"The defterdar has deceived you. I have no money! I will come down
to you."
He quickly stepped back from the window, and laid the sword, dagger,
and pistols, that hung in his belt, on the table.
"They shall see that I am not alarmed. I will go down to them
unarmed."
No, Mohammed Ali is not alarmed, they all perceive as he appears
among them unarmed, and motions the soldiers, that are rushing upon
him, back, with a wave of the hand.
"Stand back, soldiers, and do not forget that I am the sarechsme.
Not your general, but yet, like you, in the viceroy's service."
"Does he also pay you as he does us? " asked a soldier, in mocking
tones. "Do they also give you empty promises instead of money?"
"That is an insolent question," said he. "I will, however, answer
it, because I choose to do so. They do not pay me. They gave the
sarechsme, after he had waited in vain for many months, ten purses
of gold; they owe him more. Ask my soldiers what I did with this
money. I shared it with my soldiers as a general should. I retained
five purses, for this amount was due my creditors. The other five
purses I gave to my soldiers--not as their pay, the viceroy owes
them that, but as a present from me. I have received no other money-
-I swear to this by Allah and the prophet. Go to my soldiers and ask
them if this is not true, and then do as you think proper.
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