midnight
The Moslem forces were permitted to advance without the slightest molestation to Scutari and Lamsaki , and on the evening of the 28th of November the Sultan took up his quarters in Scutari . That night he received a letter from the President of the Federation , setting forth succinctly , and yet very clearly , what had actually taken place in Europe , and calling upon him to give his allegiance to the Supreme Council , as the other sovereigns had done , and to accept the overlordship of Northern Africa and Southern Asia in exchange for Turkey in Europe . The letter concluded by saying that the immediate result of refusal to accept these terms would be the destruction of the Moslem armies on the following day . Before midnight , Tremayne received the Sultan 's reply . It ran thus -- In the name of the Most Merciful God . From MOHAMMED RESHAD , Commander of the Faithful , to ALAN TREMAYNE , Leader of the English . I have come to retake the throne of my fathers , and I am not to be turned back by vain and boastful threats .