"What should you advise to be done in the matter?" he inquired.
"My opinion is that you ought to give the lady sufficient money to pay her expenses so far as Constantinople; for there she can speak to her own Ambassador, and arrange the business more easily than it can be done here."
"Not a bad idea," said the Pacha. "I will advance two months of her husband's salary."
"Gell! come!" he cried to a crowd of servants who were waiting outside, and whilst one attendant handed him a cigarette, and a second some coffee, the Pacha desired a third to tell his treasurer that he wished to speak to him immediately. This official now arrived.
"I want two months' wages from the sum owing to the late engineer to be brought here at once," said the governor.
"But no order about the distribution of the property has come from Constantinople," replied the treasurer hesitatingly; "if we pay any money to the widow, we shall be held responsible for it ourselves."
"No," I said, "I will be responsible for the amount. If the authorities at Constantinople say that you have done wrong, I will repay you the money."
"Certainly not," said the Pacha; "the responsibility is mine. My orders are to be instantly obeyed," he added.
"Is the money to be paid in caime or silver?" asked the treasurer.
"Silver," was the reply. "When the poor woman's husband died, caime was worth as much as medjidis, but now there is a great difference, she must not be the loser. Run!" he cried.