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and； and soon Hassan Pacha； Omar Brionis； Kursheed's sword…bearer； Mehemet； the keeper of the wardrobe； and several officers of the army； attended by a numerous suite； drew near with gloomy countenances。
Seeing them approach； Ali sprang up impetuously； his hand upon the pistols in his belt。 〃Stand！ 。 。 。 what is it you bring me？〃 he cried to Hassan in a voice of thunder。 〃I bring the commands of His Highness the Sultan；knowest thou not these august characters？〃 And Hassan exhibited the brilliantly gilded frontispiece which decorated the firman。 〃I know them and revere them。〃 〃 Then bow before thy destiny； make thy ablutions； address thy prayer to Allah and to His Prophet； for thy； head is demanded。 。 。 。 ' Ali did not allow him to finish。 〃My head；〃 he cried with fury； 〃will not be surrendered like the head of a slave。〃
These rapidly pronounced words were instantly followed by a pistol…shot which wounded Hassan in the thigh。 Swift as lightning； a second killed the keeper of the wardrobe； and the guards； firing at the same time； brought down several officers。 Terrified； the Osmanlis forsook the pavilion。 Ali； perceiving blood flowing from a wound in his chest； roared like a bull with rage。 No one dared to face his wrath； but shots were fired at the kiosk from all sides； and four of his guards fell dead beside him。 He no longer knew which way to turn； hearing the noise made by the assailants under the platform； who were firing through the boards on which he stood。 A ball wounded him in the side； another from below lodged in his spine； he staggered； clung to a window； then fell on the sofa。 〃Hasten；〃 he cried to one of his officers； 〃run； my friend； and strangle my poor Basilissa； let her not fall a prey to these infamous wretches。〃
The door opened； all resistance ceased； the guards hastened to escape by the windows。 Kursheed's sword…bearer entered； followed by the executioners。 〃Let the justice of Allah be accomplished！〃 said a cadi。 At these words the executioners seized Ali； who was still alive； by the beard； and dragged him out into the porch； where； placing his head on one of the steps； they separated it from the body with many blows of a jagged cutlass。 Thus ended the career of the dreaded Ali Pacha。
His head still preserved so terrible and imposing an aspect that those present beheld it with a sort of stupor。 Kursheed； to whom it was presented on a large dish of silver plate； rose to receive it； bowed three times before it； and respectfully kissed the beard； expressing aloud his wish that he himself might deserve a similar end。 To such an extent did the admiration with which Ali's bravery inspired these barbarians efface the memory of his crimes。 Kursheed ordered the head to be perfumed with the most costly essences； and despatched to Constantinople； and he allowed the Skipetars to render the last honours to their former master。
Never was seen greater mourning than that of the warlike Epirotes。 During the whole night； the various Albanian tribes watched by turns around the corpse； improvising the most eloquent funeral songs in its honour。 At daybreak； the body； washed and prepared according to the Mohammedan ritual； was deposited in a coffin draped with a splendid Indian Cashmere shawl； on which was placed a magnificent turban； adorned with the plumes Ali had worn in battle。 The mane of his charger was cut off； and the animal covered with purple housings； while Ali's shield； his sword； his numerous weapons； and various insignia； were borne on the saddles of several led horses。 The cortege proceeded towards the castle； accompanied by hearty imprecations uttered by the soldiers against the 〃Son of a Slave；〃 the epithet bestowed on their sultan by the Turks in seasons of popular excitement。
The Selaon…Aga； an officer appointed to render the proper salutes； acted as chief mourner； surrounded by weeping mourners； who made the ruins of Janina echo with their lamentations。 The guns were fired at long intervals。 The portcullis was raised to admit the procession； and the whole garrison； drawn up to receive it； rendered a military salute。 The body； covered with matting； was laid in a grave beside that of Amina。 When the grave had been filled in； a priest approached to listen to the supposed conflict between the good and bad angels； who dispute the possession of the soul of the deceased。 When he at length announced that Ali Tepelen Zadi would repose in peace amid celestial houris； the Skipetars； murmuring like the waves of the sea after a tempest； dispersed to their quarters：
Kursheed； profiting by the night spent by the Epirotes in mourning； caused Ali's head to be en closed in a silver casket； and despatched it secretly to Constantinople。 His sword…bearer Mehemet； who； having presided at the execution； was entrusted with the further duty of presenting it to the sultan； was escorted by three hundred Turkish soldiers。 He was warned to be expeditious； and before dawn was well out of reach of the Arnaouts； from whom a surprise might have been feared。
The Seraskier then ordered the unfortunate Basilissa； whose life had been spared； to be brought before him。 She threw herself at his feet； imploring him to spare； not her life； but her honour； and he consoled her； and assured her of the sultan's protection。 She burst into tears when she beheld Ali's secretaries； treasurers； and steward loaded with irons。 Only sixty thousand purses （about twenty…five million piastres） of Ali's treasure could be found； and already his officers had been tortured； in order to compel them to disclose where the rest might be concealed。 Fearing a similar fate； Basilissa fell insensible into the arms of her attendants； and she was removed to the farm of Bouila； until the Supreme Porte should decide on her fate。
The couriers sent in all directions to announce the death of Ali； having preceded the sword…bearer Mehemet's triumphal procession； the latter； on arriving at Greveno； found the whole population of that town and the neighbouring hamlets assembled to meet him； eager to behold the head of the terrible Ali Pacha。 Unable to comprehend how he could possibly have succumbed； they could hardly believe their eyes when the head was withdrawn from its casket and displayed before them。 It remained exposed to view in the house of the Mussulman Veli Aga whilst the escort partook of refreshment and changed horses； and as the public curiosity continued to increase throughout the journey； a fixed charge was at length made for its gratification； and the head of the renowned vizier was degraded into becoming an article of traffic exhibited at every post…house； until it arrived at Constantinople。
The sight of this dreaded relic； exposed on the 23rd of February at the gate of the seraglio； and the birth of an heir…presumptive to the sword of Othmanwhich news was announced simultaneously with that of the death of Ali； by the firing of the guns of the seraglioroused the enthusiasm of the military inhabitants of Constantinople to a state of frenzy； and triumphant shouts greeted the appearance of a document affixed to the head which narrated Ali's crimes and the circumstances of his death； ending with these words： 〃Thi