"And have you nothing to report concerning the young man, Mohammed
Ali?" asked the pasha.
The eunuchs informed him that they had not yet seen him, having as
yet been wholly occupied with their search for the escaped slave;
they would, however, have something to report to his excellency
concerning the boulouk bashi on the following morning, or that very
evening, perhaps.
"Who knows where Mohammed Ali now is?"
"He has not been seen at the palace since the reception of the
soldiers in the court-yard."
"He must have gone to the hut his mother once occupied, as he often
does when he wishes to be alone."
Of late he had been absent less than usual, having promised his
friend Osman to live and stay with him. But now that he is captain
of a company, it would perhaps not become him to remain at the
palace as the tschorbadji's guest; for this reason he would probably
go to his own hut to take up his abode there. Yes, he has passed the
night in his own little house, and he has just quitted it and walked
into the main street of the city, on his way to the store of the
merchant Lion.
The merchant saw him coming, and hastened forward to congratulate
him on the high honor conferred upon him, and to rejoice over the
stately appearance of the young man, who pleased him well in his
uniform, with his sword at his side.
"Truly a beautiful uniform, Mohammed Ali, and I have but one regret,
and that is that your mother, Sitta Khadra, is not here to see you
in your magnificence.
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