Then he raised his hand to his head, and greeted
the Sultan in a strong sonorous voice:
"Aleikum unallah! The grace of God be upon thee!"
Then folding his hands across his breast he flung himself down before
the throne, pressing his forehead against its steps.
Mahmud descended towards him, and raised him from the ground with his
own hand.
"Speak! what can I do for thee?" he asked with condescension.
"My wishes have already been fulfilled," said Halil, and every word he
then uttered was duly recorded by the chronicler. "It was my wish that
the sword of Mahomet should pass into worthy hands; behold it is
accomplished, thou dost sit on the throne to which I have raised thee. I
know right well what is the usual reward for such services--a shameful
death awaits me."
Mahmud passionately interrupted him.
"And I swear to thee by my ancestors that no harm shall befall thee.
Ask thine own reward, and it shall be granted thee before thou hast yet
made an end of preferring thy request."
Halil reflected for a moment, and all the time his gaze rested calmly on
the faces of the dignitaries sitting before him. His gaze passed down
the whole row of them, and he took them all in one by one. Everyone of
them believed that he was seeking a victim whose place he coveted. The
rebel leader read this thought plainly in the faces of the dignitaries.
Once more he ran his eyes over them, then he spoke.
"Glorious Padishah! as the merit of thy elevation belongeth not to me
but to thy people, let the reward be theirs whose is the merit.
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