mohammed ali and his house-第78部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



The　shouting　populace　conducted　Sitta　Nefysseh　in　triumph　through　the　streets。　The　cadi　was　loudly　applauded；　and　the　viceroy　derided。

These　shouts　were　not　only　heard　by　the　viceroy；　but　also　by　Mohammed　Ali　in　his　silent　chamber；　and　they　brought　a　smile　to　his　lips。　He　had　stayed　in　his　apartments　all　day；　and　had　also　commanded　his　soldiers　to　remain　in　their　quarters。

〃It　works　well；〃　said　he　to　himself。　〃These　shouts　show　how　good　was　the　advice　I　gave　him。　Shrewd　as　you　are；　Cousrouf；　you　are　beaten　at　your　own　game。　The　people　are　contented　to　know　you；　enthroned　in　the　citadel。　They　dreamed　of　happiness　and　peace；　and　called　you　a　just　ruler。　I　have　opened　their　eyes。　Today；　they　know　Cousrouf　to　be　an　unjust　ruler；　and　love　him　no　longer。　You　enraged　them　most　when　you　dared　to　insult　the　woman　who　is　most　honored　in　Cairo。　From　this　moment；　not　only　the　men；　but；　what　is　far　worse；　the　women；　are　arrayed　against　you。〃

He　had　risen　and　was　walking　to　and　fro　in　his　apartment。

From　time　to　time　he　stopped　at　the　window　to　listen　to　the　cries　that　resounded　from　the　streets；　and　then　resumed　his　walking。

〃What　curses　good　Cousrouf　must　be　invoking　upon　my　head　at　this　moment！　He　will　have　discovered　by　this　time　that　his　good　friend　Mohammed　still　somewhat　resembles　the　'insolent　lad；'　as　he　always　called　him；　of　Cavalla。　You　have　schooled　me　well；　Cousrouf；　you　have　converted　the　insolent　lad　into　a　lion　who　wears　the　skin　of　a　fox。　You　were　pleased　with　the　fox；　stroked　his　fur；　and　called　him　your　devoted　servant。　But；　only　wait；　the　fox…skin　will　soon　fall　to　the　ground　and　disclose　the　lion　ready　to　destroy　you。　Yes；〃　continued　he；　〃wait　but　a　few　days　longer；　and　this　transformation　shall　take　place。　It　must　take　place。　The　week　will　soon　have　elapsed；　and　then　Bardissi　must　have　my　answer。　Cousrouf　shall　hear　it　and　quake　in　his　citadel。　Everything　is　ready；　and　my　new　friends　shall　soon　hear　from　me。〃

Suddenly　he　stopped　before　the　window　and　listened　attentively。　Fierce　and　savage　cries　had　succeeded　the　shouts　of　joy。　The　voices　of　women　and　children　were　now　hushed；　and　the　hoarse　tones　of　men　only　could　be　heard。　He　hastily　stepped　back　from　the　window。　No；　he　must　not　be　seen。　If　seen；　he　might　be　called　and　compelled　to　join　in　the　movement　against　his　will；　and　the　time　has　not　yet　come。　He　must　still　wait。

He　stood　still　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　listened　to　the　uproar　that　came。

〃This　is　revolt！　These　are　soldiers！〃　said　he　to　himself；　stepping　to　the　door　of　the　antechamber；　and　beckoning　to　a　slave。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this　uproar？〃

〃I　know　not；　sarechsme。　Shall　I　go　down　to　inquire？〃

〃Go　down；　mingle　with　the　crowd；　and　find　out　what　it　means；　and　then　return　to　me　as　quickly　as　possible。〃

The　Nubian　hastened　to　do　his　master's　bidding。　Mohammed　continued　to　walk　to　and　fro。　The　uproar；　as　it　came　nearer；　had　become　intelligible。

〃We　want　money！　Give　us　bread！　We　are　hungry。　and　must　have　our　pay！〃

Such　were　the　savage　cries　that　resounded　from　the　street　below。

〃Ah；　I　understand；〃　said　Mohammed　to　himself　；　〃these　are　Taher　Pacha's　soldiers！　He　has　marched　with　them　into　the　city；　to　begin　the　work　on　his　own　account；　Taher　is　ambitious；　and　wants　the　viceroy's　throne。　He　begins　the　work　of　rebellion　for　himself；　he　will　end　it　for　me；　though　I　can　as　yet　take　no　active　part　in　it！　O　Sitta　Nefysseh；　you　have　brought　me　a　step　nearer　to　the　throne；　and　Taber　is　advancing　me　another。　Wait；　Mohammed；　only　wait。〃

