"You
come in the name of his highness the viceroy?"
"Yes," replied the cadi, with a slight bow. "Yes, I come in his
highness's name. The viceroy commands that Mourad Bey's widow
accompany me at once to his presence, to the citadel."
"And with what right?" asked she quietly.
"I know not and care not," said the official, with an air of
indifference; "here is the order." He drew from his pocket a
document, to which large seals were appended, and handed it to her.
Sitta Nefysseh looked at it, and returned it with perfect composure.
"You are right, it is the viceroy's order. I will obey. Order the
carriage to be driven to the door."
She said this in such imperious tones that the cadi, at other times
a proud man, and a high dignitary of the viceroy's court, could not
but obey her, and stepped out and delivered her command to one of
his officers. He then returned to Sitta Nefysseh.
"I have orders to leave a guard in your house," said he.
"Then do so," said she, quietly. "The viceroy is master over us all,
and it seems there is no law here in Cairo but his will. Obey him,
therefore. Leave a guard in my house."
He seemed not to notice the mockery in her words, and bowed in
silence.
"No one may enter or leave your house during your absence."
"Why do you say this to me? Say it to those who may desire to leave
it after I have gone, and who may be alarmed.
Pages:
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542