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COLLECTION 



OP 



ANCIENT AND MODERN 



BRITISH 



NOVELS AND ROMANCES. 



VOL. LYIII. 



■ AYES HA. 






;<^ . \ - 






PRINTED BY J. SMITH, 16, RUE MONTMORENCY. 




<■* • 



2W 



THE MAIDJOJe KARS. 



,BY v\^ 



> 



/ 



J. MORIER, 



AUTHOR OF ** ZOHRAB," " HAJJI BABA/' &c. 



II y a plauir d'etre dans an vaiMeau batta de I'orage lonqn^on egt iftr qa*U ne p^rira point. 

Pensitt d€ Blaitt Ptucal' ^VC 

*-ich the 




. s of my Ja- 

\* •« best able to 

.-. : ;'H" detecting 

• H, lac- 






;?ict, to 



PARIS, 
BAUDRY'S EUROPEAN LIBRARY, 

RUB DU OOQ, mSia THB IJOl'TRB. 

^ ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAIS ; TRUCHY, BOULEVARD DES ITALJEN8 ; 
iOPHILB BARROIS, JUN., RUE BICHEUBU; LIBRAIRIE OBS BTRANOBRS, 
■^E NEUVB-SAINT-AUGUSTIN ; AND FRENCH AND ENGLISH LIBRARY, ' 

RUB YIYIENNE. 

1834. 

\^'^^: 7' 




« *'-■'■ 



r > 






/ 



(' 



DEDICATION 



TO THE TRAVELLERS IN THE EAST. 



It has frequently occurred to me, who bumbly presume to 

, class myself among your number, tbat a tale of no common 

interest migbt be woven from the adventures of those who have 

ventured to explore the countries, in a portion of which the 

scene of the following narrative is laid. 

It is with much diffidence that I offer the fruits of my la- 
bours to your notice, for I feel that you, who are best able to 
judge of their merits, are likewise most capable of detecting 
any failure. The presumption that there is any merit, I ac- 
knowledge to be great; but whatever may be your verdict, to 
your tribunal I appeal, and by you I am desirous that sentence 
may be pronounced. 

You have come from the East, and therefore I may be 
j^ allowed to call you " Wise Men ;" but although you are such, 
Is;? yet I conclude that, adopting an Eastern custom, you must 
^ occasionally have mounted on a house-top to take the evening 
^ air, and consequently have very probably seen an Ayesha on 
^ your neighbour's terrace. You have also, no doubt, been 
-^ attended by your Mustafa and your Stasso, to warn you of 
^ your danger ; and may yourselves have been placed in some 
-5 awkward predicament, Giaours as you are, with the Turkish 
p authorities. 




o 
I 



CO 

C 



> t 

i 

y'\ DEDICATION. 

'^ I imagine also that you may have felt much of the enthu- 
siasm and ardour with which I have endowed my hero, in 
the pursuit of the investigation^ which led him to adopt the 
imprudent conduct of which I have made him culpable; and 
should you have been involved in one of the hair-breadth 
scrapes which befell him, I sincerely hope that the same 
kismety or fate, which befriended him, was equally your por- 
tion. 

You have, I dare say, heard of many such a character as 
Oara Bey. Let me refer you on that subject to Monsieur 
Amedee Jauberfs "Voyages en Armenie et en Perse," for 
certain adventures in a well, which he encountered during 
his sojourn with a KArdish chief; and should you be interested 
in the history of the Yezidies, or worshippers of Satan, I beg 
leave to refer you to the account given of them by the Pere 
Maurice Garzoni, an Italian missionary, published by the 
Abbate Sestini, from whom I have extracted the short history 
of them which appears in this volume. 

When on the spot, I was assured that the stories cha- 
racteristic of the Turks, related in chap, xxxvi. were true. Of 
the* truth of one which I have taken the liberty to insert, so 
much in consonance with the ignorance of Turks in naval 
matters, I can fully vouch, because I heard it from one of 
your own body, to whom I beg leave particularly to dedicate 
it. 

To those who have visited Athens, from a page out of the 
history of one of whom I have taken the circumstance which 
forms part of the groundwork of my story, I venture to ask, 
whether probabilities have been sacrificed ? I feel satisfied 
that such events as I have ventured to introduce might have 
occurred; and in a novel, we are told, what is not utterly im- 
possible, may be liberally adopted. 

Trusting to the neglect with which dedications and prefaces 
are commonly treated by the generality of readers, I would 
have disclosed more concerning the materials which I have 



DEDICATION. vu 

adopted in the composition of my story ; but fearful of saying 
a word which might forestall in the smallest tittle any of the 
interest which it may possess, I think it right to stop short, 
merely adding, that the events therein recorded, are supposed 
to have taken place some twenty years ago. 

Thus abruptly taking my leave, and throwing myself upon 
your indulgence, I have the honour to subscribe myself, 
Your very obedient and devoted servant. 

The Author. 

London, 20th Maj, 1834. 



i 



••? 



AYES HA, 



THE MAID OF KARS- 



CHAPTER L 



Bat nathefes wbile I hare time and spac^ 
Or that I fcfrtW in this tale pace. 
Me thinketh it accordant to reson, 
To tellen you alle the condition 
Of'eche of hem, «o as it seemed to me, 
Andwhiche they weren,and of whatdegre. 

CHAUCBit. 



It was about an honr before sunrise, on a fine spring mom'- 
ing, that the great gates of the celebrated Armenian monastery 
of Etch Miazin, or the Three Churches, situated at the foot of 
Mount Ararat, on the confines of Persia and Turkey, were 
thrown open, preparatory to the departure of a company of 
travellers, who had enjoyed the hospitality of its venerable 
patriach for the preceding night. A waning moon still shed 
sufficient light to e^^hibit the sublime form of the mountain, 
with its snow-capped summit^ its undefined protuberance 
of crags and rocks, its mysterious and shadowy declivities of 
landscape, to those who stood within the court-yard; the arch 
of the gate forming, as it were, the frame of the picture. A 
covering of snow extended not only over all its great cone, but 
spread itself, although in lighter tints, even to the limits of the 
plain, subduing its inequalities, and apparently increasing, its 
dimensions. At this solemn and still hour, it reared its head 
into the skies like ihm apparition of some giant mountain, 
increasing in the mind of the beholder, the natural awe which 
would be inspired by the sacred character of its history, by the 



2 AYESHA. 

fabulous traditions attached to it, and by the lawless and dan- 
gerous character of its present possessors. 

In a short time after the opening of the gates, the proces- 
sion of the departing travellers, marshalled according to 
Turkish etiquette, was seen to wind slowly through the portal, 
the noise of the rattling hoofs reverberating under the arch, 
whilst the words •* Oghour ola — a prosperous road betide 
you !" and " Alkiha ^s imriadelc'i-'tiikj AHiihUbe you under 
his holy keeping T' were freely bandied between those who 
were taking their leave and those who remained behind. The 
gates being again closed, the travellers could just distinguish, 
amidst the clatter of their horses' hoofs, the solemn chant of 
the good monks, who at ihis early bdut were wont to break the 
stillness of the morning by their appointed orisons. 

The Surugi^ or guide, leadii^ two baggage-horses, opened 
the procession; the Tatar ^ or Turkish cdurieir, followed ; whilst 
the master, the traveller in person, with his servant and such 
others as might choose to join the cavalcade, closed the line of 
march. 

The master here was a young English nobleman, one of 
those spirited and enterprising youths whom it has occasionally 
bi6eti otir good fortune to know, who, 'although born to every 
luxury and every advkntage which the highest civilization can 
bestow, have vbltfdtarHy submitted to severe privations, re- 
gardless of dan^r, amongst an ignorant, barbarous, a^d fis^natic 
p^eople, in drder to tinshackle their minds from those prejudice 
which may be acquired by otly a partial view of mankind. 
The individual, in Ibis instance, was the youthful Lord Osmond, 
the heir 6f a noble house. After an abi^ence 'of several yeairs, 
he was latow on his return, anxiously ekpected by parents who 
doated upon him, of whoin he was the pride and ^he consola- 
tion. Distinguished among the youths of the day by every sort 
of excellence, it is not sarprising that they looked for his re- 
turn with impatience and anxiety. 

