This advertisement was read by a man of five or six and twenty, in a small room in the upper story of a house in Lupus Street, Pimlico. He was not the only inmate2 of the room, for a young woman, apparently3 not more than eighteen, was sitting there sewing; her work interrupted, occasionally, by a short, hacking4 cough. Her husband, for this was the relation in which he stood to her, put down the paper carelessly, and then got up.
"I am going out, dear, on my usual search. You know, we have agreed that it is of no use my trying to live by my pen. I get an article accepted, occasionally, but it's not enough to provide more than bread and cheese. I must look for something else."
"But you must succeed, presently, Gregory."
"Yes, dear; but while the grass grows, the horse starves. At any rate, I will try for something else. If I get anything, it won't prevent my writing; and when my genius is recognized, I can drop the other thing, and take to literature regularly, again.
"Well, I won't be away longer than I can help. Anyhow, I will be back to our midday banquet. I will bring a couple of rashers of bacon in with me. We have potatoes enough, I think."
So saying, he kissed his wife tenderly, and went out.
Gregory Hartley belonged to a good family. He was the second son of the Honorable James Hartley, brother of the Marquis of Langdale. He had been educated at Harrow and Cambridge; and, after leaving the university, had gone out to Egypt with a friend of his father's, who was an enthusiast5 in the exploration of the antiquities6 of that country. Gregory had originally intended to stay there a few months, at most, but he was infected by the enthusiasm of his companion, and remained in Egypt for two years; when the professor was taken ill and died, and he returned home.
A year later, he fell in love with the governess in a neighbouring family. His feeling was reciprocated7, and they became engaged. His father was furious, when his son told him what had taken place.
"It is monstrous8," he said, "after the education that you have had, and the place that I, if I survive him; or, if not, your brother, will take at the death of your uncle; that you should dream of throwing yourself away, in this manner. I have looked to your making a good marriage; for, as you know, I am not what may be called a rich man. Your brother's tastes are expensive; and what with his education, and yours, and the allowances I have made you both, it is as much as I have been able to do to keep up our position. And there are your sisters to be provided for. The idea of your falling in love with this young woman is monstrous."
"Young lady, Father. She is a clergyman's daughter."
"I won't hear of such a thing--I will not hear of it for a moment; and if you persist in this mad folly9, I tell you, fairly, that from this moment I shall have nothing more to say to you! You have to choose between me, and this penniless beggar."
"I am sorry you put it in that way, sir. My choice is made. I am engaged to this young lady, and shall certainly marry her. I trust that, when your present anger has subsided10, you will recognize that my honour was involved in the matter; and that even if I wished it, I could not, without showing myself to be a downright cad, draw back."
And so, Gregory Hartley married the girl of his choice. She had, for some time, refused to allow him to sacrifice himself; but when she found that he was as determined11 as his father, and absolutely refused to release her from the engagement, she had given way; and had, after a quiet marriage, accompanied him to London.
There he had endeavoured to get literary work, but had found it much harder than he had expected. The market was overcrowded, and they had moved from comfortable lodgings13 into small rooms; and so, step by step, had come to the attic14 in Lupus Street. He was doing a little better now, and had hopes that, ere long, he would begin to make his way steadily15 up.
But the anxiety had told on his wife. Never very strong, she had developed a short, hard cough; and he had drawn16 upon his scanty17 reserves, to consult a specialist.
"There is undoubtedly19 lung trouble," the latter said. "If you can manage it, I should say that she ought certainly to be taken to a warm climate. The damage is not extensive, as yet; and it is probable that, under favourable20 circumstances, she might shake it off; but I fear that, if she continues to live in London, her chances are not great."
This, Gregory felt, was almost equivalent to a death sentence; and he had begun to consult the advertisements in the papers, for some post abroad. He had, unknown to her, applied21 for several situations, but without success.
When he first read the advertisement that morning, he had hardly thought of applying for the situation. His pride revolted at the idea of becoming a mere22 messenger; but his wife's cough had decided23 him. What did it matter, so that he could save her life?
