ali pacha-第15章
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。 He then sent a doctor to Zobeide； who succeeded in causing a miscarriage； and who； his work done； was seized and strangled by the black mutes who had just beheaded the gipsies。 Having thus got rid of all who could bear witness to his crime； he wrote to Veli that he might now send for his wife and two of his children； hitherto detained as hostages； and that the innocence of Zobeide would confound a calumniator who had dared to assail him with such injurious suspicions。
When this letter arrived； Pacho Bey； distrusting equally the treachery of the father and the weakness of the son； and content with having sown the seeds of dissension in his enemy's family； had sufficient wisdom to seek safety in flight。 Ali； furious； vowed； on hearing this； that his vengeance should overtake him even at the ends of the earth。 Meanwhile he fell back on Yussuf Bey of the Debres； whose escape when lately at Janina still rankled in his mind。 As Yussuf was dangerous both from character and influence； Ali feared to attack him openly； and sought to assassinate him。 This was not precisely easy； for； exposed to a thousand dangers of this kind； the nobles of that day were on their guard。 Steel and poison were used up； and another way had to be sought。 Ali found it。
One of the many adventurers with whom Janina was filled penetrated to the pacha's presence； and offered to sell the secret of a powder whereof three grains would suffice to kill a man with a terrible explosionexplosive powder； in short。 Ali heard with delight； but replied that he must see it in action before purchasing。
In the dungeons of the castle by the lake； a poor monk of the order of St。 Basil was slowly dying； for having boldly refused a sacrilegious simony proposed to him by Ali。 He was a fit subject for the experiment； and was successfully blown to pieces； to the great satisfaction of Ali； who concluded his bargain； and hastened to make use of it。 He prepared a false firman； which； according to custom； was enclosed and sealed in a cylindrical case； and sent to Yussuf Bey by a Greek； wholly ignorant of the real object of his mission。 Opening it without suspicion； Yussuf had his arm blown off； and died in consequence； but found time to despatch a message to Moustai Pacha of Scodra； informing him of the catastrophe； and warning him to keep good guard。
Yussuf's letter was received by Moustai just as a similar infernal machine was placed in his hands under cover to his young wife。 The packet was seized； and a careful examination disclosed its nature。 The mother of Moustai； a jealous and cruel woman； accused her daughter…in…law of complicity； and the unfortunate Ayesha； though shortly to become a mother； expired in agony from the effects of poison； only guilty of being the innocent instrument of her grandfather's treachery。
Fortune having frustrated Ali's schemes concerning Moustai Pacha； offered him as consolation a chance of invading the territory of Parga； the only place in Epirus which had hitherto escaped his rule； and which he greedily coveted。 Agia； a small Christian town on the coast； had rebelled against him and allied itself to Parga。 It provided an excuse for hostilities； and Ali's troops； under his son Mouktar； first seized Agia； where they only found a few old men to massacre； and then marched on Parga； where the rebels had taken refuge。 After a few skirmishes； Mouktar entered the town； and though the Parganiotes fought bravely； they must inevitably have surrendered had they been left to themselves。 But they had sought protection from the French； who had garrisoned the citadel； and the French grenadiers descending rapidly from the height； charged the Turks with so much fury that they fled in all directions； leaving on the field four 〃bimbashis；〃 or captains of a thousand； and a considerable number of killed and wounded。
The pacha's fleet succeeded no better than his army。 Issuing from the Gulf of Ambracia； it was intended to attack Parga from the sea； joining in the massacre； and cutting off all hope of escape from that side； Ali meaning to spare neither the garrison nor any male inhabitants over twelve years of age。 But a few shots fired from a small fort dispersed the ships； and a barque manned by sailors from Paxos pursued them； a shot from which killed Ali's admiral on his quarter…deck。 He was a Greek of Galaxidi； Athanasius Macrys by name。
Filled with anxiety； Ali awaited news at Prevesa； where a courier； sent off at the beginning of the action； had brought him oranges gathered in the orchards of Parga。 Ali gave him a purse of gold； and publicly proclaimed his success。 His joy was redoubled when a second messenger presented two heads of French soldiers； and announced that his troops were in possession of the lower part of Parga。 Without further delay he ordered his attendants to mount； entered his carriage； and started triumphantly on the Roman road to Nicopolis。 He sent messengers to his generals； ordering them to spare the women and children of Parga； intended for his harem； and above all to take strict charge of the plunder。 He was approaching the arena of Nicopolis when a third Tartar messenger informed him of the defeat of his army。 Ali changed countenance； and could scarcely articulate the order to return to Prevesa。 Once in his palace； he gave way to such fury that all around him trembled； demanding frequently if it could be true that his troops were beaten。 〃May your misfortune be upon us！〃 his attendants answered； prostrating themselves。 All at once； looking out on the calm blue sea which lay before his windows； he perceived his fleet doubling Cape Pancrator and re…entering the Ambracian Gulf under full sail； it anchored close by the palace； and on hailing the leading ship a speaking trumpet announced to Ali the death of his admiral； Athanasius Macrys。
〃But Parga； Parga！〃 cried Ali。
〃May Allah grant the pacha long life！ The Parganiotes have escaped the sword of His Highness。〃
〃It is the will of Allah！〃 murmured the pacha； whose head sank upon his breast in dejection。
Arms having failed； Ali； as usual； took refuge in plots and treachery； but this time； instead of corrupting his enemies with gold； he sought to weaken them by division。
CHAPTER VII
The French commander Nicole； surnamed the 〃Pilgrim；〃 on account of a journey he had once made to Mecca； had spent six months at Janina with a brigade of artillery which General Marmont； then commanding in the Illyrian provinces； had for a time placed at Ali's disposal。 The old officer had acquired the esteem and friendship of the pacha； whose leisure he had often amused by stories of his campaigns and various adventures； and although it was now long since they had met； he still had the reputation of being Ali's friend。 Ali prepared his plans accordingly。 He wrote a letter to Colonel Nicole； apparently in continuation of a regular correspondence between them； in which he thanked the colonel for his continued affection； and besought him by various powerful motives to surrender Parga； of which he promised him the governorship during the rest of his life。 He took good care to complete his treason by allowing the letter to fall into the hands of the chief ecclesiastics of Parga； who fell head…foremost into the trap。 Seeing that the tone of the letter was in perfect accordance with the former friendly relations between their French governor and the pacha； they were convinced of the former's treachery。 But the result was not as Ali had hoped： the Parganiotes resumed their former negotiations with the English； preferring to place their freedom in the hands of a Christian nation rather than to fall under the rule of a Mohammedan satrap。。。。 The English immediately sent a messenger to Colonel Nicole； offering honourable conditions of capitulation。 The colonel returned a decided refusal； and threatened to blow up the place if the inhabitants； whose intentions he guessed； made the slightest hostile movement。 However； a few days later； the citadel was taken at night； owing to the treachery of a woman who admitted an English detachment； and the next day； to the general astonishment； the British standard floated over the Acropolis of Parga。
All Greece was then pro