Lord Osmond was eminently dii^tiiignish^d in his pdri^on ; he 
%as of -rather a delicate complexion, whidh was 'leaded by ridi 
dieirk b^i^o^ hair, i^rowing crisp and short, round a beautifoDy 
modell^ head; his nose was strongly arched; his eyes, which 
were^iiuftted deep in their sockets, were almost dark blue, and 
'full i)f softness, as well as brilliancy; his mduth was at Oilice the 



AYE8HA. S 

sett of seriousniMS and sadleg, and, when not compressed, ek^ 
bibited the wUtest and most symmetrical teeth. He had a 
broad, open forehead, which at times Tvould exhibit thoughts 
fulness, but always frankiiess and candour. In his perspn hk 
was rather tall ; hit limbs were fitted with perfect symmetry to 
bishody, and in his shoulders and general frame he displayed 
a more than common appearaiice of strength. His manners 
were rather more grave and imposing than is usual to men of 
his age ; and, so far, they were adapted to the habits of Asiatics. 
He displayed great natural dignity in every word and action ; at 
the same time, he was not deficient in a certain joyfulness and 
buoyancy of address, which went iar in engaging the goodwill 

. of those with whom he conversed. 

He had quitted the univers^ with honour; and great were 
the expectations raised of his future fame by his early con* 
duct and acquirements. But not satisfied with what he had ^ 
merely read, he was determined to follow up, by actual inves* 
ti^tion, such parts of his studies as had most engaged his atten* 
tion, and he had chalked out for himself an extensive journey 
through those countries and nations which had created most 
interest in his mind. Consequently, vdth the consent of bis 
parents, plentifully supplied with letters of introduction and of 
credit, he first made the tour of the southern countries of 
Europe, and in the course of time found himself an inmate in 
the palace of the English Embassy at Constantinople. Here he 
laid the plan of his Asiatic tour, but previously applied himself 
most assiduously to acquire the Turkish language, which he 
found would be of general use as long as he travelled in the 
Sultan's dominions, as well as in the northern parts of Persia. 
During his stay with the Embassy, he formed a friendship 
with one of its attaches^ Edward Wortley by name, a youth of 
great worth and amiability, who promised to correspond with 
bim upon all occasions. He was the eldest son of Sir Edward 
Wortley, an old Yorkshire baronet, t^elebrated for his classical 
learning, and his enthusiasm for every thing that related to an- 
cient Greece. 

Lord Osmond having, in succession, visited Athens and most 
parts of the Morea, the Islands of the Archipelago, Egypt, 
Syria, and Palestine, traversed the desert to Bagdad and Bus- 

^ ^orah, whence crossing the Persian ^ulf <oS«is\i\Y«,\i^\xKttkfc^ 



4 AYESHA. 

his Steps northward to Shiraz, PersepoUs, and Ispahan. He 
visited the Shah's Court at Tehran, and was now on his return 
to England, by Constantinople. During this long journey, he 
had principally adopted the Turkish costume, which gave him 
an appearance so truly Eastern, that even Turks themselves 
were deceived, and, before he was known to be a Christian, 
generally received him as a true believer. In Persia, where a 
Turk meets with but a sorry reception, he did not adhere to 
this dress ; but once again about entering Turkey, our narrative 
finds him clothed partly as a Tatar, his head covered with a 
snow-white muslin Durban instead <^ the usual cap, and his 
girdle ornamented with a pair of brilliantly-mounted pistols, 
whilst a broad Mameluke sword swung by his side. A short 
pelisse trimmed with sable hung over his shoulder, and he 
looked so entirely like a Turk, which, we will say, with his 
great admiration of the picturesque appearance of that nation, 
he was ambitious of doing, that wherever he went, he received 
the attention and salutations due to a man of consequence. 
Great advantages attended this, at the same time that it was 
the cause of much inconvenience, and even of danger. The 
advantages were, that he was enabled to travel unmolested 
by observation and impertinent curiosity, and to make his 
remarks upon men and places with more security than if he 
had appeared in his own character. The inconveniences were, 
that he was open to all the exactions and vexations by which 
the natives are frequently visited by their despotic governors ; 
and that he lost the protection of those governors, when once 
he abandoned the dress and characteristics of his nation. Of 
this perhaps, he was not sufficiently aware ; for he had been 
bitten by the turcomania to such a degree, that he had deter- 
mined to forsake all appearance of an Englishman, fearing in 
that character that he would be deprived of opportunities of 
investigating the peculiarities of the natives, and acquiring a 
more accurate knowledge of their manners. 

Before he left Constantinople, he had discarded his Euro- 
pean servants, who he found would thwart the object he had 
in view during his Asiatic travels ; and had taken into his ser- 
vice a Greek, as his own valet, and a Turk, who was to serve 
him as his Tatar and purveyor on the road. The Greek was a 
^^ve of the village of SedUcieu, near Smvrna, who, in annear- 



AYhbtiA. 5 

ance, might have passed for one of the ancient heroes of his 
race. He was tall and erect, of the finest proportions, of great 
strength and agility, and dexterous in all manly exercises. His 
face was peculiarly handsome, his nose aquiline, his eyes full 
of intelligence, and, when fully dressed and armed, he was a 
most imposing personage. His name was Anastassio, which 
had been abbreviated into Stasso ; and so he was usually 
called. He possessed all the acuteness of his nation, was 
brave as a lion, and, although he had that veneration and awe 
for his Turkish superiors, which are inherent in the Asiatic 
Greeks, aping them in dress and manner upon all occasions, 
yet he never allowed such feelings to stand in the way of his 
duty towards his master, to whom he was devotedly attached. 
To the Turk, if such he might be called, was attached a cu- 
rious and interesting story. He was a native of one of the 
German provinces of Switzerland. When quite a lad, he had 
been taken prisoner by the Algerines, and sold as a slave to an 
Egyptian merchant, who had made a Mussulman of him, call- 
ed him Mustafa, and, in the course of time, set him free. He 
became a Tatar ^ or courier, of whom several are always, at- 
tached to Pashas and men of power, and, finding his way to 
Constantinople, entered the service of the English Embassy in 
that capacity, where, with several others, he had performed the 
duties of his office with zeal and fidelity. He still talked his 
own language, and had sufficiently retained his European ha- 
bits to form a strange mixture of Frank and Turk, both in lan- 
guage and appearance. He was short and fair : he willingly 
would have cherished a beard to increase his dignity, but no- 
thing would coax the ungrateful hairs to appear. A scanty 
mustache graced his upper lip, which, however, was too sandy 
in its hue to stand out in proper relief upon his pale com- 
plexion ; and although he had adopted the ponderous step, 
slow gesture, and phlegmatic bearing of an Osmanli, 'smoking 
the never^failing chibouk, and preluding every speech with 
the ever ready AllaJi^ and Inshallah^ and Ma^hallahj still, 
all would not do ; the European leaven would appear, and 
render that qaricature in hiin, which in a Turk is impressive 
and dignified. Although the good Mustafa was always working 
himself up to be a Turk, yet he generally fell short of his mark t 



6 AYBftiU. 

as one maysoknetuneB hayeiieeii a tuinipit pi&iie himself on Ibe 
same rank as a mastiff. And although he would willingly hare 
made the world believe he was a thorough Osmanli in cou-* 
rage and assurance, yet it was evident that nature had kneaded 
as much cowardice in his earthly dough, as was necessary to 
make his perceptions peculiarly keen upon the most distant ap*^ 
proach of danger. Lord Osmond had, upon his Asiatic joyr^ 
ney^ begged the loan of Mustafa from the Ambassador, having 
taken a great liking to him during the necessary ^cursiontt 
made to explore the wonders of Constantinople and the Bos^ 
phorus, in which Mustafa had accompanied him both as cice- 
rone and protector ; and as he promised to pay him well^ and 
to return him to his post in safety, the request was easily 
granted. But we must return to our story. 

