Early on the morning of the following day, dense masses of
people surged to the house where Hesseyni, the chief sheik of the
city, resided, and demanded with loud clamors that he should
liberate Sitta Nefysseh.
The sheik had given serious consideration to this difficult and
embarrassing case, and, before the people forced an entrance, had
already determined to comply with their demands.
In solemn procession, their green turbans on their heads, and
enveloped in their long flowing caftans, with their costly ermine
collars, the entire body of sheiks repaired on foot to the palace.
With grave and solemn bearing, these representatives of public
justice demanded that they should be conducted to the viceroy's
presence.
He received them in his apartment, advancing to meet them with a
kindly greeting.
"What do you desire, friends? You know I am always glad to hear the
wishes of the people as pronounced by you, their representatives."
"Then listen to these wishes, highness!" said one of the sheiks.
"The people, and we with them, desire that Sitta Nefysseh, who was
yesterday forcibly taken from her house, be permitted to return to
the same. Her house has been shamefully ill-used, Cousrouf Pacha!
Your police have treated it like the house of an enemy. Nothing has
remained in its place; every thing is overturned and thrown about.
They were looking for treasure, highness, and they found nothing.
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