The viceroy immediately
dispatched a messenger to the sarechsme, ordering him to come up to
the citadel at once, and without any delay whatever, to render
account to the viceroy of his action.
Mohammed heard the command with perfect composure. "Tell the viceroy
that I will come up to the citadel tomorrow, in the broad light of
day, with my soldiers. My weary troops must rest tonight, and
without them I do not desire to appear before your master.
Therefore, tomorrow morning, rest assured that I shall come."
As he had said, in the broad light of day, and accompanied by his
soldiers, the sarechsme repaired to the citadel. An ominous cry
resounded from their lips as they stood before the gateway, and this
cry was heard in the apartment of the viceroy.
"We demand our pay! We want bread, we want money!" This was the
soldiers' cry. Now, surrounded by his bim bashis and boulouk bashis,
the sarechsme entered the apartment of the viceroy, Cousrouf Pacha,
who was awaiting him. In utter disregard of deference and usage, the
general did not wait to be addressed by the viceroy. With a military
greeting, he stepped forward and said, in a loud voice:
"As you hear, highness, your troops have come to demand of you that
to which they have assuredly long been entitled--they have come to
demand their pay!"
"I see," said Cousrouf, in low tones, casting a furtive glance of
hatred at Mohammed--"I see that you are still the insolent boy of
Cavalla!"
"I believe," replied Mohammed, also speaking in subdued tones--" I
believe we are both what we then were; and I shall prove it to you!"
He stepped back.
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