"What Claridge Pasha did, any man would have done, Excellency. He struck,
and death was an accident. Foorgat's temple struck the corner of a
pedestal.
"His death was instant. He would have killed Claridge Pasha if it had
been possible--he tried to do so. But, Excellency, if you have a
daughter, if you ever had a child, what would you have done if any man
had--"
"In the East daughters are more discreet; they tempt men less," he
answered quietly, and fingered the string of beads he carried.
"Yet you would have done as Claridge Pasha did. That it was your brother
was an accident, and--"
"It was an accident that the penalty must fall on Claridge Pasha, and on
you, madame. I did not choose the objects of penalty. Destiny chose them,
as Destiny chose Claridge Pasha as the man who should supplant me, who
should attempt to do these mad things for Egypt against the judgment of
the world--against the judgment of your husband. Shall I have better
judgment than the chancellories of Europe and England--and Lord
Eglington?"
"Excellency, you know what moves other nations; but it is for Egypt to
act for herself.
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