Deathly pale, and trembling in every limb, he came out upon the
balcony of the second story, bowed in every direction, and begged
the soldiers to listen to him. The uproar subsided for a moment. He
entreated them to be patient for a few days, promising to procure
money for them, to have it brought from Alexandria to meet their
just demands.
"No!" cried one of the soldiers, raising his fist threateningly, "we
have waited long enough, and will wait no longer! We are hungry. Pay
us!"
"No!" cried another, "we will wait no longer! If the defterdar does
not pay up we will tear him to pieces, and pay ourselves with his
flesh!"
"Let us surround his house, and keep him prisoner until he gives us
our pay!" yelled the soldiers, as they scaled the garden-wall and
surrounded the house.
The terrified defterdar sent a messenger through a secret passage
into the street, to convey intelligence of what had happened to the
viceroy.
"Have pity on your defterdar, highness. The soldiers have broken
into his house, and he is in their power. Help me! Subdue the revolt
by paying the soldiers!"
Cousrouf received this intelligence with wrath.
"Are all the devils let loose? Hardly have I been compelled to
liberate this insolent woman, when I am defied by rebellious
soldiers. They shall be taught that I am master, and that to
threaten me is to destroy themselves.
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