"A very welcome misunderstanding it seems to have been to all of
you. A misunderstanding you call it; and did you not know that I,
Lord Hutchinson, had pledged my word to the Mameluke beys that their
lives should not be endangered? Did you not know that they had come
tome to inquire whether they could safely trust the Turks, and that
I, in my blindness, had said to them: 'You can safely trust them;
they are men of honor, and they have solemnly pledged their word for
your security?' You have broken the holy law of your prophet, of
hospitality, and have betrayed those to whom you had extended the
hand of friendship."
"Not so, general, by Allah! Of such a crime I could not be guilty,"
replied Mohammed, quietly. "I broke no bread, and exchanged no vows
of friendship, with the Mamelukes. I have only just arrived from a
distant land, and know nothing of your enmities or friendships. My
orders were, to arrest the Mamelukes, and bring them fettered to the
admiral's ship. If I misunderstood the order, I was wrong, but no
such crime burdens my soul, and I cannot be justly accused of broken
faith or treachery. I have nothing more to say. I submit humbly to
your displeasure, and can only repeat that I deplore the
misunderstanding."
"Your quiet, defiant bearing is, it seems to me, inconsistent with
your words. I deplore this treachery, and deplore it doubly, because
my assurances lulled the beys into a sense of security.
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