Part 23 (1/2)

”I bid you not to fail in the performance of your duty, but I counsel you to lay on lightly,” returned the jester, with a grim smile.

”And how if the Dey should expect to hear thy cries, and afterwards to see thee limp into his presence?” asked the man in a tone of indecision.

”Depend on't he shall both see and hear,” exclaimed Baba, with a laugh.

”Thinkest thou that my head is not equal to the saving of my feet? Lay on _lightly_, so that there may be somewhat to show; but see thou dost not over-do it. I will engage to let the tyrant hear on the deafest side of his head, and will limp into his presence with most unfeigned sincerity.”

”Well, then, I begin,” said the man, applying a few strokes with a lithe rod to the soles of the jester's feet.

Baba was true to his word. He suddenly gave vent to a yell so appalling that the very executioner, accustomed though he was to such sounds, quailed for a moment, and said anxiously--

”Did I hit you too hard?”

”Hard!” echoed Baba, mingling a roar of laughter with his next yell.

”Fear not, good comrade; go on, do thy duty--ha! ha!--ho-o-o! Stop!

Why, it is worse than I had imagined,” he added, as the man delivered a cut that was rather sharp. ”But go on,” cried Hadji Baba, with another yell; ”I must have _something_ to show, and _he_ shall smart for it.”

He followed up this remark with a series of amateur shrieks and howls so terrible that the hardened chaouses, being accustomed only to the genuine display of suffering, were overcome, and entreated him to desist.

The excitement of the exercise, the conflict of varied feelings, the smarting of his soles, the indignation of his soul, and the absurdity of the deception, had such an effect on Hadji Baba's spirit, that he experienced no difficulty whatever in limping like a confirmed cripple, and trembling like an aspen leaf when led into the presence of the tyrant.

”Ha!” exclaimed the Dey, ”I think I have cured thee. Thou wilt talk no more nonsense, I warrant.”

”Not a word, your highness, not a syllable,” exclaimed the jester, falling on his knees, as the executioners retired. ”Even though your highness were to hold the reins of power with a hand of gentleness and benignity, which I doubt not you will, I would not repeat such nonsense for the world.”

”Gentleness and benignity,” laughed the Dey, catching at the words, and paying little regard to what followed; ”truly that were a novel feature in my character, as thou knowest well.--Now, listen, rascal: as thy feet are in good walking trim, I have an errand for thee. Go, tell Sidi Ha.s.san that I want him, and see thou find him quickly, else another beating awaits thee.”

”Your highness shall be obeyed,” said the jester, with a profound obeisance, as he turned and limped out of the room.

Sidi Ha.s.san had left the service of the British consul, without leave, just before the insurrection, and was seated in his own town mansion, sipping a cup of coffee, and conversing with Rais Ali, when the message reached him.

”Thou art but a cowardly fellow, a weak villain after all,” said Ha.s.san to some remark of the interpreter. ”The man who plays fast and loose is sure to be brought low sooner or later. Why not leave the British consul's service now that a chance offers? It will be to thy advantage, for I can speak a good word for thee with the new Dey.”

”Because,” said Rais Ali anxiously, ”although I have not a sensitive conscience, I cannot prevail on myself to betray my old master.”

”Very good,” said Ha.s.san; ”continue to vacillate until thy head is shaken off. Adieu. I must not keep his highness waiting.”

So saying, he hastened to the palace, congratulating himself on the expected fulfilment of the promises which the late Aga Hamet had so lavishly made to him.

Like many other sycophants, Sidi Ha.s.san had mistaken his man. The new Dey was well aware that Ha.s.san was a turbulent, ambitious character, and thought that it would be best for his own interests to appoint him governor of a distant province of his dominions. Like many other coa.r.s.e, though energetic, characters, Hamet also mistook his man. He did not know that Ha.s.san would be content with nothing short of the position of second in command. When, therefore, he handed him, with many compliments, the paper containing his commission to the governors.h.i.+p of the province alluded to, he was greatly surprised to behold his former friend fly into a violent pa.s.sion, tear the paper to pieces, and fling it on the ground, as he turned on his heel and left the room abruptly.

So suddenly and vigorously was the act done that Hamet's wonted coolness failed him for a moment, and Ha.s.san had pa.s.sed out into the street before he gave orders, in a voice of thunder, to have him arrested and brought back.

There is no doubt that in his present temper the Dey would have had his late colleague strangled on the spot, but, fortunately for himself, Sidi Ha.s.san, instead of returning to his own house, went straight to the Marina, without having any definite object in view, save that he thirsted for vengeance, and meant to have it if possible.

On his way down he met the sapient interpreter, Blindi Bobi.

”Well, Bobi,” he said, making an effort to look calm, ”any probability of a rising among the slaves?”

”Not much,” replied Bobi, in Turkish, shaking his head; ”slaves don't like to have their heads cut off and their skin torn away in bits.”