mohammed ali and his house-第88部分

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〃The　people　refuse　to　submit　further　to　this　oppression。　Neither　they　nor　we　will　endure　it。〃

They　say　this　to　his　face；　proudly；　fearlessly。　He　replies　fiercely：　〃I　will　hurl　death　into　your　midst　if　the　people　are　not　brought　back　to　humility　and　obedience；　for　I　am　your　masterI　alone！〃

〃You　are　our　master　while　we　recognize　you　as　such；　and　no　longer；〃　replied　the　cadi；　turning　and　leaving　the　room；　followed　by　the　sheiks。

In　the　streets　below　he　announces　to　the　people：　〃Justice　is　not　to　be　obtained　of　Courschid　Pacha；　and　we　will　submit　to　him　no　more！〃

〃No；　we　can　and　will　not　submit；〃　say　the　cadi　and　sheiks；　who；　accompanied　by　thousands　of　the　people；　have　repaired　to　the　palace　of　the　sarechsme。

〃We　announce　to　you；　Mohammed　Ali；　in　the　name　of　the　whole　people；　we　will　recognize　and　obey　Courschid　Pacha　no　longer。　This　man's　cruelty　and　injustice　are　no　longer　to　be　endured。〃

〃We　declare　him　removed　from　his　office；　we　declare　him　deposed　from　the　throne；〃　cried　the　cadi；　solemnly；　and　the　sheiks　repeat　the　cry：　〃We　declare　him　removed　from　his　office；　we　declare　him　deposed　from　the　throne！〃

And　in　the　streets　without；　the　people　shout　exultingly：　〃We　declare　him　deposed　from　the　throne！〃

Mohammed　listens　to　these　unusual　outcries；　and　his　countenance　is　grave　and　solemn。

〃You　depose　him　from　the　throne；　O　cadi！　But　whom　will　you　put　in　his　place？〃

He　asks　the　question　slowly　and　quietly；　and　no　one　knows　how　wildly　his　heart　throbs　within　him。　He　is　aware　that　the　crisis　is　at　hand；　and　that　what　he　has　dreamed　of　since　his　boyhood；　and　worked　and　toiled　for　during　four　long　years；　is　now　about　to　be　decided。　〃Whom　will　you　put　in　his　place？〃

〃Yourself；　Mohammed　Ali！〃　cried　the　cadi；　solemnly。　〃Yes；　you　must　rule　in　Courschid　Pauha's　stead；　for　we　are　convinced　that　your　aim　will　be　the　welfare　of　the　people。〃

〃Me！〃　said　Mohammed　Ali；　recoiling　a　step　as　if　startled；　and　the　pallor　which　overspread　his　face　could　have　been　caused　by　alarm　as　well　as　by　joy。

〃No；　it　is　impossible；　you　cannot　select　me；　I　am　not　worthy　of　so　great　an　honor。〃

〃You　are　worthy　of　this　honor；　and　the　people　invest　you　with　it　through　me；〃　cried　the　cadi。　〃Come；　Mohammed　Ali；　Caimacan　of　Cairo；　our　governor　and　master！　I　proclaim　you　to　be　such；　in　the　name　of　the　people。〃

While　Mohammed　silently　shakes　his　head；　the　cadi　hastily　throws　open　the　wide　doors　that　lead　out　upon　the　balcony　of　the　house；　steps　out　and　proclaims；　in　such　loud　tones　that　the　assembled　thousands　who　fill　the　spacious　square　can　hear　him：

〃Coursechid　Pacha　is　deposed；　and　we　elect　Mohammed　Ali　Pacha　to　be　our　governor！　Is　this　your　will？〃

〃It　is　our　will！〃　shout　the　populace；　exultingly。　〃Courschid　is　deposed；　and　Mohammed　Ali　is　our　governor！　Long　live　Mohammed　Ali！〃

His　head　bowed　down　on　his　breast；　Mohammed　stands　listening　to　the　grateful　words：　〃Long　live　Mohammed　Ali！〃

The　cadi　re…enters　the　apartment。　〃You　have　heard　their　voice！　Now　show　yourself　to　the　people。　They　have　chosen　you。　Step　out　upon　the　balcony　with　us；　that　they　may　salute　you。〃

〃It　shall　be　as　you　say；〃　said　he；　after　a　pause。　〃The　people　call　me；　and　I　will　greet　them。　May　Allah　assist　me　in　advancing　their　welfare！〃

