Their liberty is
not to be curtailed, neither is any harm to be done to their
persons. But they must yield to necessity, and surrender some of
their treasure. Mourad Bey's widow alone is very rich."
"Rich and courted by all the world!" cried Cousrouf Pacha. "All
Cairo is devoted to her! She is honored like a saint almost."
"Because she is rich," replied Mohammed, quietly. "The rich are
always honored; the world falls down and worships them; but let them
become poor, and the world drags them into the dust, and thus
avenges itself for its former humiliation. Sitta Nefysseh, Mourad's
widow, is rich. Her apartments, I am told, glitter with golden
dishes and vases, gold and silver coins are piled up in closets, and
whole chests are filled with jewelry and precious stones of every
description, brought home by Mourad from his wars."
The viceroy's eyes sparkled.
"It would certainly be desirable to get possession of some of this
treasure, yet we cannot become robbers. If we could do so by lawful
means, it would be well. Tell me of some such means, Mohammed Ali."
"I know of no such means, highness," said Mohammed, shrugging his
shoulders. "I only know that Sitta Nefysseh, as it is said, has a
secret understanding with the beys, the comrades of her deceased
husband. As I understand it, you only promised the wives of the
Mamelukes permission to remain here, and protection under the
condition that they were to abstain from all intercourse with the
Mameluke beys.
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