mohammed ali and his house-第85部分

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ssi's　name　he　promises　that　the　collection　of　the　new　tax　shall　not　be　enforced。　He　had　gone　to　Bardissi　and　entreated　him　to　torment　the　people　no　longer；　and　Bardissi　had　yielded　to　his　entreaties。

〃Repair　quietly　to　your　homes；　and　fear　no　longer　for　your　property。　I　interceded　for　you；　and　Bardissi　gave　me　his　solemn　promise　that　the　tax　should　not　be　enforced。〃

The　spacious　mosque　resounds　with　shouts　of　delight。　The　people　cry；　〃Long　live　Mohammed　Ali！〃　All　rush　forward　to　grasp　his　hand　and　assure　him　of　their　friendship　and　devotion。

Mohammed　feels　that　he　has　won　the　people　by　his　shrewd　course。　Those　who　meet　him　in　the　streets　salute　him　with　reverence　and　devotion；　and　call　down　blessings　on　his　head。　When　they　meet　the　Mameluke　beys；　they　look　down　and　knit　their　brows；　they　have　made　themselves　odious　to　the　people；　and　are　hourly　becoming　more　and　more　detested　by　them。　The　thunder…clouds　are　gathering　rapidly　on　the　heads　of　the　Mameluke　beys。　They　see　the　coming　storm　in　the　angry　looks　of　those　who　approach　them；　they　feel　it　in　the　solitude　that　surrounds　them。　Curses　are　invoked　upon　their　heads　by　the　people；　and　not　blessings；　as　upon　Mohammed　Ali's　head。

Mohammed　quietly　prepares　for　the　future；　nothing　is　left　to　accident。　No　unlookedfor　event　must　break　in　upon　his　plans；　and　destroy　him　with　the　rest。　Let　the　fruit　fall　when　ripe；　and　fall　so　deep　into　the　abyss　that　no　hand　can　pluck　it　thence！

The　consuls　have　left　Cairo；　but　after　a　few　days　the　French　consul　returns　secretly　to　the　city；　accompanied　by　the　chief　secretary　of　the　governor；　Courschid　Pacha；　at　night　and　disguised；　they　glide　stealthily　through　the　streets　of　Cairo。　They　repair　to　the　house　of　Mohammed　Ali；　and　remain　there　in　earnest　and　eager　conversation　with　the　sarechsme　throughout　the　entire　night。　And　again；　as　on　the　occasion　of　a　former　conference；　the　consul　takes　his　departure　before　the　dawn　of　day。

The　governor's　secretary　remains　with　Mohammed。　He　still　has　a　document　to　present　to　him；　and　Mohammed's　eyes　sparkle　as　he　reads　it。

〃I　have　but　one　further　request　to　make　of　his　excellency。〃

〃What　is　it；　sarechsme？　I　am　instructed　to　comply　with　your　wishes　in　all　things。〃

〃I　only　wish　to　read　the　firman　to　Cousrouf　myself。〃

〃Let　it　be　as　you　desire；　sarechsme。　If　you　ask　this　as　a　reward　for　your　faithful　services；　it　is　a　petty　one　indeed；　you　are；　however；　I　believe；　soon　to　receive　a　much　greater　one。　When　Courschid　enters　Cairo；　he　will　appoint　you　a　pacha　of　two　tails。〃

Mohammed　hastily　averted　his　face；　and　made　no　reply。　No　one　should　see　that　the　intelligence　made　him　rejoice。

The　fruit　is　ripe　and　ready　to　fall；　the　time　for　action　has　come。

On　the　following　morning；　a　body　of　soldiers　marches　out　and　surrounds　the　quarter　of　the　city　in　which　the　Mameluke　beys　reside。

Bardissi　and　Ismail　have　both　left　the　citadel；　and　now　dwell　in　the　city。　There　they　can　live　more　comfortably　and　conveniently　than　up　in　the　citadel；　and　the　Mameluke　beys　are　in　the　habit　of　attaching　more　importance　to　their　comfort　than　the　rest　of　the　world。　The　quarter　in　which　they　reside　is　completely　surrounded　by　soldiers。　They　do　not　notice　it；　however；　these　grand　gentlemen　are　taking　their　ease　in　their　palaces。

Bardissi　is　in　his　harem。　He　has　consoled　himself　for　Sitta　Nefysseh's　cruelty　and　coldness；　the　beautiful　Georgian　and　Circassian　slaves　that　throng　his　harem　well　know　how　to　make　him　forget　the　past　with　their　songs　and　dances；　their　sweet　words　and　soft　looks。

