A Nubian rushes into his apartment, and announces, in tones of
dismay: "You are betrayed, the khaznadar has surrendered, and the
rebels are storming the palace."
Cousrouf bounds from his seat, hurls from him his chibouque, and
quickly girds on his sword.
"We will hurl them back. Let Mohammed Ali come with his troops. He
will vanquish them and overthrow the traitor, Taher Pacha. Right
royally shall Mohammed Ali be rewarded if he comes to my assistance;
and come he will. He is at least no traitor, and will never make
common cause with rebels. You, my Nubians, my body-guard, my brave
followers, ascend to the battlement and turn the guns upon the
rebels who surround us."
They obey his command, and their guns are soon thundering down into
the ranks of the rebels.
Mohammed does not come to the viceroy's assistance; he is ill, and
has been confined to his room ever since Taher Pacha has been
besieging the citadel with his soldiers. Nor will his illness permit
him to leave the house now, and his servant announces to all comers
and to the soldiers that the sarechsme is very, very ill.
After two days have elapsed, he asks the physician, who is feeling
his pulse, in a weak voice and with an air of indifference, how
matters are progressing at the citadel; whether the traitor, Taher
Pacha, still presumes to besiege the viceroy in his palace, and
laments his inability to fly to his master's, assistance with his
troops.
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