ali pacha-第14章
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th the utmost respect； and endeavoured even to kiss his right hand。 Yussuf hastily withdrew it； covered it with his mantle； and signed to the pacha to seat himself。 Ali mechanically obeyed； and waited in solemn silence to hear the reason of this unexpected visit。
Yussuf desired him to listen with all attention； and then reproached him for his injustice and rapine； his treachery and cruelty； with such vivid eloquence that his hearers dissolved in tears。 Ali； though much dejected； alone preserved his equanimity； until at length the sheik accused him of having caused the death of Emineh。 He then grew pale； and rising； cried with terror：
〃Alas！ my father； whose name do you now pronounce？ Pray for me； or at least do not sink me to Gehenna with your curses！〃
〃There is no need to curse thee；〃 answered Yussuf。 〃 Thine own crimes bear witness against thee。 Allah has heard their cry。 He will summon thee； judge thee； and punish thee eternally。 Tremble； for the time is at hand！ Thine hour is comingis comingis coming！〃
Casting a terrible glance at the pacha； the holy man turned his back on him； and stalked out of the apartment without another word。
Ali； in terror； demanded a thousand pieces of gold； put them in a white satin purse； and himself hastened with them to overtake the sheik； imploring him to recall his threats。 But Yussuf deigned no answer； and arrived at the threshold of the palace； shook off the dust of his feet against it。
Ali returned to his apartment sad and downcast； and many days elapsed before he could shake off the depression caused by this scene。 But soon he felt more ashamed of his inaction than of the reproaches which had caused it； and on the first opportunity resumed his usual mode of life。
The occasion was the marriage of Moustai； Pacha of Scodra； with the eldest daughter of Veli Pacha； called the Princess of Aulis； because she had for dowry whole villages in that district。 Immediately after the announcement of this marriage Ali set on foot a sort of saturnalia； about the details of which there seemed to be as much mystery as if he had been preparing an assassination。
All at once； as if by a sudden inundation； the very scum of the earth appeared to spread over Janina。 The populace； as if trying to drown their misery； plunged into a drunkenness which simulated pleasure。 Disorderly bands of mountebanks from the depths of Roumelia traversed the streets； the bazaars and public places； flocks and herds； with fleeces dyed scarlet； and gilded horns； were seen on all the roads driven to the court by peasants under the guidance of their priests。 Bishops； abbots； ecclesiastics generally； were compelled to drink； and to take part in ridiculous and indecent dances； Ali apparently thinking to raise himself by degrading his more respectable subjects。 Day and night these spectacles succeeded each other with increasing rapidity； the air resounded with firing； songs； cries； music； and the roaring of wild beasts in shows。 Enormous spits； loaded with meat； smoked before huge braziers； and wine ran in floods at tables prepared in the palace courts。 Troops of brutal soldiers drove workmen from their labour with whips； and compelled them to join in the entertainments； dirty and impudent jugglers invaded private houses； and pretending that they had orders from the pacha to display their skill； carried boldly off whatever they could lay their hands upon。 Ali saw the general demoralization with pleasure； especially as it tended to the gratification of his avarice； Every guest was expected to bring to the palace gate a gift in proportion to his means； and foot officers watched to see that no one forgot this obligation。 At length； on the nineteenth day； Ali resolved to crown the feast by an orgy worthy of himself。 He caused the galleries and halls of his castle by the lake to be decorated with unheard…of splendour； and fifteen hundred guests assembled for a solemn banquet。 The pacha appeared in all his glory； surrounded by his noble attendants and courtiers； and seating himself on a dais raised above this base crowd which trembled at his glance； gave the signal to begin。 At his voice； vice plunged into its most shameless diversions； and the wine…steeped wings of debauchery outspread themselves over the feast。 All tongues were at their freest； all imaginations ran wild； all evil passions were at their height； when suddenly the noise ceased； and the guests clung together in terror。 A man stood at the entrance of the hall； pale； disordered； and wild…eyed； clothed in torn and blood…stained garments。 As everyone made way at his approach； he easily reached the pacha； and prostrating himself at his feet； presented a letter。 Ali opened and rapidly perused it； his lips trembled； his eyebrows met in a terrible frown； the muscles of his forehead contracted alarmingly。 He vainly endeavoured to smile and to look as if nothing had happened； his agitation betrayed him； and he was obliged to retire； after desiring a herald to announce that he wished the banquet to continue。
Now for the subject of the message； and the cause of the dismay it produced。
CHAPTER VI
Ali had long cherished a violent passion for Zobeide； the wife of his son Veli Pacha： Having vainly attempted to gratify it after his son's departure； and being indignantly repulsed； he had recourse to drugs； and the unhappy Zobeide remained in ignorance of her misfortune until she found she was pregnant。 Then； half…avowals from her women； compelled to obey the pacha from fear of death； mixed with confused memories of her own； revealed the whole terrible truth。 Not knowing in her despair which way to turn； she wrote to Ali； entreating him to visit the harem。 As head of the family； he had a right to enter； being supposed responsible for the conduct of his sons' families； no… law…giver having hitherto contemplated the possibility of so disgraceful a crime。 When he appeared； Zobeide flung herself at his feet； speechless with grief。 Ali acknowledged his guilt； pleaded the violence of his passion； wept with his victim； and entreating her to control herself and keep silence； promised that all should be made right。 Neither the prayers nor tears of Zobeide could induce him to give up the intention of effacing the traces of his first crime by a second even more horrible。
But the story was already whispered abroad； and Pacho Bey learnt all its details from the spies he kept in Janina。 Delighted at the prospect of avenging himself on the father； he hastened with his news to the son。 Veli Pacha； furious； vowed vengeance； and demanded Pacho Bey's help； which was readily promised。 But Ali had been warned； and was not a man to be taken unawares。 Pacho Bey； whom Veli had just promoted to the office of sword…bearer； was attacked in broad daylight by six emissaries sent from Janina。 He obtained timely help； however； and five of the assassins； taken red…handed； were at once hung without ceremony in the market…place。 The sixth was the messenger whose arrival with the news had caused such dismay at Ali's banquet。
As Ali reflected how the storm he had raised could best be laid； he was informed that the ruler of the marriage feast sent by Moustai； Pacha of Scodra； to receive the young bride who should reign in his harem； had just arrived in the plain of Janina。 He was Yussuf Bey of the Delres； an old enemy of Ali's； and had encamped with his escort of eight hundred warriors at the foot of Tomoros of Dodona。 Dreading some treachery； he absolutely refused all entreaties to enter the town； and Ali seeing that it was useless to insist； and that his adversary for the present was safe； at once sent his grand…daughter； the Princess of Aulis； out to him。
This matter disposed of； Ali was able to attend to his hideous family tragedy。 He began by effecting the disappearance of the women whom he had been compelled to make his accomplices； they were simply sewn up in sacks by gipsies and thrown into the lake。 This done； he himself led the executioners into a subterranean part of the castle； where they were beheaded by black mutes as a reward for their obedience。 He then sent a doctor to Zobeide； who succeeded in causing a miscarriage； and who； his work done；
