ali pacha-第9节
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once guessing his object； summoned a family council to decide what should be done。 All agreed that there was no escape； and that her husband's life was in danger； on account of the jealousy of his terrible rival。 He fled the city that same night； and his wife surrendered herself to Mouktar； who； softened by her charms； soon sincerely loved her； and overwhelmed her with presents and favours。 Things were in this position when Mouktar was obliged to depart on an important expedition。
Scarcely had he started before his wives complained to Ali that Euphrosyne usurped their rights and caused their husband to neglect them。 Ali； who complained greatly of his sons' extravagance； and regretted the money they squandered； at once struck a blow which was both to enrich himself and increase the terror of his name。
One night he appeared by torchlight； accompanied by his guards； at Euphrosyne's house。 Knowing his cruelty and avarice； she sought to disarm one by gratifying the other： she collected her money and jewels and laid them at Ali's feet with a look of supplication。
〃These things are only my own property； which you restore；〃 said he； taking possession of the rich offering。 〃Can you give back the heart of Mouktar； which you have stolen？〃
Euphrosyne besought him by his paternal feelings； for the sake of his son whose love had been her misfortune and was now her only crime； to spare a mother whose conduct had been otherwise irreproachable。 But her tears and pleadings produced no effect on Ali； who ordered her to be taken； loaded with fetters and covered with a piece of sackcloth； to the prison of the seraglio。
If it were certain that there was no hope for the unhappy Euphrosyne； one trusted that she might at least be the only victim。 But Ali； professing to follow the advice of some severe reformers who wished to restore decent morality； arrested at the same time fifteen ladies belonging to the best Christian families in Janina。 A Wallachian； named Nicholas Janco； took the opportunity to denounce his own wife； who was on the point of becoming a mother； as guilty of adultery； and handed her also over to the pacha。 These unfortunate women were brought before Ali to undergo a trial of which a sentence of death was the foregone conclusion。 They were then confined in a dungeon； where they spent two days of misery。 The third night； the executioners appeared to conduct them to the lake where they were to perish。 Euphrosyne； too exhausted to endure to the end； expired by the way； and when she was flung with the rest into the dark waters； her soul had already escaped from its earthly tenement。 Her body was found the next day； and was buried in the cemetery of the monastery of Saints…Anargyres； where her tomb； covered with white iris and sheltered by a wild olive tree； is yet shown。
Mouktar was returning from his expedition when a courier from his brother Veli brought him a letter informing him of these events。 He opened it。 〃Euphrosyne！〃 he cried； and； seizing one of his pistols； fired it at the messenger； who fell dead at his feet；〃Euphrosyne； behold thy first victim！〃 Springing on his horse； he galloped towards Janina。 His guards followed at a distance； and the inhabitants of all the villages he passed fled at his approach。 He paid no attention to them； but rode till his horse fell dead by the lake which had engulfed Euphrosyne； and then； taking a boat； he went to hide his grief and rage in his own palace。
Ali； caring little for passion which evaporated in tears and cries； sent an order to Mouktar to appear before him at once。 〃He will not kill you；〃 he remarked to his messenger； with a bitter smile。 And； in fact； the man who a moment before was furiously raging and storming against his father； as if overwhelmed by this imperious message； calmed down； and obeyed。
〃Come hither； Mouktar；〃said the pacha； extending his murderous hand to be kissed as soon as his son appeared。 〃I shall take no notice of your anger； but in future never forget that a man who braves public opinion as I do fears nothing in the world。 You can go now； when your troops have rested from their march； you can come and ask for orders。 Go； remember what I have said。〃
Mouktar retired as submissively as if he had just received pardon for some serious crime； and found no better consolation than to spend the night with Veli in drinking and debauchery。 But a day was to come when the brothers； alike outraged by their father； would plot and carry out a terrible vengeance。
