"Now, Kosta, Kosta, in the name of Allah," protested Ben Sabbath, springing to the door and looking to right and left.
Mehemet patted the excited man on the shoulder soothingly.
"He cannot help it," he explained. "It is Islam rising. Patience, Kosta, but a little longer, and you shall have your fill of slitting. We shall spare no one, eh? No Christian dogs to breed more litters of Christians; no babes to grow up into Christians!"
"Merciful Allah! If you should be heard!" whispered Ben Sabbath in an ague of fear.
"You can't make anything out of a Christian, try how you will," continued Kostakes. "They don't appreciate kindness. Now, take that girl of mine, Panayota—"
"You are not trifling with her yet?"
"I have treated her with the greatest kindness, I have humbled myself to her, but she despises me, she abhors me—me!"
And rising to his full height he smote his expanded chest.
"Never mind, never mind," said Mehemet.
"I've offered to make her the head of my harem, to—to—do everything in fact, but still she is obstinate. O, I am through with kindness now. This is a fine state of society when it is possible for a Christian hussy to despise a Turkish gentleman and an officer to boot!"