Be
reconciled rather, and extend to each other the hand of fellowship! I
will not allow you to fight. Both of you spoke with good intentions, and
he is a criminal who will not forget personal insults when it is a
question of the commonweal. Forgive one another and shake hands, I say."
And he seized the reluctant hands of both men and absolutely forced them
to shake hands with each other. But he could not prevent their eyes from
meeting, and though swords were denied them their glances of mutual
hatred were enough to wound to the death.
After the council broke up, Halil's enemies remained behind with the
Grand Vizier. Kaplan Giraj gnashed his teeth with rage.
"Didn't I tell you not to let him speak!" he exclaimed, "for when once
he opens his mouth he turns every drawn sword against us, and drives
wrath from the breasts of men with the glamour of his tongue."
So they had three days wherein to hatch a fresh plot.
* * * * *
The session of the Divan was fixed for three days later. Halil Patrona
employed the interval like a man who feels that his last hour is at
hand. He would have been very short-sighted not to have perceived that
judgment had already been pronounced against him, although his enemies
were still doubtful how to carry it into execution.
He resigned himself to his fate as it became a pious Mussulman to do. He
had only one anxiety which he would gladly have been rid of--what was to
become of his wife and child.
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