The people look to us,
their representatives, to protect them, and woe to us if we fail to
discharge our duty! Come, let us to the mosque, and there render to
the people an account of what we have done."
"Do this at your peril!" cried Mustapha. "O cadi, the viceroy is
resolute and defies us with his troops. Let me at least make an
attempt to settle the matter peaceably."
"Let him do so," cried the others. At last, the cadi consented to
wait until the oualy should have seen the viceroy.
"If he liberates Sitta Nefysseh, and allows you to conduct her
through the streets, will you be satisfied?"
"Not satisfied, but we will demand nothing more," said the cadi,
"although the viceroy should be required to confess, publicly, that
the accusation is unjust."
"That is too much. This the viceroy cannot and will not do," cried
the oualy. "Be contented if he sets the Sitta at liberty, and allows
you to show her to the people."
"But we demand, in addition," said the cadi, "that he with draw his
police from her house."
"That he has already done," said the oualy, smiling. "Not finding
what they sought, the soldiers have quietly with drawn."
"Then I shall go at once to the viceroy, and endeavor to soften his
severity," cried Mustapha Aga. "Await my return here."
Mustapha hastened to the viceroy's apartment. In a few minutes he
returned, his countenance radiant with delight.
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