The　Nubian　returned　and　announced　that　a　revolt　had　broken　oat　among　Taber　Pacha's　soldiers。　They　had　gone　to　the　citadel；　and　savagely　demanded　their　pay。　The　viceroy　had　received　a　deputation　sent　by　them；　and　told　them　to　go　to　the　defterdar；　and　demand　payment　of　him　in　the　viceroy's　name。　In　accordance　with　this　demand；　the　soldiers　had　then　repaired　to　the　house　of　the　defterdar；　and　had；　upon　admission　being　denied　them；　broken　down　the　doors。　The　minister　of　finance；　however；　rid　himself　of　them　by　telling　them　to　demand　their　pay　of　Mohammed　Ali；　who　had　a　few　days　before　received　ten　purses　of　gold　from　the　viceroy　for　the　payment　of　the　troops。

〃And　now　the　soldiers　have　come　here；〃　said　the　Nubian；　in　deferential；　anxious　tones。　〃They　have　surrounded　the　house；　and　demand　their　pay。　They　are　furious；　and　swear　by　Allah　and　the　prophet　that　they　will　not　rest　until　they　have　received　the　money　due　them。　They　complain；　too；　of　being　sent　from　house　to　house　like　beggars。〃

〃The　poor　fellows　are　right；〃　said　Mohammed。

Fierce　cries　now　resounded　from　below：

〃We　will　not　be　trodden　under　foot　like　dogs！　We　are　no　beggars！　Give　us　our　pay；　Mohammed　Ali！　The　defterdar　sends　us　to　you！　You　have　our　money；　and　we　want　it！〃

He　sprang　to　the　window；　tore　it　open；　and；　in　tones　that　were　heard　above　the　uproar；　commanded　silence。

〃The　defterdar　has　deceived　you。　I　have　no　money！　I　will　come　down　to　you。〃

He　quickly　stepped　back　from　the　window；　and　laid　the　sword；　dagger；　and　pistols；　that　hung　in　his　belt；　on　the　table。

〃They　shall　see　that　I　am　not　alarmed。　I　will　go　down　to　them　unarmed。〃

No；　Mohammed　Ali　is　not　alarmed；　they　all　perceive　as　he　appears　among　them　unarmed；　and　motions　the　soldiers；　that　are　rushing　upon　him；　back；　with　a　wave　of　the　hand。

〃Stand　back；　soldiers；　and　do　not　forget　that　I　am　the　sarechsme。　Not　your　general；　but　yet；　like　you；　in　the　viceroy's　service。〃

〃Does　he　also　pay　you　as　he　does　us？　〃　asked　a　soldier；　in　mocking　tones。　〃Do　they　also　give　you　empty　promises　instead　of　money？〃

〃That　is　an　insolent　question；〃　said　he。　〃I　will；　however；　answer　it；　because　I　choose　to　do　so。　They　do　not　pay　me。　They　gave　the　sarechsme；　after　he　had　waited　in　vain　for　many　months；　ten　purses　of　gold；　they　owe　him　more。　Ask　my　soldiers　what　I　did　with　this　money。　I　shared　it　with　my　soldiers　as　a　general　should。　I　retained　five　purses；　for　this　amount　was　due　my　creditors。　The　other　five　purses　I　gave　to　my　soldiersnot　as　their　pay；　the　viceroy　owes　them　that；　but　as　a　present　from　me。　I　have　received　no　other　money…　…I　swear　to　this　by　Allah　and　the　prophet。　Go　to　my　soldiers　and　ask　them　if　this　is　not　true；　and　then　do　as　you　think　proper。〃

〃Long　live　Mohammed　Ali！　Long　live　the　generous　sarechsme！〃　cried　one　of　the　soldiers；　and　the　cry　was　taken　up　and　repeated　by　all　the　rest。

〃It　is　needless　to　go　to　the　soldiers；　for　the　sarechsme　tells　the　truth。　Let　us　return　to　the　defterdar；　he　must　and　shall　pay　us！〃

The　revolting　soldiers　surged　on　up　the　street。　Mohammed；　however；　returned　to　his　solitary　apartments　with　a　clearer　brow　and　a　more　derisive　smile　on　his　lips：

