Part 48 (1/2)
”Your Excellency,” said he, a.s.suming a very severe countenance, ”this is the sort of allies we have. Last night I went on an excursion, taking four-and-twenty Spahis with me, in order to purchase horses for myself in the neighbourhood. We dealt honourably with the dealers. I entrusted the horses to the Spahis and myself galloped on in front. In a narrow pa.s.s the soldiers of Ladislaus Szekely laid an ambush for the Spahis, surrounded them and cut them off to a man. When I came to their a.s.sistance there they were all lying slain and the slayers had trotted off on my own good steeds. Most gracious sir, that is treachery, our own allies do us a mischief. I will not put up with it, but if thou dost not give me complete satisfaction, I will go myself to Klausenberg and put every one of them to the sword, from Master Michael Apafi down to Master Ladislaus Szekely.”
Ajas Pasha, whose special favourite Feriz Beg was, laughed loudly at this demonstration, patted the youth's cheek, and said in a consolatory voice:
”Nay, my dear son, do not so, nor waste the fire of thy enthusiasm upon these infidels. I have a short method of doing these things--leave it to me.”
And thereupon he sent for an aga, and gave him a command in the following terms:
”Sit on thy horse and go quickly to Klausenberg. There go to the commandant, Ladislaus Szekely, and speak to him thus: Ajas Pasha wishes thee good-day, thou unbelieving giaour, and sends thee this message: Inasmuch as thy dog-headed servants during the night last past have treacherously fallen upon the men of Feriz Beg and cut down four-and-twenty of them, now therefore I require of thee to search for and send me instantly these murderers, otherwise the whole weight of my wrath shall descend upon thine own head. Moreover, in the place of the horses stolen from him, see that thou send to me without delay just as many good chargers of Wallachia, and beware lest I come for them myself, for then thou wilt have no cause to thank me.”
When the aga had learnt the message by heart he withdrew, and Ajas Pasha turned to Feriz Beg complacently:
”Trouble not thyself further,” said he, ”in a couple of days the murderers will be here.”
”I want the Prince to intercede for them himself,” said Feriz Beg.
”And dost thou not believe then that the little finger of the Sublime Porte is able to give thee the lives of a few giaour hirelings, when it sends forth thousands to perish on the battle-field?”
”And I will venture to bet a hundred ducats that Master Ladislaus Szekely will reply that his soldiers were not out of the fortress at all last night.”
”I am sorry for thy hundred ducats, my dear son, but I will take thy bet all the same; and, if I lose, I will cut just as many pieces out of the skin of Master Ladislaus Szekely.”
The terrified Zulfikar was almost at his last gasp by the time he reached the courtyard of Master Ladislaus Szekely, where, greatly exhausted, he obtained an audience of the commandant, who was resplendent in a great mantle trimmed with galloon and adorned with rubies and emeralds. This love of display was the good old gentleman's weak point. He had the most beautiful collection of precious stones in all Transylvania; the nearest way to his heart was to present him with a rare and beautiful jewel.
He was engaged in furbis.h.i.+ng up a necklace of chrysoprases and jacinths with a hare's foot when the renegade breathlessly rushed through the door unable to utter a word for sheer weariness. Ladislaus Szekely fancied that Zulfikar had come for the reward of his treachery, and very bluntly hastened to antic.i.p.ate him.
”I was unable to make any use of your information, Zulfikar; it was the Prince's name-day, and the soldiers were not at liberty to leave the town.”
”How can your honour say so,” stuttered Zulfikar; ”you had four-and-twenty Spahis cut down at elesd. What fool told your honour to kill them? You should merely have deprived them of their booty.”
Ladislaus Szekely let fall his necklace in his fright and gazed at the renegade with big round eyes.
”Don't be a fool, Zulfikar, my son! Not a soul was outside this fortress to-day or yesterday.”
”Your honour has been well taught what to say,” said the renegade, with the insolence of fury; ”you put on as innocent a face over the business as a new-born lamb.”
”I swear to you I don't understand a word of your nonsense.”
”Of course, of course! Capital! Excellent! But your honour would do well to keep these falsehoods for the messengers of Ajas Pasha, who will be with your honour immediately; try and fool them if you like, but don't fool me.”
Ladislaus Szekely, well aware that every word he said was the sacred truth, fancied that Zulfikar's a.s.sertion was only a rough joke which he wanted to play upon him, so he cast an angry look on the renegade.
”Be off, my son Zulfikar, and cease joking; or I'll beat you about the head with this hare's foot till I knock all the moons.h.i.+ne out of you.”
”Your honour had best keep your hare's foot to yourself, for if I draw my Turkish dagger I'll make you carry your own head.”
”Be off, be off, my son!” cried Szekely, looking around for a stick, and perceiving a cane in the corner with a large silver k.n.o.b he seized it.
”And now are you going, or I shall come to you?” he added.