"I may not get it," he said to himself, as he went out; "but my knowledge of Arabic, and the native dialect, is all in my favour. And at least, in a year or two, she may have thoroughly24 shaken off the cough, and that is everything.
"At any rate, I have a better chance of getting this than I had of the other places that I applied for. There can hardly be a rush of applicants25. When I am out there, I may hear of something better.
"However, I will take another name. Fortunately I have a second one, which will do very well. Hilliard will do as well as Hartley; and as I never write it in full as my signature, no one would recognize it as my name. There is nothing to be ashamed of, in accepting such a post.
"As for the marquis, as he has never been friendly with us, it does not matter. He is, I have heard, a very tough sort of man; and my father is not likely to survive him. But I do not think it would be fair to Geoffrey, when he comes into his peerage, that anyone should be able to say that he has a brother who is porter, in a mercantile house at Alexandria. We have never got on very well together. The fact that he was heir to a title spoilt him. I think he would have been a very good fellow, if it hadn't been for that."
On arriving at the office in Leadenhall Street, he was, on saying he wished to speak to Mr. Partridge, at once shown in. A good many of his personal belongings27 had been long since pledged; but he had retained one or two suits, so that he could make as good an appearance as possible, when he went out. The clerk had merely said, "A gentleman wishes to speak to you, sir," and the merchant looked up enquiringly at him, as he entered.
"I have come to see you, sir, with reference to that advertisement, for a man at your establishment at Alexandria."
A look of surprise came over the merchant's face, and he said:
"Have you called on your own account?"
"Yes; I am anxious to go abroad, for the sake of my wife's health, and I am not particular as to what I do, so that I can take her to a warm climate. I may say that I have been two years in Egypt, and speak Arabic and Koptic fluently. I am strong and active, and am ready to make myself useful, in any way."
Mr. Partridge did not answer, for a minute. Certainly this applicant26 was not at all the sort of man he had expected to apply for the place, in answer to his advertisement. That he was evidently a gentleman was far from an advantage, but the fact that he could speak the languages would add much to his value.
"Can you give me references?" he said, at last.
"I cannot, sir. I should not like to apply to any of my friends, in such a matter. I must ask you to take me on trust. Frankly28, I have quarrelled with my family, and have to strike out for myself. Were it not for my wife's health, I could earn my living; but I am told it is essential that she should go to a warm climate, and as I see no other way of accomplishing this, I have applied for this situation, hoping that my knowledge of the language, and my readiness to perform whatever duties I may be required to do, might induce you to give me a trial."
"And you would, if necessary--say, in the case of illness of one of my clerks--be ready to help in the office?"
"Certainly, sir."
"Will you call again, in half an hour? I will give you an answer, then."
By the time Gregory returned, the merchant's mind was made up. He had come to the conclusion that the story he had heard was a true one. The way it had been told was convincing. The man was undoubtedly a gentleman. There was no mistake in his manner and talk. He had quarrelled with his family, probably over his marriage; and, as so many had done, found it difficult to keep his head above water. His wife had been ordered to a warm climate, and he was ready to do anything that would enable him to keep her there.
It would assuredly be a great advantage to have one who could act, in an emergency, as a clerk; of course, his knowledge of language would greatly add to his utility. It certainly was not business to take a man without a reference, but the advantages more than counterbalanced the disadvantages. It was not likely that he would stay with him long; but at any rate, the fact that he was taking his wife with him would ensure his staying, until he saw something a great deal better elsewhere.
When Gregory returned, therefore, he said:
"I have been thinking this matter over. What is your name?"
"Gregory Hilliard, sir."
"Well, I have been thinking it over, and I have decided to engage you. I quite believe the story that you have told me, and your appearance fully29 carries it out. You may consider the matter settled. I am willing to pay for a second-class passage for your wife, as well as yourself; and will give such instructions, to my agents there, as will render your position as easy for you as possible. In the natural course of things, your duties would have included the sweeping30 out of the offices, and work of that description; but I will instruct him to engage a native to do this, under your supervision31. You will be in charge of the warehouse32, under the chief storekeeper; and, as you say, you will, in case of pressure of work in the office, take a desk there.