The　cadi　takes　his　hand　and　leads　him　out。　Without；　the　assembled　thousands　shout　exultingly：　〃Long　live　our　new　governor！　Our　caimacan！　Our　viceroy！　Long　live　Mohammed　Ali　Pacha！〃

These　strains　resound　so　loudly　through　the　city；　that　they　reach　the　citadel。　Everywhere　in　the　streets　exulting　voices　cry：　〃Courschid　Pacba　is　deposed；　and　Mohammed　Ali　is　our　governor！〃

〃I　am　alone　viceroy　here　in　Cairo；〃　is　the　burden　of　a　missive　penned　by　Courschid　in　the　citadel；　and；　sent　down　by　him　to　the　cadi　and　sheiks。　〃I　alone　am　viceroy。　Upon　me　the　grand…sultan　at　Stamboul　has　conferred　this　dignity；　and　a　message　will　soon　come　from　our　master　announcing　to　you　his　decision　with　regard　to　the　rebel；　Mohammed　Ali。　Until　then　I　will　assert　my　authority；　and　I　appeal　to　all　faithful　subjects；　and　to　all　who　do　not　wish　to　hazard　their　future　with　the　rebels；　and　to　perish　with　them；　to　rally　to　the　support　of　their　lawful　ruler。〃

And　large　numbers　did　so；　many　fearing；　no　doubt；　the　decision　expected　from　Stamboul。

But　Mohammed　was　undaunted；　and　besieged　the　citadel　of　Cairo　with　his　faithful　Albanians。

The　bloody　struggle　arose　between　the　besiegers　and　the　besieged。　The　cannon　thundered　death　and　destruction　into　the　city；　and；　when　vigorous　sorties　occurred；　the　conflict　sometimes　surged　far　down　into　the　streets。　But　finally；　after　four　days　of　fierce　fighting；　the　expected　message　arrived　from　Stamboul；　and　an　unexpected　one　it　proved　to　be；　to　the　viceroy；　Courschid　Pacha。

The　grand…vizier　had　sent　one　of　his　confidants　with　the　capidgi　bashi；　with　instructions　to　investigate；　and　make　himself　thoroughly　acquainted　with　the　state　of　things；　and　learn　who　was　right；　and　who　wrong；　and　the　capidgi；　and　his　associate；　had　done　so；　and　now；　upon　their　arrival　in　Cairo；　they　summoned　the　cadi　and　sheiks；　and　announced　to　them；　and　to　Mohammed　Ali；　the　firman　of　the　grand…　sultan：　〃Mohammed　Ali　is　confirmed　in　his　office　of　Governor　of　Cairo　and　Viceroy　of　Egypt；　and　the　deposed　viceroy；　Courschid　Pacha；　is　ordered　to　repair　to　Alexandria；　there　to　await　the　further　orders　of　his　master。〃

A　copy　of　this　firman　is　sent　up　to　the　citadel；　and　Courschid　commanded　to　surrender　the　fortress；　and　leave　the　city　immediately。　He　at　first　declined　to　surrender；　and　demanded　an　interview　with　the　capidgi　bashi　and　his　associate。　This　was；　however；　refused　him；　and　he　was　at　last　compelled　to　yield；　and　give　up　the　citadel。　Through　the　little　side…gate　that　leads　down　to　the　Nile；　Courschid；　accompanied　by　a　few　faithful　followers；　left　the　citadel；　and　was　conveyed　in　boats；　that　lay　in　readiness；　down　the　river　to　Boulak。　From　there；　after　a　brief　sojourn；　he　continued　his　journey　to　Alexandria；　and　then　on　to　Stamboul。

While　Courschid　is　descending　the　secret　stairway　to　leave　the　citadel；　Mohammed　All　and　his　warriors　are　ascending　the　hill　in　triumph；　marching　to　the　strains　of　stirring　military　music。　The　garrison　of　the　fortress　lay　down　their　arms；　and　all　cry；　exultingly：　〃Long　live　Mohammed　Ali；　our　new　viceroy！〃　He　still　hears　it　as　he　enters　the　grand　apartment　where　Courschid　has　been　in　the　habit　of　receiving　him。　He　still　hears　it　as　he　steps　out　upon　the　wall　of　the　fortress；　and　looks　down　upon　the　wondrous　city；　at　the　Nile；　at　the　palm…trees　on　the　green　shore　beyond；　and　at　the　yellow　desert；　on　whose　verge　the　pyramids　tower　aloft。

