Selim, who watched over the fire, was a youth in appearance as gentle as his heart was intrepid, and his special duty was to be in readiness to blow up the whole place at any moment.

The pacha gave him his hand to kiss, inquiring if he were ready to die, to which he only responded by pressing his master's hand fervently to his lips.
He never took his eyes off Ali, and the lantern, near which a match was constantly smoking, was entrusted only to him and to Ali, who took turns with him in watching it.

Ali drew a pistol from his belt, making as if to turn it towards the powder magazine, and the envoys fell at his feet, uttering involuntary cries of terror.

He smiled at their fears, and assured them that, being wearied of the weight of his weapons, he had only intended to relieve himself of some of them.

He then begged them to seat themselves, and added that he should like even a more terrible funeral than that which they had just ascribed to him.