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ise conduct； equally advantageous for both the bordering provinces； instead of gaining for the pacha the praise and favours which he deserved； rendered him suspected at a court whose sole political idea was hatred of the name of Christian； and whose sole means of government was terror。 Ali immediately perceived the pacha's error； and the advantage which he himself could derive from it。 Selim； as one of his commercial transactions with the Venetians； had sold them； for a number of years； the right of felling timber in a forest near Lake Reloda。 Ali immediately took advantage of this to denounce the pasha as guilty of having alienated the territory of the Sublime Porte； and of a desire to deliver to the infidels all the province of Delvino。 Masking his ambitious designs under the veil of religion and patriotism； he lamented； in his denunciatory report； the necessity under which he found himself； as a loyal subject and faithful Mussulman； of accusing a man who had been his benefactor； and thus at the same time gained the benefit of crime and the credit of virtue。
Under the gloomy despotism of the Turks； a man in any position of responsibility is condemned almost as soon as accused； and if he is not strong enough to inspire terror； his ruin is certain。 Ali received at Tepelen； where he had retired to more conveniently weave his perfidious plots； an order to get rid of the pacha。 At the receipt of the firman of execution he leaped with joy； and flew to Delvino to seize the prey which was abandoned to him。
The noble Selim； little suspecting that his protege had become his accuser and was preparing to become his executioner； received him with more tenderness than ever； and lodged him； as heretofore； in his palace。 Under the shadow of this hospitable roof； Ali skilfully prepared the consummation of the crime which was for ever to draw him out of obscurity。 He went every morning to pay his court to the pacha； whose confidence he doubted； then； one day； feigning illness； he sent excuses for inability to pay his respects to a man whom he was accustomed to regard as his father； and begged him to come for a moment into his apartment。 The invitation being accepted； he concealed assassins in one of the cupboards without shelves； so common in the East； which contain by day the mattresses spread by night on the floor for the slaves to sleep upon。 At the hour fixed； the old man arrived。 Ali rose from his sofa with a depressed air； met him； kissed the hem of his robe； and； after seating him in his place； himself offered him a pipe…and coffee； which were accepted。 But instead of putting the cup in the hand stretched to receive it； he let it fall on the floor； where it broke into a thousand pieces。 This was the signal。 The assassins sprang from their retreat and darted upon Selim； who fell； exclaiming； like Caesar； 〃And it is thou； my son； who takest my life！〃
At the sound of the tumult which followed the assassination； Selim's bodyguard； running up； found Ali erect； covered with blood； surrounded by assassins； holding in his hand the firman displayed； and crying with a menacing voice； 〃I have killed the traitor Selim by the order of our glorious sultan； here is his imperial command。〃 At these words； and the sight of the fatal diploma； all prostrated themselves terror…stricken。 Ali； after ordering the decapitation of Selim； whose head he seized as a trophy； ordered the cadi； the beys； and the Greek archons to meet at the palace； to prepare the official account of the execution of the sentence。 They assembled； trembling； the sacred hymn of the Fatahat was sung； and the murder declared legal； in the name of the merciful and compassionate God； Lord of the world。
When they had sealed up the effects of the victim； the murderer left the palace； taking with him； as a hostage； Mustapha； son of Selim； destined to be even more unfortunate than his father。
A few days afterwards； the Divan awarded to Ali Tepeleni； as a reward for his zeal for the State and religion； the sanjak of Thessaly； with the title of Dervendgi…pacha； or Provost Marshal of the roads。 This latter dignity was conferred on the condition of his levying a body of four thousand men to clear the valley of the Peneus of a multitude of Christian chiefs who exercised more power than the officers of the Grand Seigneur。 The new pacha took advantage of this to enlist a numerous body of Albanians ready for any enterprise； and completely devoted to him。 With two important commands； and with this strong force at his back； he repaired to Trikala； the seat of his government； where he speedily acquired great influence。
His first act of authority was to exterminate the bands of Armatolis； or Christian militia； which infested the plain。 He laid violent hands on all whom he caught； and drove the rest back into their mountains； splitting them up into small bands whom he could deal with at his pleasure。 At the same time he sent a few heads to Constantinople； to amuse the sultan and the mob； and some money to the ministers to gain their support。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃water sleeps； but envy never does。〃 These steps were prudent； and whilst his credit increased at court； order was reestablished from the defiles of the Perrebia of Pindus to the vale of Tempe and to the pass of Thermopylae。
These exploits of the provost…marshal； amplified by Oriental exaggeration； justified the ideas which were entertained of the capacity of Ali Pacha。 Impatient of celebrity； he took good care himself to spread his fame； relating his prowess to all comers； making presents to the sultan's officers who came into his government； and showing travellers his palace courtyard festooned with decapitated heads。 But what chiefly tended to consolidate his power was the treasure which he ceaselessly amassed by every means。 He never struck for the mere pleasure of striking； and the numerous victims of his proscriptions only perished to enrich him。 His death sentences always fell on beys and wealthy persons whom he wished to plunder。 In his eyes the axe was but an instrument of fortune； and the executioner a tax…gatherer。
CHAPTER III
Having governed Thessaly in this manner during several years； Ali found himself in a position to acquire the province of Janina； the possession of which； by making him master of Epirus； would enable him to crush all his enemies and to reign supreme over the three divisions of Albania。
But before he could succeed in this； it was necessary to dispose of the pacha already in possession。 Fortunately for Ali； the latter was a weak and indolent man； quite incapable of struggling against so formidable a rival； and his enemy speedily conceived and put into execution a plan intended to bring about the fulfilment of his desires。 He came to terms with the same Armatolians whom he had formerly treated so harshly； and let them loose； provided with arms and ammunition； on the country which he wished to obtain。 Soon the whole region echoed with stories of devastation and pillage。 The pacha； unable to repel the incursions of these mountaineers； employed the few troops he had in oppressing the inhabitants of the plains； who； groaning under both extortion and rapine； vainly fil