"Well?" said Hassan frowning, while the odalisk whom he held embraced trembled all over.
"Azrael would like to see the young man die."
The girl grew pale at these words; her heart for a moment ceased to beat, and then began fiercely to throb again.
"A foolish wish," said Hassan; "but if thou desire it, be it so! Be present at the meeting of the Pashas, stand behind the curtains by my side, and thou shalt hear and see everything."
Azrael imprinted a long and burning kiss on Hassan's forehead with a face full of death, and stood behind the curtain holding the folds together with her hands.
"If thou shouldst faint," whispered Yffim Beg sarcastically, "thou shalt have a vessel of musk from me."
Azrael laughed so loudly that Yffim fancied she must have gone mad.
"And now call the Pashas and draw the curtain of the tent," commanded Hassan.
At the invitation of Yffim all the officers of the camp came to the pavilion and took their seats in a circle on cushions. Last of all came the Grand Vizier, Kiuprile, a big, stout, angry man, who, without looking at anyone, sat down on the cushion beside Hassan and turned his back upon him.
Then the roll of drums was heard, and Kucsuk Pasha and Feriz Beg, well guarded, were brought in from different sides—Kucsuk on the left hand, and Feriz on the right.