During the early part of the mornings when the plain wasi 
overspread with a grey mist, and the mountains were unde-^ 
fined in outline, our travellers paced onward in silence, each 
apparently absorbed in thought, or in the less intellectual ope- 
ration of inhaling and emitting smoke from their pipes, the 
Surugi pushed on with the indifference of one who has a specie 
fie portion of country to travel over, with which he is well ac- 
quainted. Osmond had already turned his thoughts, as he had 
his horse's head, towards England, and was anticipating a joy- 
ful meeting with his parents and friends, discussing in his own 
mind what might be his future destiny, whilst he pondered over 
the many events which might have occurred during his absence. 
Stasso was endeavouring to recollect whether he had left ai^y 
thing behind him, among the venerable monks ef Etch Mia^in, 
which might be missed by his master at their next stage ; and 
Mustafa was constantly looking about him, sometimes towards 
the verge of the horizon, sometimes in the direction of the dark 
mountain shades, And, again, behind every rock, aj^i^ehensive 
of some lurking danger, of some prowling robber, or some su- 
pernatural ghol. As the day began to dawn, two mysterious- 
looking objects appeared at a distance, in the* direction of the 
road upon which they were travelling, which first called forth 
all Mustafa's attention. They looked like horsemen. He had 
eyed them for some time without uttering a word ; at length in 
a low tone, and applying his shoveled stirrup to his hawse's 



A|f»SHA. 7 

i44e, 99 be Mvanced some paees tpw^rds the3pI*^g19 he i^idtp 
bim, *^ Bana hak ! — Look at me ! What devilry is that qqm- 
ing this way?" 

" What do I \m^ ?" s^id the gpide } " ^ley may be stones, 
pp tr^es, or mcQ." 

Miii^t^fa, wbQ 9uspecte4 everything and eyerybQdy, wheii 
danger was in the wind, said, '^ What say ypu, man P a stone 
is one thing, a tree is another, and ^qi^ is another ! I \h\i^ 
it i^ iQorp th^n one man." 

^* Perhaps yes, and perhaps po»" said the unconcerned guide ; 
" SaMum-r^we ishall ^ee." 

By this time Osmopd's^ttpptjpn w^ fopsq^, and he exclaimed 
to Mustafa, " What are you pointing ^\? What is thp mat- 
ter P" Hp gpneraUy spoke to hij?^ 'm Epgli^h, a language wbicb 
Mustafa bad acqpired during his service ifi the Embassy, and 
which he talked with an amusing admixture of Oriental i^iom 
and German accent. 

Mustafa willingly aiiswer^^ in Eng^sl^ when Turks werp 
not in company, hnt ptberwjse, nothing could c^eat h|qi put of 
any word or look jth^t d|d pot dpppte a true belieyer. On this 
oceasipQ be answered Lord Qsmond, saying, ^'This is a bad 
place : wp are near Cara Qey^s cpuptry, f^i^ we n^ust Ipok well 
with our eyes ; dop't you see tbp^e things yonder ?" pointing 
to thp objects uii^er contep^plat|piv 

Osmond turned l^is bp^din the direction, pointed out, and 
perpmving what he meant, said, " They are probably travel- 
lers like ourselves : suppose tbey be men, what then?'' 

Mustjafa replied, '^ Ah ! you don't know; this cpiiatry is not 
ap English country! |Iere fire l^urds^ Yezidies, Armenians, 
Liesgies, all big rpgups together. The Sultan of Turkey and ibp 
iShah pf Persia are bpth of then^ as one bit of dung in their 
jpyps ; apd when they cut tjiroat^, they say, ' Bismillah ! — 
In thp 'Pafii^ Qf tb^ Prpphpt V as if they were slaying a lamb." 
Qy this tinie, tbet first streaks of day began to shine in the 
Cast, and giv^usilly bropgbjtintp.lig^t the different objects which 
bad bitbprtp rpm^inpid comcefil/eci. Sti)l the supposed horse- 
mpn contNiupd to )opkj;^^iijcb, altbpugh they had not changed 
their position, when the sharp-eyed Greek all at once ex- 
i<Jaime4f " ?^i <(^>(y^^ /— Wbat.tbe deyil ! men do you call 



6 ' AYBfiftU. 

< 

them ? vhy, they are trees ! Mustafa Aga, you ! what say 
you?" 

Upon this discovery, Mustafa's face cleared up, his appre- 
hension for the present subsided, and, in token of his satisfac- 
tion, he filled his pipe afresh ; and now, seeing his way befoi^ 
him, he flogged on the baggage-horses with all the authority 
of hisf office, leaving at the same time a long train of newly- 
emitted smoke behind him. 

The whole party passed the harmless trees, two stunted wil- 
lows growing near an ancient watercourse, at a trot, the Su- 
rugi breaking the clear atmosphere with a song, which sounded 
more like the howl of ^ jackall than any thing like melody ; 
whilst Mustafa exclaimed, as he held the tip of his mustache 
between his finger and thumb, **" That this should have grown 
thus long, and that I should not have distinguished between a 
man and a tree !" ^ ' » 

" Who is the Cara Bey whom you mentioned just now ?" 
said Osmond to Mustafa ; ''I have heard of him befbre, but 1 
did not know that we were near his territory." 

Upon this question, Mustafa turned his horse's head round, 
and joined his master, riding by his side^ stirfup to stirrup; 
for such sort of apparent familiarity between master and ma^ 
is common in the East, although, be it known, a real Turkish 
Tatar never allows himself to be any man's menial. Mustafa, 
I say, fearful lest the Suru^ should hear any allusion made 
to Cara Bey, although he spoke m English, lowered his voice, 
and said, apparently in a shudder, 

" Cara Bey! Aman! Aman /-^pity ! pity I" at the same 
time taking hold of the lappel of his jacket, and shaking it as 
if he would throw off an impurity : **Cara Bey ! oof ! he is a 
Sheitan^ he is Satan, he is a black Y^zidi,^ worshipper of th& 
devil I he is without commiseration, without law ; cares neither 
for Sultan nor Shah ; if he catches you, he leaves you clean na- 
ked," at the same time showing the pahn of his hand, ** that is, 
if he does not murder you first. He is a thief; his father was 
a thief; his grandfather was a thief ^ all his children will be 
thieves, and all his grandchildren the Same I What more can I 
say?" 

'' Where does this fellow dwell P" said Osmond, smiling at 



AYESHA. ^ 

the hereditary honours, up and down, which Mustafa had con- 
ferred upon the devoted Cara Bey : jshall we travel any way 
through his country ?" 

« He lives,'* said Mustafa, " in a castle," as he pointed his 
hand in a northerly slant, ^* close to the Russian border, 
in a castle which id like my cap." 

The simile was excellent, inasmuch as he intended to say 
that the castle was situated on an almost perpendicular cone ; 
because a Tatar's cap, which is a cylinder emanating from the 
head, terminates at the top by a round yellow knob, which may 
well stand for a castle, and which did so. in JHustafa's mind, 
when he made the simile. 

^' Nobody has ever taken th^ castle, nobody can take it," con- 
tinued Mustafa. '* The Turk has triad — the Kizzilbash has 
tried — the Moscove has tried — all have come to nothing — 
all bosh ! Jhere he sits, like the black eagle, on his rock, 
looking for prey." 

, ^* And what have we to fear from him ?" said Osmond ; "he 
lives far frOm our road ; and I suppose that the Turkish go- 
vernment keep a look-out upon him." 

" Fear I" l^idMustapha, shrugging up his shoulders, appa- 
rently in contempt ; " fear ! there is no fear I but one must 
cross Savanlii mountain always with the beard upon the shoul- 
der, because it is there he sends his thieves, and he is often 
with them himself : — there he robs caravans, there he kills, 
there he impales. Mustafa continued the list of Cara Bey's 
different modes of disposing of his victims, until his mustaches 
dropped two perpendiculars on each side of his mouth through 
apprehension, and his face turned into a most suspicious pale- 
ness. 

