With
furious despair and tears of rage, he told the story of his terrible
defeat, thinking by this display of anguish to wash his hands of the
disgrace of having been vanquished with three thousand Turks by
eight hundred Mamelukes! But, as though the number of his troops
ought not to have been sufficient to insure victory over the small
force of the Mamelukes, he sought to throw the blame on others.
"I was betrayed--betrayed! Mohammed Ali and Taher Pacha are to blame
for this disaster. They should have come to my assistance, but they
left me to shift for myself. That is infamous conduct! Here, before
your throne, I accuse of treason, above all, Mohammed Ali, and also
Taher Pacha! They knew I was in danger: had they come up, I should
not have lost the battle; but they did not come, because they
desired my downfall, in order that they might ascend to the height
of your favor over my neck! They are both traitors. I entreat you to
cause searching inquiries to be made, and to hold to a strict
accountability those who so shamefully deserted me."
Cousrouf Pacha felt deeply touched by the anguish and despair of his
favorite, and perhaps he also felt a foreboding rise in his heart
that Mohammed Ali was still his enemy, and was seeking revenge for
his long-since-destroyed happiness.
"You are right, Youssouf Bey. I promise you strict investigation
shall be made, and woe to them if they fail to justify themselves!"
A messenger entered to announce to the viceroy that Mohammed Ali had
returned to Cairo with his troops.
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