Perhaps I can find such a one for you. And I will do so, Mohammed,
if you return victorious from the new campaign."
"A new campaign? and against whom?" was Mohammed's only response.
"Against whom? Against the insolent Mameluke beys, of course. The
time has come to dispose of them finally," said Cousrouf. "Listen,
general. The grand-sultan, weary of these incessant struggles with
the rebellious Mameluke beys, is resolved to bring them to a
conclusion, and restore peace to the province of Egypt. You,
however, have now been here long enough to know that peace in Egypt
means death and destruction to the Mameluke beys."
"Yes, highness, peace in Egypt means death to the Mameluke beys!"
replied Mohammed Ali. "Truly, while one of them survives, so long
will his proud, ambitious heart prompt him to endeavor to reconquer
the rule which he believes is predestined for the Mameluke beys by
Allah and the prophet."
"They shall learn that Allah has doomed them to destruction!" cried
Cousrouf, passionately. "All is arranged. To the Franks we are
indebted for one thing, and that is for having fought these
rebellious beys. Since the French expedition the number of the
Mamelukes is diminished by at least one-half. In order to prevent
them from recruiting their decimated ranks, the grand-sultan has
issued a firman which prohibits further importation into Egypt of
Circassian and Georgian slaves.
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