Egypt -- History -- Mohammed Ali, 1805-1849 -- Fiction; Muhammad Ali Basha, Governor of Egypt, 1769-1849 -- Fiction
"We demand our pay! We want bread, we want money!" This was the
soldiers' cry. Now, surrounded by his bim bashis and boulouk bashis,
the sarechsme entered the apartment of the viceroy, Cousrouf Pacha,
who was awaiting him. In utter disregard of deference and usage, the
general did not wait to be addressed by the viceroy. With a military
greeting, he stepped forward and said, in a loud voice:
"As you hear, highness, your troops have come to demand of you that
to which they have assuredly long been entitled--they have come to
demand their pay!"
"I see," said Cousrouf, in low tones, casting a furtive glance of
hatred at Mohammed--"I see that you are still the insolent boy of
Cavalla!"
"I believe," replied Mohammed, also speaking in subdued tones--" I
believe we are both what we then were; and I shall prove it to you!"
He stepped back. No one had heard the brief conversation that passed
between them, but every one saw Cousrouf's cheek grow pale, and his
eye sparkle with anger.
"I will send you an answer," said he, after a pause. "Return to your
house, and order the soldiers to return to their barracks. My
defterdar will bring you an answer."
He turned and left the apartment.
"Well, for this time we will be patient and wait," said Mohammed,
addressing his officers.
His voice was threatening, and his officers understood that their
general was prepared to resort to extreme measures, and they
rejoiced over it, for the viceroy was always haughty and overbearing
in his manner toward them, and they all hated him. They would all
have been pleased to see their bold general revolt against him.
"We will wait," they whispered to each other--" we will wait! What
our sarechsme does, we will do also!"
They returned, in obedience to his command, to their quarters and
barracks.
The sarechsme, Mohammed Ali, a peculiar smile on his lips, also
returned to his palace.
"The decisive hour approaches! Cousrouf Pacha shall be convinced
that I, as he says, am still the same Mohammed Ali I was at Cavalla!
Yes, still the same, and still determined to have revenge!
CHAPTER IV
THE REVOLT.
To have gained a week is to have gained a great deal.
Within this time the viceroy will succeed in replenishing his
coffers. His defterdar is very skillful in the art of getting money,
and who should understand the art if not the minister of finance? He
will find means to collect from the ulemas, from the rich sheiks,
and from the merchants, money enough to quiet his rebellious troops.
A week is a long period, and he will find means to satisfy them all.
But, after a few days, the terrible intelligence reaches Cousrouf
pacha: Taher Pacha is defeated; the stronghold Migne has been
captured by the Mameluke beys. Taher Pacha is defeated, and is
returning with his army-corps to Cairo!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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