" But, as J said before, the Turkish government, I suppose, 
keep a guard on the road, to clear the mountain passes?" said 
Osmond. 

" Ey vah ?V exclaimed the Tatar in a lengthened squeak ; 
" Turkish government, indeed 1 The Turks are all jackasses. 
Their mothers and fathers, from the beginning of the world 
to this day, have all been jackasses, and they will always be 
asses. Turkish government, indeed ! What do ye say? Cara 
Bey laughs, and does thus to the Turkish government." Upon 
which Mustafa struck his left hand on his right elbow, which 



10 AYESHA. 

is the most approved mode amongst the Turks of showing the 
^greatest contempt from pne man to another. 

Osmond was highly amused hy his companion's description ; 
-and the more he heard, the mor^ his desire was excited to be- 
come acquainted with this celebrated robber chieftain, particu- 
larly as it had often been his wish to gain an insight into the 
modes of life, the religious rites, the frame of community of 
those extraordinary and mysterious people the, Tezidieg, of 
whom he had heard so many contradictory accounts. 

" What,do you know of the Yezidies?" said he to Mustlifii; 
**' is it true they worship the devil ?" 

"This people," said Mustafa, "are a tribe of Kurds; they 
live mostly in the Kurdish mountains ; they dress like them, 
and speak their language. It is known that if you say ^Lahmt 
he sheitan /—Curse on the devil !' to a Yezidi, he will jump 
and kill you if he can. They do not pray to Allah; but their 
only desire is to make friends with the devil, and they will Ogbt 
for him sword in hand. They never mention the word 
sheitan, or any word approaching to it in sound. Instead pf 
using^ the word shat, which means a river in their language? 
they call it 'a great water.' Instead of the word nal^ which 
is ^ curse' in their language, and which also means a 'hprs^ 
shoe,' they say *sole of the foot;' and they call a nalbend^— 
* farrier,' 'a spier of shoes.' That's what I have picked up on 
the road, when carrying despatches between Constantinople 
and Persia. But if the Turks hate one people more th^ 
another, it is these fellows." 

During this explanation, Stasso had lent a^ attentive ear^ to 
such words as be could distinguish, and finding that his master 
was making inquiries about the Yezidies, with the characteristic 
officiousness of a Greek he said to him *^I pnce tried a trick 
upon a man who I was told was . a Yezidi, and that was by 
drawing a circle round him, and saying ^ Lahnet be sheitan T 
As I kiss your eyes, you ipnght to have seenhis rage. He 
would not cross the line of the jeii^le for the world, but his eyes 
flashed fire, he plucked his hair, and he would have torn me 
to pieces, had be ^t at me. This I know," said Stasso ; " what 
dse can I say ?" 

"Andjbavethey nori^igipus observances, no festivals ?" said 
Osmond. 



AVESHA. 11 

^'Allfth setid them misfortHnes!" cried Mustafa, at the same 
time lowering his voice lest the Surogi should bear him : ^ there 
is only one of which I have heard, but pc^rhaps the story is false* 
On a certain day in the autumn, they meet from all parts of 
the Kurdistan, men and women together; they pass the night 
first in eating and drinking in one room, and then all at once 
they put out the lights, and nothing more is spoken till the 
morning, when they all return whence they came, — may Allah 
speed curses on their road 1 This I have heard,'' said Mustafa; 
** Heaven only knows whether it be true, because they are very 
secret, and allow no stranger to partake of either their evil or 
their good.** 

Thus did our travellers beguile the tediousness of the long 
and dreary road, which winds through the bleak tract of country 
at the base of the chain of Ararat, until they reached the mi- 
serable village of HajjibiramM, which is situated upon the 
frontiers of Persia and Turkey. Here the party took up their 
quarters for the night. Stasso, after having spread the carpets, 
and prepared his master's bed, performed the office of cook, 
serving him up for his dinner a smoking hot pillau, accompanied 
by a pair of tough fowls; whilst Mustafa took himself to the 
post-house, to prepare the horses and secure a guide for the 
ensuing day's journey. 



CHAPTER II. 



S*i\ est possible de marquer aujourd'hui I'endroit ou Adam et Eve ont pris 
naissance, c'est certainement le pays ou nous sommes. — Tournrfort, 
Lettre XfX. 



The Arpachai is a rapid river flowing close to the village 
of HajjibiramM, wfaidi, after winding round the base of aa 
abrupt rock, adds its waters to the Araxes, and ultimately,, 
with the Gyrus, falls into the Caspian S^. At all tinted 
otf the year it ts a drffi'ouk river to ford (a»d there is no 



14 AYESHA. 

ihe two wet men merely wringiiig the water firom their soaked 
.garments. 

Having crossed the river in safety, tbey resumed tkeir jour- 
ney. They entered upon an abrupt asipeat of tlie moan^wi, 
along which they wound 4heir way for a considerable distano€L 
During their process Mustala did not cease depWing die 
hdp which Osmond had afforded the drowning Surugi; (or 
he felt sure that he was nothing more nor less than one of 
Cara Bey^s spies, of whom he was supposed to heep many m 
pay, in order to inform him where he m^ht best ihe in. wait tg^ 
surprise and rob a travellw worth the enterprise. Qsttieod 
endeavoured to make his Tatar understand the Christian 4<ii^ 
trine of '' Do unto others as you would that others should d^ 
unto you," hut in vain ; for Mustafa argued thus: '^ I know 
that man intends to take away my life; why, then, shall! not 
take his when I can ?^' — '^ But,'' said his master, '^ we ane 
iaught another rule, ' Do not evil, that good may come !' Am 
I to let a fellow-^creature p^ish, because I suspect he is plot* 
ting my death ? You will see, Mustafa, that ^ome good mil 
^accrue to us from my mode of actiAg." — '' AUah bei^ knows !'' 
answered the unbelieving Tatar; '' kismet — fisite, after all, ia 
what we must look to !" 

Osmond never lost an opportunity of enlighteniUig p^or 
Mnstafia's mind when he was able; but the Turkish doetriihe ^ 
^predestination, which settles every thing so easily to the Ma- 
homedan's satisfaction, had taken sudh possession of hint, 
that he delivered himself ovtcr io it with the most unbounded 
trust, and did not care to have his mind unsettled by any other. 
" Bakalum — ^we «hall see !" the last refuge of every Turk's 
argument, was Mustafa'^ exclamation as Lord Osmond stopped 
his horse to enjoy a view of the junction of the Arpachai and 
the Araxes, which takes place at the base of a high prcjecti^ 
summit which they had just reached. The Surugi was pushing 
on, when Mustafa repeated his morning's admonition to his 
.inaster, <not to leave himself behind:; adding, ^' This is a bad 
place — this is fuil of bad men." 

They were now journejiing over Ihe highest part of Armenia, 
as ihe snow, which still lay am the gronnd, proved ; and this 
was one of the spots most celebrated for robberies, and par- 
Aioulaarly for the depredations of Cara Bey's^gaag. Mustafa 



AYESHA. IS 

here began to look very full of apprehension ; he cast his eyes^ 
about him in all directions, every distant black spot appearing 
to him a man, every noise, as he thought, denoting some ap- 
proaching aCUok. The Surugi, Hassan by name, whose face 
had rdaxed intofreat humility, and who did not cease evincing 
hh desire to show his gratitude, seemg Mustafa thus full of 
an!xiety, exdaiftied to lurn, ** Korknm — fear not; bir chey 
jfoX:— there is nothing/' 

*' What do you miean by korkma .^" said Mustafa to him v 
*^ we are not children to fear. Praise be to Allah ! we are 
always ready .; whatever fate ordains, in the name of the Pro- 
ject w^ shall be. found ready. Be the Bey^ who robs on this 
mkyuntftin black or white, we are always ready to meet him with 
a white face.'* 

Hassan looked at Mustafa with a scowl which stopped his 
garrulity, as if he wonld have said, *' You are beneath my no- 
tice ;^' but, turning towards Stasso, he made signs for him to 
come near him, and then said, '' By your head ! by the soul of 
your master 1 I who am Hassan, a poor cattle-driver, I am no- 
thii^ ; but, praise be to Allah ! I can this day render your mas- 
ter a service. Do not allow that foolish OsmanU to interfere ; 
but should the Beyzadehf see horsemen approach, let him not 
be alanned. By this poor head which he has saved 1 I swear 
that nothing shall harm him. Upon my head ! I will take him 
to Kars. If Cara Bey were to appear in person, he would 
jonly say, ^ Salam aleikum-^^esice be unto you,' and allow 
us to proceed. Let him therefore show no resistance, let him 
not even take a pistol in hand, for, if he does, it may be the 
worse for him : if he remains passive, I will answer with my 
life that he passes tmmolested.'' 

