Meanwhile, Pacho Bey, bent on silently undermining Ali's influence, had
established himself as an intermediary for all those who came to demand
justice on account of the pacha's exactions, and he contrived that both
his own complaints and those of his clients should penetrate to the ears
of the sultan, who, pitying his misfortunes, made him a kapidgi-bachi,
as a commencement of better things. About this time the sultan also
admitted to the Council a certain Abdi Effendi of Larissa, one of the
richest nobles of Thessaly, who had been compelled by the tyranny of
Veli Pacha to fly from his country. The two new dignitaries, having
secured Khalid Effendi as a partisan, resolved to profit by his
influence to carry out their plans of vengeance on the Tepelenian
family. The news of Pacho Bey's promotion roused Ali from the security
in which he was plunged, and he fell a prey to the most lively anxiety.
Comprehending at once the evil which this man,--trained in his own
school,--might cause him, he exclaimed, "Ah! if Heaven would only
restore me the strength of my youth, I would plunge my sword into his
heart even in the midst of the Divan."

It was not long before Ali's enemies found an extremely suitable
opportunity for opening their attack. Veli Pacha, who had for his own
profit increased the Thessalian taxation fivefold, had in doing so
caused so much oppression that many of the inhabitants preferred the
griefs and dangers of emigration rather than remain under so tyrannical
a rule. A great number of Greeks sought refuge at Odessa, and the
great Turkish families assembled round Pacho Bey and Abdi Effendi at
Constantinople, who lost no opportunity of interceding in their favour.
The sultan, who as yet did not dare to act openly against the Tepelenian
family, was at least able to relegate Veli to the obscure post of
Lepanto, and Veli, much disgusted, was obliged to obey. He quitted the
new palace he had just built at Rapehani, and betook himself to the