The Count of Monte Cristo

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over the cavern to discover if there was any fear of fire, after which
they amused themselves by rolling on the bags of gold. At this moment
my mother seized me in her arms, and hurrying noiselessly along numerous
turnings and windings known only to ourselves, she arrived at a private
staircase of the kiosk, where was a scene of frightful tumult and
confusion. The lower rooms were entirely filled with Koorshid's troops;
that is to say, with our enemies. Just as my mother was on the point of
pushing open a small door, we heard the voice of the pasha sounding in
a loud and threatening tone. My mother applied her eye to the crack
between the boards; I luckily found a small opening which afforded me a
view of the apartment and what was passing within. 'What do you want?'
said my father to some people who were holding a paper inscribed with
characters of gold. 'What we want,' replied one, 'is to communicate to
you the will of his highness. Do you see this firman?'--'I do,' said my
father. 'Well, read it; he demands your head.'

"My father answered with a loud laugh, which was more frightful than