"In consideration of your knowledge of the language, which will render you, at once, more useful than a green hand would be, I shall add ten shillings a week to the wages named in the advertisement, which will enable you to obtain comfortable lodgings."
"I am heartily33 obliged to you, sir," Gregory said, "and will do my best to show that your confidence in me has not been misplaced. When do you wish me to sail? I shall only require a few hours to make my preparations."
"Then in that case I will take a passage, for you and your wife, in the P. and O. that sails, next Thursday, from Southampton. I may say that it is our custom to allow fifteen pounds, for outfit34. If you will call again in half an hour, I will hand you the ticket and a cheque for that amount; and you can call, the day before you go, for a letter to our agents there."
Gregory ascended35 the stairs to his lodging12 with a far more elastic36 step than usual. His wife saw at once, as he entered, that he had good news of some sort.
"What is it, Gregory?"
"Thank God, darling, that I have good news to give you, at last! I have obtained a situation, at about a hundred and thirty pounds a year, in Alexandria."
"Alexandria?" she repeated, in surprise.
"Yes. It is the place of all others that I wanted to go to. You see, I understand the language. That is one thing; and what is of infinitely37 more consequence, it is a place that will suit your health; and you will, I hope, very soon get rid of that nasty cough. I did not tell you at the time, but the doctor I took you to said that this London air did not suit you, but that a warm climate would soon set you up again."
"You are going out there for my sake, Gregory! As if I hadn't brought trouble enough on you, already!"
"I would bear a good deal more trouble for your sake, dear. You need not worry about that."
"And what are you going to do?" she asked.
"I am going to be a sort of useful man--extra clerk, assistant storekeeper, et cetera, et cetera. I like Egypt very much. It will suit me to a T. At any rate, it will be a vast improvement upon this.
"Talking of that, I have forgotten the rashers. I will go and get them, at once. We sha'n't have to depend upon them as our main staple38, in future; for fruit is dirt cheap, out there, and one does not want much meat. We shall be able to live like princes, on two pounds ten a week; and besides, this appointment may lead to something better, and we may consider that there is a future before us.
"We are to sail on Thursday. Look! Here are fifteen golden sovereigns. That is for my outfit, and we can begin with luxuries, at once. We shall not want much outfit: half a dozen suits of white drill for myself, and some gowns for you."
"Nonsense, Gregory! I sha'n't want anything. You would not let me sell any of my dresses, and I have half a dozen light ones. I shall not want a penny spent on me."
"Very well; then I will begin to be extravagant39, at once. In the first place, I will go down to that confectioner's, round the corner; and we will celebrate my appointment with a cold chicken, and a bottle of port. I shall be back in five minutes."
"Will it be very hot, Gregory?" she asked, as they ate their meal. "Not that I am afraid of heat, you know. I always like summer."
"No. At any rate, not at present. We are going out at the best time of the year, and it will be a comfort, indeed, to change these November fogs for the sunshine of Egypt. You will have four or five months to get strong again, before it begins to be hot. Even in summer, there are cool breezes morning and evening; and of course, no one thinks of going out in the middle of the day. I feel as happy as a schoolboy, at the thought of getting out of this den1 and this miserable40 climate, and of basking41 in the sunshine. We have had a bad beginning, dear, but we have better days before us."
"Thank God, Gregory! I have not cared about myself. But it has been a trial, when your manuscripts have come back, to see you sitting here slaving away; and to know that it is I who have brought you to this."
"I brought myself to it, you obstinate42 girl! I have pleased myself, haven't I? If a man chooses a path for himself, he must not grumble43 because he finds it rather rougher than he expected. I have never, for a single moment, regretted what I have done; at any rate, as far as I, myself, am concerned."
"Nor I, for my own sake, dear. The life of a governess is not so cheerful as to cause one regret, at leaving it."
And so, Gregory Hartley and his wife went out to Alexandria, and established themselves in three bright rooms, in the upper part of a house that commanded a view of the port, and the sea beyond it. The outlay44 required for furniture was small, indeed: some matting for the floors, a few cushions for the divans45 which ran round the rooms, a bed, a few simple cooking utensils46, and a small stock of crockery sufficed.