Stasso immediately made this i^eport to his master, who, 
having paid due attrition to it, called Mustafa to him, and 
n^ed his opinion upon what it would be best to do, for it was 
now plain that they would meet those whom Mustafa feared. 

" Did not I say that there is some devilry in this ?" said the 
Tatar, whilst his cheek became pale with apprehension. *' Let 
us turn back. Oh ! why did not you let him be drowned ? 

* Cara Bey, in Tarkisb, means the/ Black Lord.' 

f So English travellers are usually called in Turkey, Beyzadeh meaning 
tlie son of a lojrd. 



16 AYESHA. 

If fate hi^d only beeb left to itself, it would have saved us in 
drowning him." 

Osmond now immediately made up his mind how to act. He 
plainly perceived that he was in a pass where individual courage 
could be of little avail, that some plan of attack had been con- 
certed against him, and that his guide was a party concerned^ 
He judged that it would be wiser to trust in Hassan'^ words, 
* than to prepare for defence. And it was very fortunate' for 
him and his party that he made this decision ; for^ very shortly 
after, turning an elbow of the mountain, they came fiill upon' 
two well-mounted horsemen in Kurdish dresses, men of the 
fiercest aspect, whom Hassan no sooner perceived than, leaving 
the baggage-horses to themselves, he urged on his horse direcdy 
towards them. Mustafa upon this began to look in great 
dismay; Osmond put the boldest face upon it, and pushed 
forward ; whilst Stasso, by a motion natural to him, thrust his 
hand by his side to seek the blunderbuss which always hung 
there in readiness. Osmond carefully observed what was 
taking place between the Surugi and the horsemen: they 
seemed impatient at being stopped, whilst he, by his gestures, 
was evidently relating some story full of interest and import- 
ance; they then all at once turned their horses^ heads in the 
direction whence they came, whilst Hassan resumed his place 
of guide to the party. 

"What has happened?" said Mustafa, placing himself square 
in his saddle, now that the danger appeared over: "What did 
those dogs want ?" 

Hassan, little heeding what he saidj rode up to Osmond, and 
seizing the hem of his cloak kissed it, and then explained that 
the men to whom he had spoken were in fact two of Oara Bey^s 
horsemen; that th^ir chief was close at hand; and that they had 
returned to give him a full account of what they had heard, 
particularly of what had happened in the morning, on account 
of which he would forfeit his head if they were molested. 

Osmond appeared to put the fullest trust in Hassan's words, 
but at the same time he thought they might as well take ad- 
vantage of the present moment to push on in all Tatar diligence, 
lest Cara Bey's magnanimity and forbearance might not second 
Hassan's gratitude to the full extent which the poor man really 
intended; and thus they proceeded at a quick pace, whilst 



Mustafa, whose fears increased faster tiian they galloped, did 
BOt cease exerting his heavy-thonged whip to the utmost of his 
power. They passed through the Armenian village of Ekrek, 
where its unprotected inhabitants, like a flock of sparrows who 
espy a hawk at a distance, were awaiting with fear and ap- 
prehension a visi{ from the awful black lord. These people 
anxiously inquired what news they had concerning him, and at 
the same time seemed astoniahed that they should have passed 
apparently so unmolested. 

Mustafa did not cease looking behind him as they rode on, 
and, upon scaling the heights which rise above Ekrek, he per- 
ceived a body of horse descending towards that village from 
the opposite side, evidently the so much dreaded chieftain and 
his party. Urging on the Surugi and the baggage-horses to 
their utmost speed, he had reached the extreme summit of the 
mountain, and was beginning to descend it at a gallop, when, 
on casting his eyes behind him, to his dismay, he perceived that 
Osmond had come to a full stop, had taken out his sketch- 
book, and was looking about him with the greatest uncon- 
cern, as if neither danger nor Cara Bey were at hand. 

In fact the view over which his eye wandered was perhaps 
one of the sublimest in Asia in point of extent, and one of the 
most interesting in point of locality. It encompassed a region 
which might be called the scene of man's first appearance upon 
earth; and brought to his mind that portion of Scriptural 
geography which has been traced by no less a geographer than 
Moses. Whilst his eyes wandered towards the magnificent 
and verdant Georgia, watered by the Gihon, the second river, 
and the Euphrates, the fourth,^ he asked himself, Could this 
have been the chosen garden of Eden? He saw the sublime 
Ararat towering before him in unrivalled grandeur ; whilst the 
misty plains of Erivan, and the three churches, vanished in the 
distance: he could distinguish the green and swelling pasturages 
of Aberan, the heights of Aligez (the rival of Ararat) , and 
eould trace the windings of the flowing Araxes and its junction 
with the Arpachai. What eye eould behold such a scene and 
remain unmoved! and, contemplated by Osmond, whose mind 
was awake to the most solemn impressions both by reflection 

* Gen. chap, ii, r. 13 aad 14.' " 



18 Am^fiA, ' 

and iiistruction, it caused the most lively and unmixed delights. 
But as the first impression began to fade, another succeeded ^ 
he recollected that over the region which was then spread at 
his feet like a map, had wandered the ten thousand Greeks on 
their return to their own country; and he now learned the full 
value of that portion of his education which in his schoolboy 
days had stored his memory with the interesting narrative of 
Xenophon. He had begun to trace the principal featured of 
the great view in his book, in order to carry away the impres- 
sion, when his ears caught the voice of Mustafa, who was 
quickly exclaiming, half in entreaty, half in anger, " Why do 
you leave yourself behind? This is a bad country: Allah! Allah I 
are you mad ? Cara Bey is here, and you stop !" 

Stasso had remained with his master, his blunderbuss on 
the cock, and with his eyes sharply turned in the direction 
whence the robbers would most likely approach, and, to 
speak truly, shaking in his saddle with impatience at this 
untimely fit of mental absorption and admiration which had 
seized his master. 

Neither Mustafa's exclamation nor Stasso's impatience 
could hasten Osmond^s operation, or unrivet his eyes from 
the fascinating view; but, in truth, there was no cause for 
apprehending an attack from Cara Bey, for that redoubted 
personage, satisfied with the report made by his spies, had 
settled himself for the day in the village of Ekrek, and thought 
of nothing but making merry at the expense of its wretched 
inhabitants. It was his custom to prowl about the country 
when he could do so with impunity (for he was at enmity 
with all the surrounding authorities, Turks, Persians, and 
Russians), and, attended by his dancers and buffoons, to pass 
whole days and nights in drunkenness and debauchery. 

Osmond at length ceded to the impatience of his followers, 
and slowly began the descent from the heights on which 
they stood, his eyes still wandering over the immense expanse 
which was spread before him. Mustafa would again have 
put the whole party on the full gallop in spite of the daqgerous 
inequaUties of the road, but was prevented by his master's 
curiosity to ascertain more precisely the names and position 
of the many places of interest which he knew existed on the 
surface of the land^^fype. The Tatar pointed out to him the 



AYESHA. 19 

city of Kars, the frontier fortress of Turkey, where they were 
to rest that night, and which was conspicuous even at this 
distance, owing to the darkness of its walls, and the towers of 
its castle overhanging the town. Hassan's eyes, however, 
were constantly turned in a more northerly direction, a cir- 
cumstance which attracted Osmond^s attention, who earnestly 
inquired at what he gazed. The guide at first, with a sort of 
mysterious look of ignorance, said " Bir chey yok — there is 
nothing,'^ when Mustafa, approaching his master, said, "He 
is looking at his own house, the deviFs house," "How?" 
said Osmond. — " There is Cara Bey's castle," said Mustafa, 
pointing with his hand to a distant spot in the direction of 
the chain of Aligez. 