〃This　was　well　done；　and　can　tend　only　to　my　advantage。　Taher　Pacha　will　not　be　much　pleased；　either；　when　his　soldiers　tell　him　of　the　presents　made　by　me　to　mine。　The　waves　are　surging　higher　and　higher；　but　I　see　the　boat　in　which　I　am　to　ride　over　them　safely。　The　golden　oars　only　are　wanting；　but　I　shall　find　them；　too！〃

He　called　the　Nubian；　and　commanded　him　to　tell　his　bim　bashis　he　desired　to　see　them。　And　when　they　came　he　conversed　with　them　for　a　long　time；　and　gave　them　his　orders。　The　soldiers　were　to　remain　quietly　in　their　quarters；　and　not　to　mingle　with　the　revolters。

〃Wait　quietly　for　three　hours；　and；　if　you　receive　no　message　from　me　by　that　time；　him　bashis；　you　may　allow　the　soldiers　to　go　out　and　satisfy　their　curiosity。　Now　go　and　wait　until　then。〃

The　insurgents　had　again　repaired　to　the　house　of　the　defterdar；　situated　on　the　square　of　the　Esbekieh。

For　the　second　time　they　fiercely　demanded　money；　and　called　for　the　defterdar　with　such　savage　cries　that　he　was　compelled　to　show　himself。

Deathly　pale；　and　trembling　in　every　limb；　he　came　out　upon　the　balcony　of　the　second　story；　bowed　in　every　direction；　and　begged　the　soldiers　to　listen　to　him。　The　uproar　subsided　for　a　moment。　He　entreated　them　to　be　patient　for　a　few　days；　promising　to　procure　money　for　them；　to　have　it　brought　from　Alexandria　to　meet　their　just　demands。

〃No！〃　cried　one　of　the　soldiers；　raising　his　fist　threateningly；　〃we　have　waited　long　enough；　and　will　wait　no　longer！　We　are　hungry。　Pay　us！〃

〃No！〃　cried　another；　〃we　will　wait　no　longer！　If　the　defterdar　does　not　pay　up　we　will　tear　him　to　pieces；　and　pay　ourselves　with　his　flesh！〃

〃Let　us　surround　his　house；　and　keep　him　prisoner　until　he　gives　us　our　pay！〃　yelled　the　soldiers；　as　they　scaled　the　garden…wall　and　surrounded　the　house。

The　terrified　defterdar　sent　a　messenger　through　a　secret　passage　into　the　street；　to　convey　intelligence　of　what　had　happened　to　the　viceroy。

〃Have　pity　on　your　defterdar；　highness。　The　soldiers　have　broken　into　his　house；　and　he　is　in　their　power。　Help　me！　Subdue　the　revolt　by　paying　the　soldiers！〃

Cousrouf　received　this　intelligence　with　wrath。

〃Are　all　the　devils　let　loose？　Hardly　have　I　been　compelled　to　liberate　this　insolent　woman；　when　I　am　defied　by　rebellious　soldiers。　They　shall　be　taught　that　I　am　master；　and　that　to　threaten　me　is　to　destroy　themselves。　Let　the　artillerists　stand　by　their　guns；　with　burning　fuses；　and　await　my　orders！　Let　the　soldiers　be　drawn　up　around　the　fortress　with　loaded　muskets！　And　you；　messenger；　go　back　to　your　master；　and　tell　him　to　send　the　rebels　to　me。　I　will　give　them　the　reception　they　deserve。〃

The　messenger　returned　by　the　same　secret　passage　to　his　master；　and　delivered　the　viceroy's　message；　and　the　delighted　defterdar　presented　himself　on　the　balcony　once　more。

〃Go　to　the　citadel；　to　the　viceroy；　he　will　receive　you；　and　give　you　your　money；　I　have　none！〃

〃Allah　il　Allah　！〃　cried　the　soldiers。　〃The　viceroy　is　a　great　man！　He　will　deal　justly　with　us！〃

The　dense　masses　of　rebels　surged　up　the　Muskj　Street　toward　the　citadel。　They　have　reached　their　destination。　There　stands　the　citadel。　But　what　does　this　mean？　The　gates　are　closed。　〃The　viceroy　has　sent　for　us；　we　wish　to　see　him　to　demand　our　pay！〃　Suddenly　the　guns　of　the　fortress　hurl　their　deadly　contents　among　them。　〃We　are　betrayed！　They　are　murdering　us！〃　yell　the　infuriated　rebels；　drawing　their　ataghans；　and　rushing　upon　the　Turkish　soldiers　who　are　endeavoring　to　drive　them　from　the　citad