Mohammed Ali and His House

week is to have g

who should understand the art if not the minister of finance? He will find means to collect from the ulemas, from the rich sheiks, an

er Pacha is defeated; the stronghold Migne has been captured by the Mameluke

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

on from which Taher must come. But the messengers did not meet him. He did not come by the e

t a distance from the capitol! It is intend

d, 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, announc

eek repose in his house, but to demand his and his soldiers' pay. "We are in rags, and starving;

he viceroy in anxious tones. "Our coffers are empty, and all

mmed Ali is shrewd and fertile in resources. We must apply to him. He will help us out of our difficulty. He is thou

with Taher. The two united would b

to request him to come to the viceroy. "We cannot pay the t

rses of gold- pieces. He carries them himself to the a

palace in which the sarechsme resided. A body of Albanian soldiers were encamped about the palace. They called themselves the b

elf, as he ascended the stairway that led to the general's apartment. With a trem

arrearages of pay. But I entreat you, come without your great suite-it might be wrongly inter

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

broad stairway of his palace, and cordially greeted the soldiers

await my return. I will return in an hour; wait here for

ssary to acquaint his highness with this, that he may be on his guard, and not de

ce his coming to the viceroy. The sarechsme assents with a gracious in

y good defterdar. You are right; go in

conversing with the soldiers who gathere

citadel to the vicer

an entire hour,"

the citadel. The defterdar has hardly had

hour, his soldiers will come up here after him in open revolt. Taher's troops

treading this viper under foot in Cavalla; now it intends to bite me-I

e sarechsme, Mohammed Ali, stands without, awaiting his pleasur

t me in the next room. I shall

ntered, and advanced toward the viceroy, who, on this occasion, received him standing, and not indolently reclining on his

in anger. This I have deeply regrette

hat you think of me," re

derisive smile that

reat things of you, and know that you are

id not know that I was one of them. I am devoted to you, as the general of the viceroy's tro

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

oted 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 fo

h difficulty; "therefore wait for your soldiers' pay, but you, Mohammed, you shall not wait. See how I honor and esteem you! There

ch the ten purses, through whose meshes the

y entitled to it. I accept them, and, though you only gav

mmed Ali, and no longer angry?" s

bowed p

with your gracious highness? You

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 an

o 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 me

recoiling a step. "How could

ious enough, highness, to permit these ladies to remain here in th

I gave my word. I did it because I knew that the people would suffer if the rich ladies, whose splendid house holds give em

iled, neither is any harm to be done to their persons. But they must yield to nece

all the world!" cried

her! She is honored

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 vas

oy's eyes

treasure, yet we cannot become robbers. If we could do so by lawful

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 an

srouf, "I have some pretext

ped out of the back gate of the park and mounted his horse, and a short time before

s very rich, and generous to her friends. I will see her thi

he cadi and the sheik will not answer; for

account myself!" cried Co

ta Nefysseh is wise, and knows how to defend herself. Th

nd will quickly proceed to raise money from the Sitta before she suspects any thing. I thank you once more for your advice, Mohammed, and I shall always remember that you are the shrewdest and most

profound bow only, and

l dismounted at the door of the palace, and waited till the slave had come up and taken the golden treasure into his house. Mohammed then went to the grand hall and sent word down by a servant

herefore now become a considerable sum. I have received ten purses of gold, and I am really in need of this money to meet my household expenses. But who knows when you will receive your pay? We a11 share danger and want together, however; therefore let us share the good

. He bade them rise, called his housekeeper, and gave him the five purses. The latter then went down with the s

rouf, only follow my advice! Insult the one woman who is above all honored and esteemed in Cairo, the one before whom all bow in revere

en by his soldiers he hastily crossed the park, and, opening a small

narrow alleys to a little house that stood alone in the outskirts of the city. He crossed the threshold without meeting any one

of Kachef Youssouf?"

on? He has not gone out to battle, he remains in Cairo, and is

on a hostile errand, but merel

u wish it, I will call him; a door opens from this house into

ll him q

y. In a short time she ret

asked Mohammed, ad

know the brave sare

our mistress?

m with an expression

ry faithful servant to love his mistres

I love her," replied

. I tell you of it for your mistress's sake;

t I will not

er other valuables, put in a safe place. You probably have some such places in your cellars or v

diers had gone out to spend the present given them by their general in joy and revelry. Mohammed was ag

nd it is I who am hurling you down! Your peril increases with every hour! You have only to insult Sitta Nefysseh, and all Cairo will rise up in arms against you. Le