The closed gates are torn asunder; and Taher Pacha's Armenians and
Mohammed Ali's Albanians run with savage cries into the house.
"I have no money!" cries the defterdar, with pale, trembling lips.
"Where are your books, your accounts? We will take you, together
with your books, to our general."
"Do so, do so!" groaned the defterdar, pointing to his books. "Take
me, with my books, to Taher Pacha."
Onward the wild mass surged with their prisoner and his accounts.
They passed the house of Mohammed Ali, who stood at the window, and
looked down at them with a smile of satisfaction.
"The revolt is firmly established; Taher Pacha is at its head, and
we shall see how he conducts the matter."
CHAPTER VIII
THE INSURRECTION.
From the citadel the thunder of the artillery and the fierce shouts
of the people still resounded. Mohammed heard the uproar throughout
the entire night. The soldiers continually pressed forward to
replace their comrades shot down by the murderous volleys from the
fortress.
Mohammed remained quietly in his house. True, his soldiers have
joined the rebels, but who can hold him responsible, and why should
he expose himself to the danger of being refused obedience should he
demand it of them?
Taher Pacha thinks differently. During the night he had examined the
books of the defterdar, held a prisoner in his house, and had been
compelled to admit that he was innocent, and had no money with which
to pay off the soldiers.
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