the Montenegrins time to acquire by fraud
what they could not take by force. King Nikola and many of his
subjects went about swearing aloud that if they did not get all they
wanted they would set the whole of Europe on fire, and the combined
Serb and Montenegrin armies would take Vienna.

The plans for the taking of Scutari by fraud had probably been long
laid. In February came news that the gallant commander of Scutari,
Hussein Riza Bey, had been murdered-and his place taken by the
notorious Essad Pasha. Essad had been servant of the Old Turk, and
then member of the Committee of Union and Progress. He aimed solely
at power for himself, and now became servant of the Slav. Hussein
Riza, seeing no help could be expected from the Turks, and
determined not to yield the town to the Slavs, decided to hand it
over to the Albanians. On his mother's side he was of Albanian
blood. His plan was to communicate with all the tribesmen, and to
arrange that they should fall on the besieging army in the rear
while he and his army made a simultaneous sortie. He hoped thus to
cut up the Montenegrin army and save the town. One of the Franciscan
fathers and another man were to steal through the lines at night and
arrange that the tribesmen should attack when Hussein Riza hoisted
the Albanian flag on the citadel. That night after Hussein Riza had
supped with Essad, he was shot dead a few yards away from the house
by two men disguised as women. Osman Bali and Mehmed Kavaja, both
servants of Essad, boasted afterwards they had done the deed. The
town crier proclaimed that nothing was to be said about the murder
and Essad, who was second, now took command, and soon entered into
communication with the Montenegrins. As he knew only Turkish and
Albanian, the letters went through the hands of the dragoman of the
Italian consulate.

Italy played an oddly double game. She was bound by Treaty to assist
Austria to preserve the integrity of Albania. But she did not object
to King Nikola--father of the Queen of Italy--taking the town if he
could. Italy was striving for influence in Montenegro, out of hatred
of Austria, and failed to see that the South Slav, not the
German-Austrian, was her real danger.

While France and Russia delayed matters, Petar Plamenatz drew up
terms with Essad. Provided he evacuated the town in time for
Montenegro to occupy it before the Powers could stop it, he was to
leave with all honours, and a large supply of arms and foo