〃Long　live　our　new　viceroy；　Mohammed　Ali！〃

This　cry　resounds　from　a　thousand　voices；　and　Mohammed　gazes　out　upon　the　beautiful；　heavenly　world　that　is　now　his　own；　and　an　ecstasy　that　almost　makes　his　heart　stand　still；　possesses　his　soul。

〃Long　live　the　Viceroy　of　Egypt！〃

〃I　have　reached　my　goal。　I　am　the　viceroy。　They　greet　me　with　shouts　of　joy；　and　wish　me　a　long　life。　I　will　endeavor　to　reward　them。　Poor；　bleeding　Egypt；　shall　progress　under　my　rule。　I　will　endeavor　to　bring　prosperity　and　happiness　to　those　who　have　suffered　so　much。　This　I　swear；　by　Allah！　I　will　raise　this　poor　land　up　out　of　the　dust。　Yes；　I　swear　it；　by　Allah！〃




CHAPTER　XV

THE　TENT。


PEACE　and　tranquillity　prevail　at　last。For　the　present；　at　least；　the　people　enjoy　blessings　to　which　they　have　long　been。　strangers；　and　it　is　to　the　new　viceroy　and　his　beneficent　rule　that　they　owe　these　blessings。　He　has　signalized　the　beginning　of　his　rule　by　compelling　the　lawless　horde　of　Delis；　called　by　Courschid　his　body…　guard；　to　return　to　the　interior　of　Africa。　He　has　also　brought　back　into　subjection　the　Armenians　and　Albanians；　who；　carried　away　by　the　war…fury；　had；　for　a　period；　laughed　at　all　order　and　discipline。　Though　mild　and　gentle　toward　the　devoted　and　obedient；　Mohammed　is　severe　and　cruel　to　the　disobedient　and　defiant。

Many　heads　have　fallen　in　these　first　days　of　his　rule。　The　head　of　many　a　wild　soldier；　who　paid　for　his　mutinous　or　riotous　behavior　with　his　life；　adorns　the　wall　of　the　citadel；　a　warning　to　the　enemies　of　law　and　order。

This　warning　is　not　lost　on　the　other　soldiers；　and　on　the　secret　adherents　of　the　Mamelukes；　it　teaches　them　to　conform　to　circumstances　and　bow　their　heads　in　submission。　The　Mamelukes　themselves　are　far　distant　from　Cairo；　and　lie　encamped　near　Minieh；　equipping　and　disciplining　their　forces；　and　preparing　to　renew　the　struggle。

The　viceroy；　however；　has　a　strong　arm；　and　his　power　increases　daily。　He　will　bring　them　also　into　submission。

The　people　who　pass　the　palace　occupied　by　Mohammed　as　sarechsme；　stand　still；　and　gaze　with　curiosity　at　the　changes　and　alterations　being　made　there。　Large　numbers　of　laborers　are　engaged　in　repairing　the　injuries　sustained　by　the　building　in　the　recent　conflicts；　in　setting　out　trees　and　shrubbery　in　the　garden；　and　in　adorning　it　with　rare　flowers。　Great　improvements　are　progressing　in　the　wing　of　the　building　whose　windows　open　on　the　garden。

Artistically　carved　lattice…work　and　shutters　are　being　affixed　to　the　lofty　windows　of　the　second　story。　And　the　curious；　who　observe　this；　give　each　other　a　sly　look；　and　smile。　They　understand　the　significance　of　these　shutters。　These　are　the　shutters　of　the　windows　of　a　harem；　and　they　proclaim　that　Mohammed　is　now　also　occupied　with；　other　than　affairs　of　state。　The　people　rejoice　in　these　harem　windows；　for　they　are　a　guarantee　of　peace。　When　the　warrior　builds　a　harem；　it　proves　that　he　himself　believes　in　the　stability　of　peace；　and　the　new　order　of　things。　And　the　new　viceroy　does。

In　discussing　these　matters；　the　people　who　stand　in　front　of　the　palace　of　the　Esbekieh　tell　each　other　that　the　viceroy　has　sent　a　messenger　to　his　distant　home　beyond　the　sea；　where　his　first　wife　and　children　live；　and　has　sent　them　word　to　come　to　him。　〃They　will　come　by　water！〃　relates　one　of　them；　〃and　that　is　why　the　dehabieh　is　being　built　at　Boulak。　It　is　like　a　magnificent　saloon；　and　is　to　be　beautifully　adornedthe　walls　hung　with　velvet；　and　the　floor　covered　with　costly　Persian　carpets。　The　viceroy's　first　wife　and　his　childre