However； the Porte began to take umbrage at the continual aggrandisement of the Pacha of Janina。 Not daring openly to attack so formidable a vassal； the sultan sought by underhand means to diminish his power； and under the pretext that Ali was becoming too old for the labour of so many offices； the government of Thessaly was withdrawn from him； but； to show that this was not done in enmity； the province was entrusted to his nephew； Elmas Bey； son of Suleiman and Chainitza。
Chainitza； fully as ambitious as her brother； could not contain her delight at the idea of governing in the name of her son； who was weak and gentle in character and accustomed to obey her implicitly。 She asked her brother's permission to go to Trikala to be present at the installation； and obtained it； to everybody's astonishment； for no one could imagine that Ali would peacefully renounce so important a government as that of Thessaly。 However； he dissembled so skilfully that everyone was deceived by his apparent resignation； and applauded his magnanimity； when he provided his sister with a brilliant escort to conduct her to the capital of the province of which he had just been deprived in favour of his nephew。 He sent letters of congratulation to the latter as well as magnificent presents； among them a splendid pelisse of black fox； which had cost more than a hundred thousand francs of Western money。 He requested Elmas Bey to honour him by wearing this robe on the day when the sultan's envoy should present him with the firman of investiture； and Chainitza herself was charged to deliver both gifts and messages。
Chainitza arrived safely at Trikala； and faithfully delivered the messages with which she had been entrusted。 When the ceremony she so ardently desired took place； she herself took charge of all the arrangements。 Elmas； wearing the black fox pelisse； was proclaimed； and acknowledged as Governor of Thessaly in her presence。 〃My son is pacha！〃 she cried in the delirium of joy。 〃My son is pacha！ and my nephews will die of envy！ 〃But her triumph was not to be of long duration。 A few days after his installation； Elmas began to feel strangely languid。 Continual lethargy； convulsive sneezing； feverish eyes； soon betokened a serious illness。 Ali's gift had accomplished its purpose。 The pelisse； carefully impregnated with smallpox germs taken from a young girl suffering from this malady； had conveyed the dreaded disease to the new pacha； who； not having been inoculated； died in a few days。
The grief of Chainitza at her son's death displayed itself in sobs； threats； and curses； but； not knowing whom to blame for her misfortune； she hastened to leave the scene of it； and returned to Janina； to mingle her tears with those of her brother。 She found Ali apparently in such depths of grief； that instead of suspecting； she was actually tempted to pity him； and this seeming sympathy soothed her distress； aided by the caresses of her second son； Aden Bey。 Ali； thoughtful of his own interests； took care to send one of his own officers to Trikala； to administer justice in the place of his deceased nephew； and the Porte； seeing that all attempts against him only caused misfortune； consented to his resuming the government of Thessaly。
This climax roused the suspicions of many persons。 But the public voice； already discussing the causes of the death of Elinas； was stifled by the thunder of the cannon； which； from the ramparts of Janina； announced to Epirus the birth of another son to Ali； Salik Bey； whose mother was a Georgian slave。
Fortune； seemingly always ready both to crown Ali's crimes with success and to fulfil his wishes； had yet in reserve a more precious gift than any of the others； that of a good and beautiful wife； who should replace； and even efface the memory of the beloved Emineh。
The Porte； while sending to Ali the firman which restored to him the government of Thessaly； ordered him to seek out and destroy a society of coiners who dwelt within his jurisdiction。 Ali； delighted to； prove his zeal by a service which cost nothing but bloodshed； at once set his spies to work； and having discovered the abode of the gang； set out for the place attended by a strong escort。 It was a village called Plikivitza。
Having arrived in the evening； he spent the night in taking measures to prevent escape； and at break of day attacked the village suddenly with his whole force。 The coiners were seized in the act。 Ali immediately ordered the chief to be hung at his own door and the whole population to be massacred。 Suddenly a young girl of great beauty made her way through the tumult and sought refuge at his feet。 Ali； astonished； asked who she was。 She answered with a look of mingled in
