Ah! but now it was the turn of the Grand Vizier and all the other conspirators to be amazed.

The Janissaries who had been placed by the side of the popular leaders never budged from their seats, and not one of them drew his weapon at the given signal.

Such inertia was so inexplicable to the initiated that Kaplan Giraj remained standing in front of Halil paralyzed with astonishment.  As for Halil he simply crossed his arms over his breast and gazed upon him contemptuously.  The Janissary officers had disregarded the signal.

“I am well aware,” said Halil to the Khan with cold sobriety—­“I am well aware what sort of respect is due to this place, and therefore I do not draw my sword against yours even in self-defence.  For though I am not so well versed in European customs as you are, and know not whether it is usual in the council-chambers of foreign nations to settle matters with the sword, or whether it is the rule in the French or the English cabinet that he who cuts down his opponent in mid-council is in the right and his opinion must needs prevail—­but of so much I am certain, that it is not the habit to settle matters with naked weapons in the Ottoman Divan.  Now that the council is over, however, perhaps you would like to descend with me into the gardens where we may settle the business out of hand, and free one another from the thought that death is terrible.”

Halil’s cold collected bearing silenced, disarmed his enemies.  The eyes of the Grand Vizier and the Khan surveyed the ranks of the Janissary officers, while Halil’s faithful adherents began to assemble round their leader.

“Then there is no answer to the words of Halil Patrona?” inquired Kabakulak at last tentatively.

They were all silent.

“Have you no answer at all then?”

At this all the Janissaries arose, and one of them stepping forward said: 

“Halil is right.  We agree with all that he has said.”

The Grand Vizier did not know whether he was standing on his head or his heels.  Kaplan Giraj wrathfully thrust his sword back again into its scabbard.  All the Janissary officers evidently were on Halil Patrona’s side.

It was impossible not to observe the confusion in the faces of the chief plotters; the well-laid plot could not be carried out.

After a long interval Kabakulak was the first to recover himself, and tried to put a new face on matters till a better opportunity should arise.

“Such important resolutions,” said he, “cannot be carried into effect without the knowledge of the Sultan.  To-morrow, therefore, let us all assemble in the Seraglio to lay our desires before the Padishah.  You also will be there, Halil, and you also, Kaplan Giraj.”

“Which of us twain will be there Allah only knows,” said Halil.

“There, my son, you spake not well; nay, very ill hast thou spoken.  It is a horrible thing when two Mussulmans revile one another.  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.”