There　he　lies　on　his　cushions；　gazing　dreamily　at　their　dancing。

Suddenly　a　shot　is　heard；　then　a　second　follows；　and　a　ball　strikes　the　wall　of　his　house。

Bardissi　bounds　from　his　cushions；　and　the　dance　is　at　an　end。　He　rushes　out　into　the　court…yard　to　learn　the　cause　of　the　firing。　The　street　and　square　are　filled　with　soldiers；　and　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　square；　in　front　of　the　arsenal；　whole　batteries　are　in　position；　as　though　a　battle　were　to　be　fought。

〃What　does　this　mean？　Who　has　led　these　troops　against　us？　Are　those　not　Albanians　and　Armenians？〃

A　loud；　a　fearful　cry　resounds　from　Bardissi's　lips：　〃Those　are　Mohammed　Ali's　troops；　and　it　is　he　who　is　leading　them　against　us。　It　is　he　who　has　planned　my　destruction。　Then　let　us　also　prepare　for　battle　ourselves。　They　shall　see　that　Bardissi　is　not　so　easily　trapped。　Let　us　defend　ourselves　in　this　house　as　in　a　fortress。　Close　all　the　doors　and　gates。　Quick；　ye　soldiers；　prepare　for　battle　！　Ye　cannoneers；　do　your　duty！〃

He　calls　to　the　cannoneers　who　stand　by　the　guns　crowning　the　wall　that　surrounds　his　house。　But　the　cannoneers　refuse　to　obey　him。

Another　loud　cry　escapes　Bardissi's　lips。　Now　he　understands　Mohammed's　action；　and　knows　why　the　troops　were　relieved；　others　sent　to　his　palace　a　few　days　before；　and　why　a　new　body…guard　had　been　assigned　him。

These　are　Mohammed's　men；　and　they　now　refuse　obedience　to　Bardissi。

He　now　comprehends　Mohammed's　whole　scheme；　and　his　heart　is　filled　with　anguish　and　immeasurable　wrath。

〃Alas！　Nothing　is　left　me　but　to　flee。　Come；　my　Mamelukes。　Load　the　dromedaries　with　the　treasure；　let　the　women　enter　the　carriages。　Quick；　we　must　act　with　the　speed　of　lightning。　You；　my　faithful　Youssouf；　you　will　stand　by　me　as　you　stood　by　Mourad。〃

〃I　will　fight　beside　you　while　life　lasts。〃

All　is　now　activity。　The　dromedaries　are　laden　with　treasure；　with　chests　of　gold　and　silver　coins；　with　jewelry；　Persian　carpets；　furs；　and　silken　garments。　The　women　enter　the　closed　carriages；　the　eunuchs　take　their　place　beside　them。　Now　Bardissi　mounts　his　war…　horse；　beside　him　his　best　and　truest　friend；　Youssouf；　and　many　others　of　his　faithful　followers。

The　Mamelukes　now　throw　open　the　gates；　and　with　uplifted　swords；　ready　for　the　conflict；　sally　forth　from　the　court…yard。

The　soldiers　who　have　surrounded　the　palace　see　with　wonder　the　gates　open；　Bardissi　and　his　followers　as　they　rush　forth；　the　heavily…laden　dromedaries；　and　the　carriages　filled　with　women。　The　conflict　begins；　a　fierce　conflict；　the　musketry　rattles；　and　carries　death　into　the　ranks　of　both。

Erect　on　his　war…horse　Bardissi　leads　the　van。　He　fights　his　way　through；　his　sword　mows　down　the　enemy　like　the　scythe　of　death。　Youssouf；　his　faithful　kachef；　rides　beside　him。　Like　Bardissi；　he　fights　like　a　lion；　and　hews　with　his　trusty　sword　a　pathway　through　the　enemy's　ranks。　But　suddenly　a　well…aimed　ball　strikes　him；　he　reels　in　his　saddle；　and　falls　with　a　low　moan　to　the　earth；　while　Bardissi　and　his　men　press　on。

He　succeeds　in　fighting　his　way　out　of　the　city。　Onward　the　whole　train　flies　toward　Gheezeh。

Bardissi　is　wounded；　his　right　hand　bleeds；　and　blood　is　streaming　down　his　cheeks。　Bardissi　is　wounded；　yet　he　lives；　and　is　saved。　On　they　press；　and　now　they　are　no　longer　followed。