Upon this, Osmond called. Hassan to him, and said, "I hear, 
my friend, that one can perceive Cara Bey's residence from 
this spot: is it so?" 

"What do I know?" said the Surugi; ** perhaps yes." 

" In what direction is it ?" said Osmond. 

" Bak — see," said Hassan, with some little hesitation, 
holding his hand over his eyes; "do you see this hill with a 
rock on its summit ?" 

"I do," said Osmond. 

"Well," said the other, " that's not it: do you see the little 
rise beyond the river?" 

" Yes," answered Osmond. 

" Well, that's not it ; but look a little farther, and you will 
see some ruins under the hill." 

" I see them," said Osmond. 

" Well that's not it ; but carry your eyes immediately beyond, 
over the crest of the high land, and yoii will discover a black 
spot, — that is it." 

" I see it not," said Osmond, straining all his eyes at the 
same time. 

" Deh /" exclaimed his guide, with a very lengthened accent 
on the word, finishing with a falsetto squeak, and throwing 
his hand forward as if he would reach it — " look as if you 
were looking to the end of the world, and you will see it." 

"I dot I do I" exclaimed Osmond, at length. 

" Na to we— there, there it is!" cried out Stasso. 

^^ Allah bela versin — ^may Heaven send it misfortunes!" 



to AYBSHA. 

mumbled Mustafa in an undertoned growl: '^I see it but 
too well." 

"So, that is Cara Bey's cattle, is it?" said Osmond. "Is 
it in the Shah's territories, or does it belong to the Sultan?" 

" What do I know?" 3aid Hassan; "it is a castle — it is 
God's work." 

" What name does it go by ?" said Osmond. 

"What do I know?" said Hassan; "it is the kasr — 
the castle." 

" As Allah is great," said Mustafa, " it is called Tepeh dive 
—the Devil's-hill." 

Upon this^ the Yezidi turned his horse's head down the 
declivity, throwing a fierce look at the true believer, and conti- 
nued his road. 

But Osmond, turning his head a little to the left, inquired 
again, "Tell me, is that a town which I see yonder? it appears 
to be a large place." 

"That is a Giaour city in ruins," said Mustafa; "it is called 
Anni ; bosh der — it is nothing." 

" Anni I" exclaimed Osmond, with the greatest interest ; *' is 
that the famous Anni? we must see it. Cannot we go now?'' 

" Heaven forbid !" exclaimed Mustafa with horror. "What 
do you say ? It is the head-quarters of all the thieves and 
rogues in the country. A man's head would not be worth a para 
who would venture to go there. I won't go," said he doggedly. 

Osmond did not urge his wish at present, seeing that the 
sorry animals which they bestrode could scarcely carry them 
to the end of their stage; but he mentally promised himself 
not to leave this part of the country without visiting the 
remains of a city almost unknown to European travellers, and 
which in its prosperity is described as having been the seat 
of a people more civilized and prosperous than any of those 
which now occupy the soil. 

They now pushed on for Kars. The day was beginning 
to draw to a close when they reached the plain upon which 
that place is situated. Mustafa by this time had entirely for- 
gotten his fears, and having again resumed the airs and dignity 
of the Tatar, placed himself well upon his perpendicular on the 
saddle, squared his elbows, and belaboured the rumps of the 
baggage-horses before him, with as much zeal as if the devoted 



AYESHA. SI 

Cara Bey in person were there instead. The vigour of his 
whip was occasionally arrested by a scowling look which the 
mysterious Hassan threw behind him; but even that did 
not stay his hand, when he contemplated the comforts awaiting 
him at Kars, for he. already enjoyed in imagination, the bath, 
the shave, the plentiful pillau, and the consequential strut 
into the coffee-house — all deUghts of the. first importance 
to a Turk. 

At length thc^ Suriigi set up the long howl announcing the 
arrival of travellers to the Menzil khaneh^ qv post-house. 
Osmond, tired and jaded with his long 4)ay^9 journey, joyfully 
greeted this sound as the harbinger of approaching rest; and 
Stasso began to twist his mustaches, to look a\,t t}if. pistols 
in his girdle, and to consider how he might best pass off as 
an Osmanli among the new people he was so shortly to 
visit . 

The sun was about to set as the party crossed the bridge 
which is thrown over the Kars river, and its last rays lighted 
up the dark castellated walls of the city, whiph rose in sombre 
and picturesque forms before them.. The wearied horses had 
scarcely strength enough left to scramble over the.,narrQw and 
ill-paved streets, slipping at every step, and were oply k<Bpt on 
their feet by the never-ceasing application of Mustafa's whip* 
and the shovel stirrups of their riders. The Surugi was di- 
recting his steps to the post-house, when Stasso, after commu- 
nicating with his piast^i;, ordered Mustafa to conduct them to 
some good private house, where they might enjoy more clean- 
liness and comfort than, are usually to be found at the Menzil 
khaneh. In consequence, he bade the unwiliiug Hassan proceed 
straight to a house whiph belonged to an Armenian of consi- 
deration in the city, a. dyer, who he knew was always happy to 
receive a Frank guest. Afler threading some of the bazaars 
and bezestens, they struck into a narrow street, bordered by 
houses of considerable height, as strong as castles, paved with 
such broad, flagged stones that the hordes could scarely find a 
footing. 

The Surugi with the baggage-horses, followed by Mustafa, 
had just turned the sharp angle of a street, previously to 
entering into the court-yard of the Armenian's house, when 
Osmond, followed close by Stasso, drew in his horse's rein 



22 AYESRA. 

almost instinctively at the apparition of two females standing^ 
at a doorway into which they were about to enter, but who had 
turned to steal a look at the passing strangers. One of them 
was rather tall and of a commanding figure. Her veil escaped 
from her hand as Osmond stopped to gaze, and exhibited to 
his eyes beauty of sueh astonishing perfection that at first 
he thought a being of superhuman excellence stood before him. 
There was a radiancy in the brilliant cast of her features, com- 
plexion, and countenance, that struck into his heart at once, 
whilst the most angelic and maidenlike modesty beamed over 
her whole manner and appearance. He gazed with all his eyes ; 
his heart expanded into a feeling which hitherto he had never 
known; and but for the impossibility of making his enjoyment 
permanent, his journey would have finished there. This lovely 
creature was accompanied by a black slave, whose good-hu- 
moured face seemed to testify all the pleasure she took in the 
arrival of strangers. A row of the whitest ivory teeth grinned 
through the coral of her lips, backed by the ebony of her face, 
and produced the strongest contrast to the dazzling whiteness 
and rising blushes of her youthful mistress. As they began to 
withdraw more into the house, Osmond put his horse again 
into motion, but, in so doing, the jaded beast made a falsest^, 
and attempting to retrieve it on the slippery stones, he fell, and 
threw his rider upon the angle of the very step which led into 
the house of the fair object of his admiration. This abrupt 
action produced a half [shriek of fear and alarm from the 
maiden, who,^ instead of running off, as most Turkish maidens 
would have done, rushed forward to his assistance. The tone 
of her voice, the most silvery and harmonious which ever is- 
sued from under a veil, completed the fascination into which 
he had been thrown, and as he slowly raised the fallen brute, 
he made a profound obeisance, indicating his feeling of admi- 
ration; an action so unusual to one of her own countrymen, that 
she, on her side, was sensibly impressed by it. She immedi- 
ately retired when she saw him again seated on his horse ; but 
not till then did he feel the intenseness of the pain caused by 
the bruise which he had received on his knee. 