Mr. Ferguson, the manager of the branch, had at first read the letter that Gregory had brought him with some doubt in his mind, as to the wisdom of his principal, in sending out a man who was evidently a gentleman. This feeling, however, soon wore away; and he found him perfectly47 ready to undertake any work to which he was set.
There was, indeed, nothing absolutely unpleasant about this. He was at the office early, and saw that the native swept and dusted the offices. The rest of the day he was either in the warehouse, or carried messages, and generally did such odd jobs as were required. A fortnight after his arrival, one of the clerks was kept away by a sharp attack of fever; and as work was pressing, the agent asked Gregory to take his place.
"I will do my best, sir, but I know nothing of mercantile accounts."
"The work will be in no way difficult. Mr. Hardman will take Mr. Parrot's ledgers48; and, as you will only have to copy the storekeeper's issues into the books, five minutes will show you the form in which they are entered."
Gregory gave such satisfaction that he was afterwards employed at office work, whenever there was any pressure.
A year and a half passed comfortably. At the end of twelve months, his pay was raised another ten shillings a week.
He had, before leaving England, signed a contract to remain with the firm for two years. He regretted having to do this, as it prevented his accepting any better position, should an opening occur; but he recognized that the condition was a fair one, after the firm paying for his outfit and for two passages. At the end of eighteen months, Gregory began to look about for something better.
"I don't mind my work a bit," he said to his wife, "but, if only for the sake of the boy" (a son had been born, a few months after their arrival), "I must try to raise myself in the scale, a bit. I have nothing to complain about at the office; far from it. From what the manager said to me the other day, if a vacancy49 occurred in the office, I should have the offer of the berth50. Of course, it would be a step; for I know, from the books, that Hardman gets two hundred a year, which is forty more than I do."
"I should like you to get something else, Gregory. It troubles me, to think that half your time is spent packing up goods in the warehouse, and work of that sort; and even if we got less I would much rather, even if we had to stint51 ourselves, that your work was more suitable to your past; and such that you could associate again with gentlemen, on even terms."
"That does not trouble me, dear, except that I wish you had some society among ladies. However, both for your sake and the boy's, and I own I should like it myself, I will certainly keep on the lookout52 for some better position. I have often regretted, now, that I did not go in for a commission in the army. I did want to, but my father would not hear of it. By this time, with luck, I might have got my company; and though the pay would not have been more than I get here, it would, with quarters and so on, have been as much, and we should be in a very different social position.
"However, it is of no use talking about that now; and indeed, it is difficult to make plans at all. Things are in such an unsettled condition, here, that there is no saying what will happen.
"You see, Arabi and the military party are practically masters here. Tewfik has been obliged to make concession53 after concession to them, to dismiss ministers at their orders, and to submit to a series of humiliations. At any moment, Arabi could dethrone him, as he has the whole army at his back, and certainly the larger portion of the population. The revolution could be completed without trouble or bloodshed; but you see, it is complicated by the fact that Tewfik has the support of the English and French governments; and there can be little doubt that the populace regard the movement as a national one, and directed as much against foreign control and interference as against Tewfik, against whom they have no ground of complaint, whatever. On the part of the army and its generals, the trouble has arisen solely54 on account of the favouritism shown to Circassian officers.
"But once a revolution has commenced, it is certain to widen out. The peasantry are, everywhere, fanatically hostile to foreigners. Attacks have been made upon these in various country districts; and, should Arabi be triumphant55, the position of Christians56 will become very precarious57. Matters are evidently seen in that light in England; for I heard today, at the office, that the British and French squadrons are expected here, in a day or two.
"If there should be a row, our position here will be very unpleasant. But I should hardly think that Arabi would venture to try his strength against that of the fleets, and I fancy that trouble will, in the first place, begin in Cairo; both as being the capital of the country, and beyond the reach of armed interference by the Powers. Arabi's natural course would be to consolidate58 his power throughout the whole of Egypt, leaving Alexandria severely59 alone, until he had obtained absolute authority elsewhere.
