Immediately on his return to his own house, Muhammad Pasha sent a eunuch to announce his coming to the lady Fitnah. He found her lying on a couch in her stateroom. Two slaves, who had been busy fanning her, retired before him. Seeing she lay still with eyes closed as if quite exhausted, he drew near and whispered:
“Now, inshallah, O beloved, thou wilt hear my reasons.”
She opened great brown eyes, bloodshot with wrath, and glared at him a moment.
“Well, what news?” she asked, with studied coldness.
The Pasha then embarked upon his story; but, at mention of the Consul, she sprang up with rage renewed, expectorating: