"Tell me, tschorbadji," he said, taking the place of honor on the
divan, and motioning the slave to bring him his gold-and-diamond-
studded chibouque--" tell me, tsohorbadji, is it true that the
village of Praousta is in revolt?"
"Unfortunately, your excellency, it is true," sighed the
tschorbadji; "the men have revolted, they will not pay the double
tax."
"Dogs! dogs! that are barking a little," said Cousrouf, with a
contemptuous shrug of his shoulders. "I think, tschorbadji, you
would do well to quiet them quickly."
"I hope my messenger will succeed in repressing the revolt, in
quieting the men, and in inducing them to do their duty."
"What!" exclaimed Cousrouf, with a contemptuous curl of his lip,
"you intend to make terms with the rebels?"
"I shall try to induce the men to do their duty."
"You surely do not consider that rebels are criminals most deserving
of death," said Cousrouf, with flashing eyes. "Dogs are shot when
they are mad, and rebels are but mad dogs."
"I beg your pardon, excellency," said the tschorbadji, his gentle
face assuming a severer expression than it had yet worn before his
excellency--" I beg your pardon, but this small island is not so
rich in men that we can afford to shoot them like dogs, and,
moreover, excepting this, the people are good, industrious, and
willing to provide for their families. This year they have had a bad
harvest, and but little profit, and were incensed at having to pay
double taxes.
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