He was familiar with the ways
of the great, whose lips are ever ready to utter promises, which are
forgotten, the next hour. Ten years have elapsed, and but rarely
have Cousrouf Pacha, his new grandeur, and the great things the
future had in store for him, been heard of in Cavalla. And now a
letter announces that Cousrouf Pacha still remembers, and gladly
remembers, former days.
"The Sublime Porte has determined," so read the pacha's letter to
the governor, "the Sublime Porte has determined to oppose the French
occupation of Egypt with energy. The rich land of Egypt belongs to
the Sublime Porte, and without any color of right France takes
possession of it as its own property."
Yes, the republic of France had done this, had landed at Alexandria
with large armies, and had inundated almost the whole of Egypt with
its soldiers. But the Mameluke Beys, who have so long considered
themselves the masters of the country, had taken the field and
fought the invaders. In Stamboul, also, they had long been preparing
for war, and now that all preparations were made, and an army ready
to take the field against the French, each province, yes, each
village of the empire, was to furnish its quota of soldiers in
addition. Messengers had been sent out to every city and village in
the empire to call on the young men in the name of the grand-sultan
to flock to the flag to defend Egypt.
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