the　people　would　suffer　if　the　rich　ladies；　whose　splendid　house　holds　give　employment　and　food　to　so　many　people；　should　be　banished　from　the　city。　I　did　it　for　this　reason；　and　must　now　keep　my　word。〃

〃And　they　shall　remain　here　unmolested；　highness。　Their　liberty　is　not　to　be　curtailed；　neither　is　any　harm　to　be　done　to　their　persons。　But　they　must　yield　to　necessity；　and　surrender　some　of　their　treasure。　Mourad　Bey's　widow　alone　is　very　rich。〃

〃Rich　and　courted　by　all　the　world！〃　cried　Cousrouf　Pacha。　〃All　Cairo　is　devoted　to　her！　She　is　honored　like　a　saint　almost。〃

〃Because　she　is　rich；〃　replied　Mohammed；　quietly。　〃The　rich　are　always　honored；　the　world　falls　down　and　worships　them；　but　let　them　become　poor；　and　the　world　drags　them　into　the　dust；　and　thus　avenges　itself　for　its　former　humiliation。　Sitta　Nefysseh；　Mourad's　widow；　is　rich。　Her　apartments；　I　am　told；　glitter　with　golden　dishes　and　vases；　gold　and　silver　coins　are　piled　up　in　closets；　and　whole　chests　are　filled　with　jewelry　and　precious　stones　of　every　description；　brought　home　by　Mourad　from　his　wars。〃

The　viceroy's　eyes　sparkled。

〃It　would　certainly　be　desirable　to　get　possession　of　some　of　this　treasure；　yet　we　cannot　become　robbers。　If　we　could　do　so　by　lawful　means；　it　would　be　well。　Tell　me　of　some　such　means；　Mohammed　Ali。〃

〃I　know　of　no　such　means；　highness；〃　said　Mohammed；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃I　only　know　that　Sitta　Nefysseh；　as　it　is　said；　has　a　secret　understanding　with　the　beys；　the　comrades　of　her　deceased　husband。　As　I　understand　it；　you　only　promised　the　wives　of　the　Mamelukes　permission　to　remain　here；　and　protection　under　the　condition　that　they　were　to　abstain　from　all　intercourse　with　the　Mameluke　beys。　Yet　it　is　known　that　Osman　Bardissi　and　L'Elfi　Bey；　the　two　Mameluke　chieftains；　were　not　long　since　in　Cairo；　and　that　they　paid　the　Sitta　a　visit。　They　both　love　her。　They　adore　her；　and　defy　every　danger　in　order　to　see　her。　Of　this　I　am　certain；　highness。〃

〃If　this　is　true；〃　cried　Cousrouf；　〃I　have　some　pretext　for　calling　her　to　account。〃

〃And　true　it　is；　I　assure　you；〃　replied　Mohammed。　〃I　myself　saw　Bardissi　as　he　stepped　out　of　the　back　gate　of　the　park　and　mounted　his　horse；　and　a　short　time　before　I　saw　L'Elfi。　Perhaps　they　had　both　c