Having reached his resting-place, he with difiiculty dismount- 
ed, and, with the help of Stasso and Mustafa, clambered up a 
a flight of high steps which led to the room destined for bis 



AYESHA. ftS 

reception^ And here he began to discover, for the first time, 
4»rtain slight shiverings, and other indications of fever, which, 
but for the emtement of the day's journey, he might have felt 
before, and which were not long in making themselves mani- 
fest; showing that it is seldom even the strongest and most 
bealthy can travel a whole day with wet clothes on their 
back, without sooner or later feeling the dire effects of such 
imprudence. 



CHAPTER III. 

Kon seulement Kara est une Tille dangereuse poor lei voleors, mais )es 
officieri Tares y font ordinairement de grandes avanies aux ^trangera , et en 
tirent tout ce qu'ils peaTent-r-TouRNEFOBT, Lettre XVIII. 

LriTLE had Lord Osmond anticipated, after once having 
passed the Turkish and Persian frontier in the manner we 
have described, when every difficulty and danger was appa- 
rently cleared away between him and his own home, that his 
kisniet — his destiny, as the Turks would immediately pro- 
nounce it, should lead him into adventures upon which were 
to hang his future lot in life, and stop him where he was least 
inclined to be detained, however ready he might be to meet 
and even to seek any event which would give him an insight 
into the manners and polity of the people among whom he 
sojourned. 

Such, however, was the case; and we arrest the course of 
our narrative for a short time, in order to make our readers 
acquainted with the state of affairs at and about the place of 
his detention. 

Kars, although its origin be of remote antiquity, is at the 
present day a place of comparatively little importance, and is 
principally remarkable for being the extreme frontier town 
belonging to Turkey on the north-east Persian border. It 
is built upon a rocky bank, exposed to the south-east. A 



S4 AY£SHA. 

casde upon a steep rock, in a picturesque and eommanding po^ 
sittont overlooks it ; and its dark towers, which are now ruinous 
and running into decay, give it an appearance at a distance of 
more strength than it really possesses. The ground by which it 
is surrounded forms itself into a sort of amphitheatre, behind 
which runs a deep valley, precipitous on all sides, through which 
winds the river. A stone wall, with square turrets at stated 
intei*va]s, encompasses it on every side, and it is furnished 
with gates, which, according to Asiatic custom, are closed at 
sun-set and opened at sun-rise. 

Its inhabitants are a race of bigoted Mussulmans, intermixed 
with Armenians, and it enjoys the reputation of being a place 
of call for the many thieves and marauders, Kurds, Yezidies^ 
and others, who at various times and seasons infest the 
highways, and who are and have b,een from time immemorial 
the dread of caravans and travellers. The exactions made 
upon passengers, and the petty despotism to which they are 
exposed from the authorities, render a visit toKars disagreeable 
and even dangerous; the men in power, in proportion to 
their distance from the seat of government, feeling secure in 
their villany; whilst the unprotected suflferers feel, in the same 
proportion, how unavailing would be their resistance. 

A pasha is the chief officer, and his appointment to his 
distant and dreary post is generally looked upon as a sort of 
honourable exile. He is nominated at the Porte, and is 
independent in his jurisdiction, although he is enjoined to look 
up to the Pasha of Erzeroum as his superior^ inasmuch as he 
is the appointed chief and proctector of the frontier, as opposed 
to the Shah of Persia, the sultan's neighbour ; as well as to 
the Russian authority, which trenches close upon the limits 
of his pashalik. 

At the time of Osmond's sojourn, the Pasha was a man of 
tow origin and coarse habits : he had once been aj^eA/it;an, 
or prize-wrestler, and was consequently called Pehlivan Pasha; 
thereby recording his ignoble origin, — an act of humility from 
which no Turk ever shrinks, however exalted may be his 
subsequent rank. He was a man of immense personal strength, 
and his chief enjoyment consisted in witnessing the combats 
of pehlivans, by whom he was constantly surrounded, and 
with whom, as occasion offered, he would not refrain from 



AYESHA. 25 

trying a fall himself. He was not accused of wielding his 
power with undue severity as a governor, being good-natured, 
weak, and addicted to sensuality, for he willingly turned over 
the affairs of legislation to the Mufti,^ the civil and religious 
officer of authority; a crafty, bigoted, and unrelenting Maho- 
medan, who might be said toMiold the principal sway in the 
city, and who, in proportion to his blind devotion to the laws 
of his Prophet, bore a corresponding hatred to all intidels. 
There was, besides, an Aga of the janissaries, and the usual 
Ayans, or elders, who were called upon to attend in council 
on questions connected with the well-being of the place and its 
inhabitants. 

The neighbourhood oftheKurdistanwasone of the principal 
causes of the want of safety on the road leading from Turkey 
into Peraia. Its inhabitants, the Kurds, an ancient race, whose 
marauding practices are coeval with their origin, are not to be 
kept under control by either the Sultan or the Shah, and in- 
deed are scarcely amenable to the rude government of their 
own chiefs, who, although nominally dependent upon the two 
great states, Turkey and Persia, according to the districts which 
they inhabit, are in fact each independent in their own town or 
fort, and can be styled little better than chiefs of banditti, al- 
though they take to themselves the titles of Pashas. Thus in 
the city of Bayajid there is a Pasha, but he is a Pasha only to 
pillage and destroy. At a more distant town, Topra Caleb, 
existed a beg, who was at open war both with Persian and Turk ; 
but at the time in which our history exists, the most notorious 
offender was Cara Bey, of whom we have already given a hasty 
sketch, and, as he will again be brought to the reader's notice 
during the course of our narrative, we will withhold any fur- 
ther digression, and return to our travellers. 

Lord Osmond, on the very first night of his rest at the Arme- 
nian dyer's, found himself assailed by all the symptoms of fever. 
Mustafa, who had not failed to assert the Tatar and the true 
believer the moment he entered the walls of the infidel's dwell- 
ing, stepping heavily at every tread with his iron-shod boots, 

* The chief man of the law in a Turkish city is generally called Mollah, 
but this personage chose to take upon himself the higher title of Mufti, which, 
in fact, only belongs to the great chief of the Turkish law, residing at Oonstao- 
iinople. 



36 AYESHA. 

throwing a curve of importance into bis back and gboulders, 
aind making frequent and indecorous allusions to tbe Armenian's 
fatber and mother in order to quicken his operations, had col- 
lected as many comforts for his master as the house afforded. 
All the softest cushions were brought from the women's apart- 
ments, mountains of quilts were piled upon the bed, and a bra- 
zier of red-hot charcoal, with an apple in it, was placed in the 
centre of the floor. 

Very soon after these preliminaries, a most plentiful dinner 
was served up, which, while it did credit to the goodwill and 
hospitality of the host, almost killed his guest, whose increasing 
disorder made him loathe the sight of food, and who, from 
being the most valiant to encounter the thousand ills which 
travelling in Asia is heir to, all at once sickened and sought his 
bed. He implored Mustafa to cease his persecutions of the 
Armenians, to diminish, if possible, the rigour of his authority, 
to sweep the lamb stuffed with plums and its acompanying 
pillau from the room, and to leave him alone to his rest. 
When this was done, he called Stasso, and ordered him to 
deal kindly and liberally towards Hassan the guide, who, 
whatever might have been his original intention, had shown by 
his subsequent conduct an uncommon degree of gratitude foir 
the service which had been rendered to him. He then had 
recourse to a small medicine chest which always accompanied 
him, put a proper bandage about his wounded knee, and en- 
deavoured to compose himself to sleep. But this was not so 
easy to effect, for tbe image of the beautiful apparition which 
had recently crossed his path, had so entirely taken possession 
of his thoughts, that it produced a third disorder, more danger- 
ous to his repose than either his fever or his broken limb. 