"Anyhow, it will be a satisfaction to have the fleet up; as, at the first rumour60 of an outbreak, I can get you and baby on board one of the ships lying in harbour. As a simple measure of precaution, I would suggest that you should go out with me, this evening, and buy one of the costumes worn by the native women. It is only a long blue robe, enveloping61 you from head to foot; and one of those hideous62 white cotton veils, falling from below the eyes. I will get a bottle of iodine63, and you will then only have to darken your forehead and eyelids64, and you could pass, unsuspected, through any crowd."
"But what are you going to do, Gregory?"
"I will get a native dress, too; but you must remember that though, if possible, I will come to you, I may not be able to do so; and in case you hear of any tumult65 going on, you must take Baby, and go down at once to the port. You know enough of the language, now, to be able to tell a boatman to take you off to one of the steamers in the port. As soon as I get away I shall go round the port, and shall find you without difficulty. Still, I do not anticipate any trouble arising without our having sufficient warning to allow me to come and see you settled on board ship; and I can then keep on in the office until it closes, when I can join you again.
"Of course, all this is very remote, and I trust that the occasion will never arise. Still, there is no doubt that the situation is critical, and there is no harm in making our preparations for the worst.
"At any rate, dear, I beg that you will not go out alone, till matters have settled down. We will do the shopping together, when I come back from the office.
"There is one thing that I have reason to be grateful for. Even if the worst comes to the worst, and all Christians have to leave the country, the object for which I came out here has been attained66. I have not heard you cough, for months; we have laid by fifty pounds; and I have written some forty stories, long and short, and if we go back I have a fair hope of making my way, for I am sure that I write better than I used to do; and as a good many of the stories are laid in Egypt, the local colouring will give them a distinctive67 character, and they are more likely to be accepted than those I wrote before. Editors of magazines like a succession of tales of that kind.
"For the present, there is no doubt that the arrival of the fleet will render our position here more comfortable than it is, at present. The mere mob of the town would hesitate to attack Europeans, when they know that three or four thousand sailors could land in half an hour. But on the other hand, Arabi and his generals might see that Alexandria was, after all, the most important position, and that it was here foreign interference must be arrested.
"I should not be surprised if, on the arrival of the ships, Tewfik, Arabi, and all the leaders of the movement come here at once. Tewfik will come to get the support of the fleet. Arabi will come to oppose a landing of troops. The war in the beginning of the century was decided at Alexandria, and it may be so, again. If I were sure that you would come to no harm, and I think the chances of that are very small, I own that all this would be immensely interesting, and a break to the monotony of one's life here.
"One thing is fairly certain. If there is anything like a regular row, all commercial work will come to an end until matters are settled; in which case, even if the offices are not altogether closed, and the whole staff recalled to England, they would be glad enough to allow me to leave, instead of keeping me to the two years' agreement that I signed, before starting."
"I should hardly think that there would be a tumult here, Gregory. The natives all seem very gentle and peaceable, and the army is composed of the same sort of men."
"They have been kept down for centuries, Annie; but there is a deep, fanatical feeling in every Mussulman's nature; and, at any rate, the great proportion of the officers of the army are Mussulmans. As for the Kopts, there would be no danger of trouble from them; but the cry of 'death to the Christians' would excite every Mahomedan in the land, almost to madness.
"Unfortunately, too, there is a general belief, whether truly founded or not, that although the French representative here is apparently acting68 in concert with ours, he and all the French officials are secretly encouraging Arabi, and will take no active steps, whatever. In that case, it is doubtful whether England would act alone. The jealousy69 between the two peoples here is intense. For years, the French have been thwarting70 us at every turn; and they may very well think that, however matters might finally go, our interference would make us so unpopular, in Egypt, that their influence would become completely paramount71.
