The representatives of the people regarded the Khan with amazement.  Halil, with a bitter look, measured him from head to foot.  He knew now that he had been betrayed.  And he had been betrayed by the very man to whom he had assigned a hero’s part!

With a smiling face he turned towards him.  He had no thought now that he had fallen into a trap.  He addressed the Khan as if they were both in the room together alone.

“Truly you spoke the truth, Kaplan Giraj, when you reproached me with the shame of ignorance.  I never learnt anything but the Koran, I have never had the opportunity of reading those books which mock at the things which are written in the Koran; I only know that when the Prophet proclaimed war against the idolators he never inquired of the neighbouring nations, Shall I do this, or shall I not do it? and so he always triumphed.  I know this, too, that since the Divan has taken to debating and negociating with its enemies, the Ottoman armies have been driven across the three rivers—­the Danube, the Dnieper, and the Pruth—­and melt away and perish in every direction.  I am a rough and ignorant man I know, therefore do not be amazed at me if I would defend the faith of Mohammed with the sword when, perhaps, there may be other means of doing so with which I am unacquainted.  I, on the other hand, will not be astonished that you, a scion of the princely Crimean family, should be afraid of war.  You were born a ruler and know therefore that your life is precious.  You embellish the deeds of your enemy that you may not be obliged to fight against him.  You say ’tis a good neighbour, a peaceful neighbour, he does no harm, although you very well know that it was the Muscovite guns which drove our Timariots out of Kermanshan, and that the Persians were allowed to march through Russian territory in order to fall upon our general Abdullah Pasha from behind.  But there is nothing hostile about all this in your eyes, you are perfectly contented with your fate.  War might deprive you of your Khannish dignity, while in peaceful times you can peaceably retain it.  It matters not to you whose servant you may be so long as you hold sway in your own domain, and you call him a blockhead who does not look after himself first of all.  Yes, Kaplan Giraj, I am a blockhead no doubt, for I am not afraid to risk losing this wretched life, awaiting my reward in another world.  I was not born in silks and purples but in the love of my country and the fear of God, while you are wise enough to be satisfied with the joys of this life.  But, by way of reward for betraying your good friend, may Allah cause you, one day, to become the slave of your enemies, so that he who was wont to be called Kaplan[17] may henceforth be named Sichian."[18]

Even had nothing been preconcerted, Kaplan Giraj’s sword must needs have leaped from its sheath at these mortally insulting words.  Furiously he leaped from his seat with his flashing sword in his hand.