The　soldiers　have　still　much　to　do　in　Cairo。　Let　Bardissi　flee　with　his　richly…laden　dromedaries；　let　him　depart　from　Cairo　with　his　Mamelukes；　but　let　him　return　no　more。

He　draws　rein　now　that　the　city　is　behind　him；　he　looks　back；　and　a　tear　trickles　down　his　cheek　and　mingles　with　his　blood。

For　whom　was　this　tear？

He　looks　back　toward　Cairo；　and　murmurs：　〃O　Mohammed；　that　you　have　betrayed　me；　this　is　bitter！〃

He　then　turns　his　horse　and　they　proceed　in　their　flight。Yes；　there　is　still　much　work　to　be　done　in　Cairo。　It　is　not　only　Bardissi　who　has　to　be　fought　and　driven　out；　there　is　Ismail；　the　chief　of　all　the　Mamelukes；　and　all　the　other　beys。　All　this　lordly　game　is　to　be　chased　and　driven　to　bay　to…day；　and　then　there　are　rich　spoils　to　be　gathered。　Bardissi　has　hardly　quitted　his　house　when　the　soldiers　rush　into　it；　and　begin　to　plunder　and　destroy　after　a　fashion　that　can　hardly　be　surpassed　by　the　Mamelukes　themselves。　The　soldiers　intend　to　pay　themselves　for　that　which　Bardissi　owes　them。

And　they　do　pay　themselves。　Bardissi　possesses　not　only　this　but　other　houses　in　Cairo；　and　the　soldiers　plunder　them　all；　leaving　nothing　behind　but　the　bare　walls。

They　then　fall　upon　Ismail　Bey；　but　he；　too；　succeeds　in　cutting　his　way　through　the　enemy。　With　him　escape　almost　all　the　Mameluke　beys　with　their　followers。　They　flee　far　out　of　Cairo；　into　the　open　country。

At　Gheezeh；　on　the　verge　of　the　desert；　the　Mamelukes　lay　encamped　on　the　following　day；　and　there　the　beys　were　assembled　around　their　hero；　Bardissi；　in　a　sad　consultation。

True；　they　are　safe；　yet　they　feel　that　their　rule　in　Cairo　is　at　an　end；　to　be　restored　no　more。

〃At　an　end　is　the　rule　of　the　Mamelukes！〃　cries　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali；　triumphantly。　In　the　night　he　sends　out　messengers　requesting　the　cadis　and　sheiks　to　come　to　him；　as　he　has　important　intelligence　to　communicate；　and　a　firman　sent　to　him　by　the　grand…　sultan　to　read　to　them。　The　cadis　and　sheiks　hasten　to　obey　his　call。

In　Mohammed's　apartment　they　find　Courschid　Pacha'a　chief　secretary；　who　reads　the　grand…sultan's　firman　to　them　in　a　loud　voice。

The　firman　appointed　Courschid　Pacha　Viceroy　of　Egypt　and　Governor　of　Cairo；　and　commanded　all　the　authorities　to　obey　and　serve　with　humility　and　devotion　the　representative　of　their　grand　master；　who　would　arrive　in　Cairo　on　the　following　day；　to　take　possession　of　the　fortress　and　receive　the　oaths　of　the　officials。

The　cadis　and　sheiks　express　themselves　ready　to　obey　the　new　governor　in　all　things；　and　express　the　hope　that　with　his　highness's　entrance　into　Cairo　a　new　era　of　peace　may　dawn　for　their　bleeding　land。

They　then　withdraw　to　proclaim　what　has　taken　place　to　the　people　at　the　mosque　on　the　following　morning；　and　to　exhort　them　to　be　peaceful　and　obedient。

Mohammed；　however；　repaired　to　the　citadel；　accompanied　by　a　bim　bashi　and　two　servants；　who　lead　two　asses　that　seemed　to　be　equipped　for　a　journey。　On　arriving　at　the　citadel；　Mohammed　left　the　others　in　the　court…yard；　and　ascended　alone　to　the　apartment　where　Cousrouf　was　confined。　He　was　asleep　when　Mohammed　entered。　He　stood　still　on　the　threshold　for　a　moment；　gazing　at　his　prisoner。

〃Wake　up；　Cousrouf！　wake　up；　thou　Viceroy　of　Egypt；　wake　up！〃

Cousrouf　starts　and　stares　at　him。

〃What　is　it？　Who　calls　me？〃

〃Your　devo