"Supremacy72 in Egypt has always been the dream of the French. Had it not been for our command of the sea, they would have obtained possession of the country in Napoleon's time. Their intrigues73 here have, for years, been incessant74. Their newspapers in Egypt have continually maligned75 us, and they believe that the time has come when they will be the real, if not the nominal76, rulers of Egypt. The making of the Suez Canal was quite as much a political as a commercial move, and it has certainly added largely to their influence here; though, in this respect, a check was given to them by the purchase of the Khedive's shares in the canal by Lord Beaconsfield; a stroke which, however, greatly increased the enmity of the French here, and heightened their efforts to excite the animosity of the people against us.
"Well, I hope that whatever comes of all this, the question as to whose influence is to be paramount in Egypt will be finally settled. Even French domination would be better than the constant intrigues and trouble, that keep the land in a state of agitation77. However, I fancy that it will be the other way, if an English fleet comes here and there is trouble. I don't think we shall back down; and if we begin in earnest, we are sure to win in the long run. France must see that, and if she refuses to act, at the last moment, it can only be because Arabi has it in his power to produce documents showing that he was, all along, acting in accordance with her secret advice."
A week later, on the 20th of May, the squadrons of England and France anchored off Alexandria. The British fleet consisted of eight ironclads and five gunboats, carrying three thousand five hundred and thirty-nine men and one hundred and two guns, commanded by Sir Frederick Seymour. Two days before the approach of the fleet was known at Cairo, the French and English consuls78 proposed that the Khedive should issue a decree, declaring a general amnesty, and that the president of the council, the minister of war, and the three military pashas should quit the country for a year. This request was complied with.
The ministry79 resigned, in a body, on the day the fleet arrived; on the ground that the Khedive acquiesced80 in foreign interference. A great meeting was held of the chief personages of state, and the officers and the representatives of the army at once told the Khedive that they refused to obey his orders, and only recognized the authority of the Porte.
At Alexandria all trade ceased at once, when it became known that the troops were busy strengthening the forts, mounting cannon81, and preparing for a resistance. That this was done by the orders of Arabi, who was now practically dictator, there could be no question. The native population became more and more excited, being firmly of belief that no vessels82 could resist the fire of the heavy guns; and that any attempt on the part of the men-of-war to reduce the place would end in their being sunk, as soon as fighting began.
The office and stores were still kept open, but Gregory's duties were almost nominal; and he and Mr. Parrot, who was also married, were told by the manager that they could spend the greater portion of their time at their homes. Part of Gregory's duties consisted in going off to vessels that came into the port with goods for the firm, and seeing to their being brought on shore; and he had no difficulty in making arrangements, with the captain of one of these ships, for his wife and child to go on board at once, should there be any trouble in the town.
"If you hear any sounds of tumult, Annie, you must disguise yourself at once, and go down to the wharf83. I have arranged with our boatman, Allen, whom you know well, as we have often gone out with him for a sail in the evening, that if he hears of an outbreak, he shall bring the boat to the steps at the end of this street, and take you off to the Simoon. Of course, I shall come if I can, but our house is one of those which have been marked off as being most suitable for defence. The men from half a dozen other establishments are to gather there and, as belonging to the house, I must aid in the defence. Of course, if I get sufficient warning, I shall slip on my disguise, and hurry here, and see you down to the boat; and then make my way back to our place. But do not wait for me. If I come here and find that you have gone, I shall know that you have taken the alarm in time, and shall return at once to the office.
"Of course, if the outbreak commences near here, and you find that your way down to the water is blocked, you will simply put on your disguise, stain your face, and wait till I come to you, or till you see that the way to the water is clear. Do not attempt to go out into a mob. There are not likely to be any women among them. However, I do not anticipate a serious riot. They may attack Europeans in the street, but with some fourteen or fifteen men-of-war in the port, they are not likely to make any organized assault. Arabi's agents will hardly precipitate84 matters in that way. Hard as they may work, it will take a month to get the defences into proper order, and any rising will be merely a spasmodic outbreak of fanaticism85. I don't think the danger is likely to be pressing until, finding that all remonstrances86 are vain, the admiral begins to bombard the port."
"I will do exactly as you tell me, Gregory. If I were alone, I could not bring myself to leave without you, but I must think of the child."
