But Mohammed told us that this can only be seen on fine nights when the pacha and his household are assembled here; and that no Christian is admitted.
"Not even a small one like me?" Lucy suggested.
No, not even the smallest one, Mohammed assured her; not if she were as small as a grasshopper.
The gardeners brought us beautiful bouquets and quantities of oranges; and we walked about or rested on the divans in the arcade till it was time to go home.
In the evening we read the following story of the massacre of the Mamelukes to Hugh and Lucy:-
The Mamelukes had long given a great deal of trouble to the pachas of Egypt. It once happened that Mohammed Ali was on the point of sending an expedition against the tribe of the Wahabees, when he discovered that the Mamelukes were only waiting till his army should have gone, to try and overturn his government. He was very angry, and determined to meet their treachery with treachery. So he sent a message to them, through their chief, inviting them to come to Cairo and to be present at the ceremony of investing his son with the command of the army.
The Mamelukes fell into the snare. Between four and five hundred of them went to the citadel on the day fixed. Mohammed Ali received them very courteously, and ordered coffee and pipes for them, according to Eastern custom. When the ceremony was ended they mounted their horses to leave the citadel. At this moment a volley was fired upon them by the pacha's troops, and the gates of the citadel were all shut, so that there was no possibility of escape. Shots flew in thicker and faster among the unfortunate Mamelukes. In vain they galloped hither and thither in hope of finding some shelter or escape. Men and horses fell under the shower of balls, and the open space before the palace was strewn with the slain.
Emir Bey, one of the Mameluke chiefs, determined to make a desperate effort for his life. He rode his spirited horse to the parapet of the citadel wall, and urged him to take the leap. Together they go over the wall; they are safe from the whizzing shots. Together they go down, down. They near the ground, they touch it, they roll over together. Emir Bey rises unhurt, but the faithful horse lies motionless. He will never rise again. He has bought his master's life with his own.
Emir had no time to linger by the side of his faithful friend. Every moment was precious. Happily for him, an Albanian camp was at hand. He rushed into the nearest tent and threw himself on the kindness and generosity of the officer to whom it belonged.
The officer contrived to hide him for some days. But Emir Bey's wonderful leap became talked of, and the story came to the pacha's ears. Orders were given that the person who had sheltered Emir should deliver him up to the pacha; but the officer resolved that he would not give him up. He provided Emir with a horse and helped him to escape into Asia, where he would be safe.