west thou this writing？〃 demanded the cadi。〃It is mine。〃〃And this seal？〃〃It is that of my master； Ali Pacha。〃〃How does it come to be placed at the foot of these letters？〃〃I did this by order of my chief； abusing the confidence of my master； who occasionally allowed me to use it to sign his orders。〃〃It is enough： thou canst withdraw。〃
Uneasy as to the success of his intrigue； Ali was approaching the Hall of Justice。 As he entered the court； the Greek； who had just finished his examination； threw himself at his feet； assuring him that all had gone well。 〃It is good；〃 said Ali； 〃thou shalt have thy reward。〃 Turning round； he made a sign to his guards； who had their orders； and who instantly seized the unhappy Greek； and； drowning his voice with their shouts； hung him in the courtyard。 This execution finished； the pacha presented himself before the judges and inquired the result of their investigation。 He was answered by a burst of congratulation。 〃Well；〃 said he； 〃the guilty author of this plot aimed at me is no more； I ordered him to be hung without waiting to hear your decision。 May all enemies of our glorious sultan perish even as he！〃
A report of what had occurred was immediately drawn up； and； to assist matters still further； Ali sent the kapidgi…bachi a gift of fifty purses； which he accepted without difficulty； and also secured the favour of the Divan by considerable presents。 The sultan； yielding to the advice of his councillors； appeared to have again received him into favour。
But Ali knew well that this appearance of sunshine was entirely deceptive； and that Selim only professed to believe in his innocence until the day should arrive when the sultan could safely punish his treason。 He sought therefore to compass the latter's downfall； and made common cause with his enemies； both internal and external。 A conspiracy； hatched between the discontented pachas and the English agents； shortly broke out； and one day； when Ali was presiding at the artillery practice of some French gunners sent to Albania by the Governor of Illyria； a Tartar brought him news of the deposition of Selim； who was succeeded by his nephew Mustapha。 Ali sprang up in delight； and publicly thanked Allah for this great good fortune。 He really did profit by this change of rulers； but he profited yet more by a second revolution which caused the deaths both of Selim； whom the promoters wished to reestablish on the throne； and of Mustapha whose downfall they intended。 Mahmoud II； who was next invested with the scimitar of Othman； came to the throne in troublous times； after much bloodshed； in the midst of great political upheavals； and had neither the will nor the power to attack one of his most powerful vassals。 He received with evident satisfaction the million piastres which； at； his installation； Ali hastened to send as a proof of his devotion； assured the pacha of his favour； and confirmed both him and his sons in their offices and dignities。 This fortunate change in his position brought Ali's pride and audacity to a climax。 Free from pressing anxiety； he determined to carry out a project which had been the dream of his life。
CHAPTER V
After taking possession of Argyro…Castron； which he had long coveted； Ali led his victorious army against the town of Kardiki； whose inhabitants had formerly joined with those of Kormovo in the outrage inflicted on his mother and sister。 The besieged； knowing they had no mercy to hope for； defended themselves bravely； but were obliged to yield to famine。 After a month's blockade； the common people； having no food for themselves or their cattle； began to cry for mercy in the open streets； and their chiefs； intimidated by the general misery and unable to stand alone； consented to capitulate。 Ali； whose intentions as to the fate of this unhappy town were irrevocably decided； agreed to all that they asked。 A treaty was signed by both parties； and solemnly sworn to on the Koran； in virtue of which seventy…two beys； heads of the principal Albanian families； were to go to Janina as free men； and fully armed。 They were to be received with the honours due to their rank as free tenants of the sultan； their lives and their families were to be spared； and also their possessions。 The other inhabitants of Kardiki； being Mohammedans； and therefore brothers of Ali； were to be treated as friends and retain their lives and property。 On these conditions a quarter of the town； was to be occupied by the victorious troops。
One of the principal chiefs； Saleh Bey； and his wife； foreseeing the fate which awaited their friends； committed suicide at the moment when； in pursuance of the treaty； Ali's soldiers took possession of the quarter assigned to them。
Ali received the seventy…two beys with all marks of friendship when they arrived at Janina。 He lodged them in a palace on the lake； and treated them magnificently for some days。 But soon； having contrived on some pretext to disarm them； he had them conveyed； loaded with chains； to a Greek convent on an island in the lake； which was converted into a prison。 The day of vengeance not having fully arrived； he explained this breach of faith by declaring that the hostages had attempted to escape。
