The captain followed the interpreter into the presence of a majestic-looking person, who saluted him with kindly dignity.  His face wore a thoughtful appearance; his eyes were penetrating, and under a massive forehead there rested well-developed eyebrows, betokening keen observation.  His chin and nose were strong, and altogether his general looks, if not handsome, were comely.  He gave the commander a real, big-hearted grip of the hand, which settled the question of friendship for him at once.  Sailors detest a “grisly shake of the flipper.”  Likes and dislikes are invariably fixed by this test.  The pasha was exceedingly cordial; asked, through his interpreter, all sorts of questions about the British Government, British statesmen, admirals, and generals, and the Army and Navy; but, above all, he was anxious to hear whether the British people were for or against Turkey.  He was aware that Disraeli was with his nation, and regretted the attitude of Gladstone.  He said poor Turkey had many enemies, and when the captain told him that he thought the bulk of the British people were in favour of Disraeli’s policy, he held out his hand again in token of appreciation.  The captain spoke very frankly about the Bulgarian atrocities, and the bad policy of the Turkish Government with her subject races.  The pasha admitted that reforms ought to be given, but held that the Balkan insurrections were encouraged by Russia in order to ultimately get hold of Constantinople.

“My Government,” said he, “is a better Government than that of Russia.  We do not treat our people worse than she does hers.  Are there no atrocities committed in Russia proper, in Siberia, in Poland?  Why does Mr. Gladstone not demand that Russia shall give reforms to her subject races?  Is it because she is big, and near to India, and calls herself a Christian nation?  We are Mohammedans; and our religion teaches honesty, cleanness, sobriety, devotion to our God and his prophet Mahomet, and we adhere to it.  Does the Russian adhere to his religion, which I admit, if carried out, is as good as ours?  I think our consistency is superior to theirs, and the extent of our cruelty no worse, though I do not justify it.  But do you think that the Servians, Armenians, Herzegovinians, Montenegrins, and Bulgarians are saints?  Do you think that the Turkish people and Governors have not been provoked to retaliation?  There may have been excesses, but no one who knows the different races will say that the Turks are all bad, or that the subject races are all good.”

He then requested to be shown the position of the steamer on the chart, asked if there was any danger of collision if the fog continued, and hoped she was steaming full speed, as he must get to Constantinople without delay.  The captain informed him that so long as he heard the whistle going the fog was still on, and it might become necessary to ease down as she drew towards the regular track of vessels; and when the danger of collision was explained to him,