The tschorbadji and his son now approached the men, and pleaded with them urgently. They explained to them that Mohammed was in the right; that he could not act differently. As he had sworn by his honor to force them to pay the double tax, he must therefore keep to his word. "Do as he tells you," said the tschorbadji, in an entreating tone; "pay the tax he demands. Do it, ye men! I will reward you well, if you do as I say. He who goes to Mohammed to pay the money, he can ask at my hands a favor." The men's anger became subdued by the soft, kind words of their master. With bowed heads and gloomy aspect, they approached Mohammed Ali, who still stood with threatening sword before the cage. "We kneel before you in the dust; we have returned to our duty," said one of the men. "Here are the two sequins that I have to pay." "Here are mine," "And mine," cried they all, with one accord. They knelt and offered Mohammed the gold. He did not take it; but, gazing steadfastly and bitterly at the pacha, he thrust them aside with a movement of impatience. "Lay your gold upon the block. What, through your obstinacy, has occurred, cannot be obliterated by your gold. Lay your gold upon the block, for to it you offer your gold." Laughing wildly, he turned and bowed before the veiled maiden. "But you pay for it with your honor, with your shame." She fell forward, and a shriek of agony burst from her lips. But she still gazed with tender eyes upon the youth who looked down upon her so fiercely. "Traitoress! You have forgotten your oath!" "No, Mohammed," whispered she. "Hear me!" "Away from me! do you still wish to deceive me?" Again he thrust her from him. Masa would have fallen, had not Osman hurried forward and sustained her. "Forgive him," whispered he, softly. "He is wild with anger and pain." "O Osman, is all known to you?" asked she, in trembling tones. Osman bowed his head. Tears stood in his eyes. "Be quiet--we are watched. In the evening I will send you word." "Open now the gates, and let the prisoners out," said the tschorbadji to Mohammed. "The law has been vindicated." "It shall be as you command," said Mohammed, with the calmness sometimes born of despair. He drew forth the key, and placed it in the lock. Masa sprang forward. The gate opened, and now she stood beside her father. She threw her arms about him, and kissed his lips. Then she bowed her head upon his breast, and wept bitterly. The old man held her close to his heart, and then, lifting her up, bore her, trembling with emotion, from out the cage, in which he had endured such torture for four-and-twenty hours. The ulemas followed him. Joyfully the men greeted the released prisoners, and prayed that they might escort them home in triumph.