The popular credulity was satisfied by this explanation； and no one doubted the good faith of the pacha when he announced that he was going to Kardiki to establish a police and fulfil the promises he had made to the inhabitants。 Even the number of soldiers he took excited no surprise； as Ali was accustomed to travel with a very numerous suite。
After three days' journey； he stopped at Libokhovo； where his sister had resided since the death of Aden Bey； her second son； cut off recently by wickness。 What passed in the long interview they had no one knew； but it was observed that Chainitza's tears； which till then had flowed incessantly； stopped as if by magic； and her women； who were wearing mourning； received an order to attire themselves as for a festival。 Feasting and dancing； begun in Ali's honour； did not cease after his departure。
He spent the night at Chenderia； a castle built on a rock； whence the town of Kardiki was plainly visible。 Next day at daybreak Ali despatched an usher to summon all the male inhabitants of Kardiki to appear before Chenderia； in order to receive assurances of the pacha's pardon and friendship。
The Kardikiotes at once divined that this injunction was the precursor of a terrible vengeance： the whole town echoed with cries and groans； the mosques were filled with people praying for deliverance。 The appointed time arrived； they embraced each other as if parting for ever； and then the men； unarmed； in number six hundred and seventy； started for Chenderia。 At the gate of the town they encountered a troop of Albanians； who followed as if to escort them； and which increased in number as they proceeded。 Soon they arrived in the dread presence of Ali Pacha。 Grouped in formidable masses around him stood several thousand of his fierce soldiery。
The unhappy Kardikiotes realised their utter helplessness； and saw that they； their wives an children； were completely at the mercy of their implacable enemy。 They fell prostrate before the pacha； and with all the fervour which the utmost terror could inspire； implored him to grant them a generous pardon。
Ali for some time silently enjoyed the pleasure of seeing his ancient enemies lying before him prostrate in the dust。 He then desired them to rise； reassured them； called them brothers； sons； friends of his heart。 Distinguishing some of his old acquaintances； he called them to him； spoke familiarly of the days of their youth； of their games； their early friendships； and pointing to the young men； said； with tears in his eyes。
〃The discord which has divided us for so many years has allowed children not born at the time of our dissension to grow into men。 I have lost the pleasure of watching the development of the off…spring of my neighbours and the early friends of my youth； and of bestowing benefits on them； but I hope shortly to repair the natural results of our melancholy divisions。〃
He then made them splendid promises； and ordered them to assemble in a neighbouring caravanserai； where he wished to give them a banquet in proof of reconciliation。 Passing from the depths of despair to transports of joy； the Kardikiotes repaired gaily to the caravanserai； heaping blessings on the pacha； and blaming each other for having ever doubted his good faith。
Ali was carried down from Chenderia in a litter； attended by his courtiers； who celebrated his clemency in pompous speeches； to which he replied with gracious smiles。 At the foot of the steep descent he mounted his horse； and； followed by his troops； rode towards the caravanserai。 Alone； and in silence； he rode twice round it； then； returning to the gate； which had just been closed by his order； he pulled up his horse； and； signing to his own bodyguard to attack the building； 〃Slay them！〃 he cried in a voice of thunder。
The guards remained motionless in surprise and horror； then as the pacha； with a roar； repeated his order； they indignantly flung down their arms。 In vain he harangued； flattered； or threatened them； some preserved a sullen silence； others ventured to demand mercy。 Then he ordered them away； and； calling on the Christian Mirdites who served under his banner。
〃To you； brave Latins；〃 he cried； 〃I will now entrust the duty of exterminating the foes of my race。 Avenge me； and I will reward you magnificently。〃
A confused murmur rose from the ranks。 Ali imagined they were consulting as to what recompense should be required as the price of such deed。
〃Speak；〃 said he； 〃I am ready to listen to your demands and to satisfy them。〃
Then the Mirdite leader came forward and threw back the hood of his black cloak。
〃O Pacha！〃 said he； looking Ali boldly in the face； 〃thy words are an insult； the Mirdites do not slaughter unarmed prisoners in cold blood。 Release the Kardikiotes； give them arms； and we will fight them to the death； but we serve thee as soldiers and not as executioners。〃
At these words； which the black…cloaked battalion received with applause； Ali thought himself betrayed； and looked around with