dy had already endured on his
account, and feared that she would suffer yet more if he took active
measures against the pacha. While he yet hesitated between affection and
revenge, he heard that she had died of grief and misery. Now that
despair had put an end to uncertainty, he set his hand to the work.

At this precise moment Heaven sent him a friend to console and aid him in
his vengeance, a Christian from OEtolia, Paleopoulo by name. This man was
on the point of establishing himself in Russian Bessarabia, when he met
Pacho Bey and joined with him in the singular coalition which was to
change the fate of the Tepelenian dynasty.

Paleopoulo reminded his companion in misfortune of a memorial presented
to the Divan in 1812, which had brought upon Ali a disgrace from which he
only escaped in consequence of the overwhelming political events which
just then absorbed the attention of the Ottoman Government. The Grand
Seigneur had sworn by the tombs of his ancestors to attend to the matter
as soon as he was able, and it was only requisite to remind him of his
vow. Pacho Hey and his friend drew up a new memorial, and knowing the
sultan's avarice, took care to dwell on the immense wealth possessed by
Ali, on his scandalous exactions, and on the enormous sums diverted from
the Imperial Treasury. By overhauling the accounts of his
administration, millions might be recovered. To these financial
considerations Pacho Bey added some practical ones. Speaking as a man
sure of his facts and well acquainted with the ground, he pledged his
head that with twenty thousand men he would, in spite of Ali's troops and
strongholds, arrive before Janina without firing a musket.

However good these plans appeared, they were by no means to the taste of
the sultan's ministers, who were each and all in receipt of large
pensions from the man at whom they struck. Besides, as in Turkey it is
customary for the great fortunes of Government officials to be absorbed
on their death by the Imperial Treasury, it of course appeared easier to
await the natural inheritance of Ali's treasures than to attempt to seize
them by a war which would certainly absorb part of them. Therefore,
while Pacho Bey's zeal was commended, he obtained only dilatory answers,
followed at length by a formal refusal.

Meanwhile, the old OEtolian, Paleopoulo, died, having prophesied the
approaching Greek insurrection among his friends, and pledged Pacho Bey
to persevere in h