"Quite so, dear. That is the first consideration. Certainly, if it comes to a fight, I should be much more comfortable with the knowledge that you and Baby were in safety."
The Egyptian soldiers were quartered, for the most part, outside the town; and for some days there was danger that they would enter, and attack the European inhabitants; but Arabi's orders were strict that, until he gave the command, they were to remain quiet.
The British admiral sent messages to Tewfik, insisting that the work upon the fortifications should cease, and the latter again issued orders to that effect, but these were wholly disobeyed. He had, indeed, no shadow of authority remaining; and the work continued, night and day. It was, however, as much as possible concealed87 from observation; but, search lights being suddenly turned upon the forts, at night, showed them to be swarming88 with men.
Things went on with comparative quiet till the 10th of June, although the attitude of the natives was so threatening that no Europeans left their houses, except on urgent business. On that day, a sudden uproar89 was heard. Pistols were fired, and the merchants closed their stores and barricaded90 their doors.
Gregory was in the harbour at the time and, jumping into his boat, rowed to the stairs and hurried home. He found that his wife had already disguised herself, and was in readiness to leave.
The street was full of excited people. He slipped on his own disguise, darkened his face, and then, seizing a moment when the crowd had rushed up the street at the sound of firearms at the other end, hurried down to the boat, and rowed off to the Simoon.
"I must return now, dear," he said. "I can get in at the back gate--I have the key, as the stores are brought in through that way. I do not think that you need feel any uneasiness. The row is evidently still going on, but only a few guns are being fired now. Certainly the rascals91 cannot be attacking the stores, or you would hear a steady musketry fire. By the sound, the riot is principally in the foreign quarter, where the Maltese, Greeks, and Italians congregate92. No doubt the police will soon put it down."
The police, however, made no attempt to do so, and permitted the work of massacre93 to take place under their eyes. Nearly two hundred Europeans were killed. The majority of these dwelt in the foreign quarter, but several merchants and others were set upon, while making their way to their offices, and some seamen94 from the fleet were also among the victims. The British consul18 was dragged out of his carriage, and severely injured. The consulate95 was attacked, and several Frenchmen were killed in the streets.
The Khedive hurried from Cairo, on hearing the news. Arabi was now sending some of his best regiments96 to Alexandria, while pretending to be preparing for a raid upon the Suez Canal. He was receiving the assistance of Dervish Pasha, the Sultan's representative; and had been recognized by the Sultan, who conferred upon him the highest order of Medjidie.
In the meantime a conference had been held by the Powers, and it was decided that the Sultan should be entrusted97 with the work of putting down the insurrection, he being nominally98 lord paramount of Egypt. But conditions were laid down, as to his army leaving the country afterwards.
The Sultan sent an evasive reply. The Khedive was too overwhelmed at the situation to take any decisive course. France hesitated, and England determined that, with or without allies, she would take the matter in hand.
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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4
hacking
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| n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动 | |
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5
enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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6
antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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7
reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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8
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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12
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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13
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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14
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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18
consul
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| n.领事；执政官 | |
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19
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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20
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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21
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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22
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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24
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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25
applicants
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| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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30
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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31
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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32
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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39
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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40
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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43
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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44
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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45
divans
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| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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46
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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48
ledgers
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| n.分类账( ledger的名词复数 ) | |
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49
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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50
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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51
stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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52
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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53
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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54
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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55
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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57
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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58
consolidate
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| v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并 | |
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59
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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60
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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61
enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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62
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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63
iodine
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| n.碘，碘酒 | |
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64
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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65
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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66
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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67
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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68
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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69
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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70
thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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71
paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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72
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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73
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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74
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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75
maligned
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| vt.污蔑，诽谤（malign的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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76
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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77
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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78
consuls
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| 领事( consul的名词复数 )； （古罗马共和国时期）执政官 （古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长，同时共有两位，每年选举一次） | |
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79
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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80
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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82
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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83
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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84
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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85
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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86
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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87
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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88
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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89
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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90
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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91
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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92
congregate
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| v.(使)集合，聚集 | |
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93
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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94
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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95
consulate
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| n.领事馆 | |
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96
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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97
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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