"Sarechsme, when we last met, it was in anger. This I have deeply
regretted, for you know what I think of you."
"Yes, highness, I know what you think of me," replied Mohammed,
quietly.
The viceroy saw the derisive smile that played about his lips.
"I think well of you, Mohammed! I expect great things of you, and
know that you are the truest and most devoted of my servants."
Mohammed looked up at him with a strange, inquiring glance. "Of your
servants, highness? I did not know that I was one of them. I am
devoted to you, as the general of the viceroy's troops should be,
yet both of us are the servants of our master, the grand-sultan, at
Stamboul."
"You are right, both of us are servants, the grand-sultan is master
of us both; but I am his representative here, and it therefore
follows that the proud sarechsme need not blush when I call him my
faithful servant, as I stand for him in the place of the grand-
sultan. And it is because you recognize in me his representative,
and because you have sworn to serve him faithfully, that I have such
confidence in your devotion to me."
"Highness, I am faithful to my oath, faithful to the grand-sultan,
and faithful to you. I deeply regret that discord has arisen between
you and me, ever devoted to you as I am. But let us not speak of
this. I suppose you have called me on account of my troops. They
have long received no pay; they are without food, and their clothes
are in rags.
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