Hearing Ali's story, the Mahdi had been aflame with tender thoughts of Naomi's trials, with hatred of Ben Aboo's tyrannies, and pity of Israel's miseries.But at first his humanity had withheld him from sympathy with Ali's dark purpose, so full, as it seemed, of barbarity and treachery.
"Ali," he had said, "is it not all you wish for to get Naomi out of prison and take her back to her father?""Yes, Sidi," Ali had answered promptly.
"And you don't want to torture these tyrants if you can do what you desire without it?""No-o, Sidi," Ali had said doubtfully.
"Then," the Mahdi had said, "let us try."But when the Mahdi was gone to Tetuan on his errand of warning that proved so vain, Ali had crept back behind him, so that secretly and independently he might carry out his fell design.
The towns-people were ready to receive him, for the air was full of rebellion, and many had waited long for the opportunity of revenge.
To certain of the Jews, his master's people, who were also in effect his own, he went first with his mission, and they listened with eagerness to what he had come to say.When their own time came to speak they spoke cautiously, after the manner of their race, and nervously, like men who knew too well what it was to be crushed and kept under; but they gave their help notwithstanding, and Ali's scheme progressed.
In less than three days the entire town, Moorish and Jewish, was honeycombed with subterranean revolt.Even the civil guard, the soldiers of the Kasbah, the black police that kept the gates, and the slaves that stood before the Basha's table were waiting for the downfall to come.