' Have you
understood me? Repeat my words."
The Nubian repeated what he had said, word for word.
"And now hasten away, time is precious, and my message is
important."
Hardly had the Nubian departed, when messengers came to summon
Mohammed to the citadel, to Taher Pacha, the new caimacan. With a
profound bow, Mohammed replies that he will immediately do himself
the honor of waiting on the caimacan.
He calls his servants to his assistance, and puts on his gala
uniform, mounts his splendidly-caparisoned steed, and, followed by a
small body-guard of eight men, gallops through the streets to the
citadel.
Taher Pacha, reclining on Cousrouf s cushions and smoking his
chibouque, receives Mohammed with lively manifestations of delight.
"See what a man can make of himself, Mohammed? Here I lie, smoking
Cousrouf's chibouque on Cousrouf's cushions!"
"I congratulate you on your magnificence, and hope you may long
repose there."
"It is to be hoped that I shall," replied Taher Pacha. "Fortune
smiles on the daring. Had you been bold enough, you might now be in
my place, Mohammed Ali; but you probably shrank from incurring the
risk. I acted boldly, you perceive, and mine is now the viceroy's
crown. Why did you not grasp it? you needed but to stretch forth
your hand."
"And you did grasp it. Allah was gracious to you. I dared not; it
seemed too far from me.
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