rider this
way and that by his legs and naturally did not succeed in getting off
the tight boots. The Tartars berated Clement, and Clement berated the
Tartars. The uproar brought the Aga, a man with a figure like an
orang-outang, his brown features framed by a white beard, who inquired
hoarsely what was the matter.

Clement drew out his warrant of authority and showed it to the Aga in
silence, for rage stifled his voice, while the two Tartars explained
something in a foreign tongue, with angry gestures, and pointed to his
green boots.

"Who are you, crooked-nosed unbeliever," inquired the Aga, "that you
dare wear light-green, the sacred color of the prophets, that the
faithful use only for the dances of their temples and the turban of
the Padisha, and that too on your boots that go through the mud? May
you be burned alive, you godless giaour!"

"I am the lieutenant reconnoitering in the service of his Excellency,
Michael Apafi," declaimed the former student, with pathetic distress.
"My person is sacred and inviolable. I am the man who provides the
armies of the Sultan with food and drink. I impose the taxes. Let me
go for I am a very important personage."

This manner of defense pleased the Tartars. The Aga gave his subjects
a tacit sign that meant this was the very man they wanted, and then
began to speak to him in a more friendly tone.

"You said that it was your business to announce the taxes. My lord,
Ali Pasha of Nagy Varad, has just sent me here to announce a new tax,
so I have met you at the right moment although it is nothing for you
to do; it will, however, be a sensible thing for you to give this out
at the same time."

"I will do so with pleasure," said Clement, eager to get away.

"Wait a moment," said the Aga, motioning to him. "You do not know yet
how high the tax is to be. The whole amount is a mere trifle; it is
imposed only so that they may recognize our authority. The tax is only
a penny a head. That is not much, is it?"

"No indeed," said Clement, agreeing that he might get away the more
quickly.

"Don't hurry off," said the Aga, checking his haste. "I should be
sorry to see that you did not carry out this order of mine. But as you
would not consider it any perjury not to keep a promise given to us I
will send one of my good men with you, who shall accompany you from
village to village and see that you make the proclamation about the
tax."

"By all means, your Grace," said Clement, hopin