" What can she be? who is she ? I have seen a face like 
her's, she strongly puts me in mind of some one whom I have 
met before. But no, nothing was ever so beautiful or bewitch- 
ing! She cannot belong to these Turkish barbarians I she 
ought to take place among the great of the world ! There 
is a soul in her eye which is not to be mistaken.^' In these and 
such-like thoughts and exclamations did Osmond indulge as 
he arrested the vision of the beautiful maiden in his mind, and 
dwelt with unceasing perseverance over the scene which had 
^ken place in the morning. But when he recollected where 



AYESHA. 27 

he was, ia an obscure eity of Turkey, among thieves and bar- 
barians, he exclaimed, ^^ What else can she be but a poor be- 
nighted l^urkish girl, some child of ignorance and fanaticism, 
whose beauty may administer to the will and pleasure of some 
eoarse barbarian, and his barbarous usages ? Would that I 
had never seen her !'' he repeated frequently, until he wound 
himself up into an uncontrollable desire again to behold her 
exquisite charms, to be acquainted with her history, and to ac- 
quire a knoviedge of the circumstances which had thrown her 
away among a people apparently so little likely to appreciate 
her worth. 

We will now leave the sick man, and turn to his attendants,, 
who were in full enjoyment of the plentiful fare which he had 
rejected. Mustafa had taken into his own hands the whole 
arrangement of the eveuing^s entertainment. Among the Ar- 
menians he reigned without a rival. A true believer on his 
own soil, among Christians, may be compared to a game-cock 
in a farm-yard, or a mastiff in a kennel ; he swells with arro- 
gance, struts with importance, and exerts his powers of speech, 
with insolence. Our Tatar, preparatory to his meal, had duly 
tucked up his sleeves, had called to Bogos (for such was the 
dyer's name) for water wherewith to wash, and squatting him- 
self down over a pewter basin, which was held to him by the 
Armenian in person, water was poured over his hands, and he 
thus performed his ablutions with great satisfaction. Having 
refreshed his weather-beaten face by passing his wet hands 
over it, he coaxed his small mustaches into as good a spread as 
they would admit of; and then, wiping his hands with the 
towel which he took from off his host's shoulder, he proceeded 
with an important step to seat himself heavily upon a cushion 
which had been laid for him in the corner of a lower room, 
and there he awaited the coming meal. 

Stasso, having disposed of his master for the night, followed 
on the same intent, and tucking his legs up, seated himself neat 
his companion, the action of his hands denoting his impatience 
to begin, the quick turn of his eye towards the avenues of the 
kitchen evincing whither his thoughts were directed, and a cer- 
tain restlessness of his jaws showing that roast lamb and pillau^ 
were not unknown to them. He interceded for the company 
of Hassan the guide, to which Mustafa assented, rather as giv*. 



28 AYESIU. 

ing him an opportunity to exhibit the munificent master, than 
as showing him any good will. At length the chorba, soup, 
smoked upon the board ; a dead silence ensued, and nothing 
but the noise of hot in^draughts, produced by the junction of 
spoons and mouths, was heard ; then came dolmas^ rice and 
meat-balls, wrapped up in vine-leaves ; then keftas^ force- 
meat ; halwahy sweetmeat ; and last, the lamb and. the moun- 
tain of boiled rice. All disappeared like magic tbirough the 
medium of powerful fingers and capacious jaws, ^s. one may 
oftentimes see sacks of coal thrown with precision from the 
cart, into the orifice of the cellar below. So ate the three 
travellers ; long were their labours, and portentous was their 
digestion. But let us not omit the wine ; the forbidden Ar- 
menian's wine, which Bogos ever and anon poured for his 
guests into a basin, in England called a slop-basin, but which 
in Turkey is looked upon as the only proper medium to drink 
with. Many were the cheerings of aganij my lord ! — guzumj 
my eyes ! — -junum^ my soul I with which Bogos enticed on the 
too willing Mustafa to empty bowl after bowl of this purple 
resinous wine, until the eyes of his guest, which never were 
large, almost totally disappeared under the. gra4.ual swelliiig 
of the cheeks and forehead. 

^ Stasso, a more ruthless and hardy drinker, scarcely acknow-^ 
ledged the passage of wine as it flowed over his gullet ; whilst 
the disciple of Satan, wary and on his guard, hardly admitted 
it to his lips. Never before had three hungry travellers ful- 
filled a more agreeable duty than that of emptying the dishes of 
their host, and attending to their own repletion, Mustafa, like 
most other^Turks wh(^think it part of their religion to bully a 
Christian, had not ceased to lard the tenor of his speech to 
B!bgos, with certain allusions, all as a matter of course, although 
offensive, touching his relations and friends. At length, gra- 
dually softened by the wine, he glided into expressions such as 
these : — 

" By Allah I you are a good man you I by your father, I love 
you I Among swine, Armenians are the best. Bogos, my 
brother, you are a man ; Mashallah ! you are my father, my 
uncle. Ah ! ah ! give me sweet wine and I want nothing more.^' 
As fast as the skin fell in its circumference, so fast did Mustafa's 
heart soften, until sleep gradually overtook him, and rolling 



AYESHA. 29 

hiiDBelf in bis «loak h^ fell like a trunk consumed by fir6 on 
tbe very spot where he had eaten, and remained immoveable 
for the night. 

Stasso was not unmindful of his master^s orders, and, pre- 
viously to the meal just described, had been in close and confi- 
dential communication with Hassan ; for experience had taught 
him in his travels never to lose an opportunity of making a 
friend, however unprofitable that friendship might at the 
moment appear. When he counted out to the guide, little 
expectant of such a gift, the sum of money which his master 
had ordered, Hassan's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and he 
could not find words suflSciently expressive of his gratitude. 
** If ever yotir Aga," said he, " should require aid during his 
stay here; if ever misfortunes should fall upon his head, let 
him send for his slave. Do not despise Hassan because he is a 
Surugi ; believe me, he knows more than you can suppose. No 
fox can creep out of its hole — no jackal can gnaw a carcass — 
no thief can lay a plan, without its being known to Hassan. 
Above all, trust not the people of Kars ; they are bad, ill-begotten, 
extortioners, men without souls ; keep clear of that bash peze- 
venk-—ikisX head procurer, the Mufti ; he is a dog without a 
liver ; he is without compassion. Your Aga saved my life I 
here is my neck,'' said he, at the same time bending down his 
head, ^Met him strike; we are not animals, we are menP 
Many more were the protestations which Hassan made to 
evince his gratitude ; and although there was no likelihood that 
his services could ever be of the least avail to Osmond, or that 
he would have an opportunity of showing the extent of his 
thankfulness, still there was that sincerity and hearty good-will 
in his manner, which made Stasso confident he was a man to 
adhere to his word ; and he ever kept him in mind as one 
who might possibly be of use to him in some future journey. 

On the following morning, Stasso crept quietly into his 
master's room, but, finding that there was no symptom of his 
K stirring, he took himself below, where the Armenian and his 
family had long been on foot, in the hope of securing the never- 
failing cup of hot coffee and the chibouk, without which no 
Asiatic is ever put into tolerable humour to encounter the events 
of the day. The first object he saw on entering the room was 



30 AYESHA. 

Mustafa, who had just risen from his heavy sleep, seated in ad 
attitude of hopeless inactivity, in the very self-same clothes in 
which he had laid himself down, his eyes unopened, his mouth 
pregnant with yawns, and an apparent torpor in his whole 
person, which spoke emphatically of the wofiil evils attendant 
upon much wine and much roasted lamb. At length a low 
moan issued from the torpid man. '' Bogos, you Annenian, 
you I bring coffee :^' — and such a desire will be found at the 
bottom of every Turk^s throat, be he in the last throes of despair, 
or in the height of the greatest joy. The exhilarating drug was 
soon brought, when Mustafa opened first one eye, and then the 
other, and straightway began to (lil his pipe. With such pre- 
liminaries the day's labours commenced; and soon after, he was 
wide awake. He then began to discuss with Stasso and the 
dyer, what was necessary to be done in their lord's sick state. 
Bogos immediately advised that they should call in an old Arme- 
nian woman, who was famous for curing all sorts of disorders, 
and particularly expert in reducing wounds and relieving 
bruised limbs. '' What do you say, pig?" said Mustafa; *' what 
fikh are you eating? These Ingliz, Mashallahl praise be to 
the Prophet ! are as stubborn as camels ; and they would as 
soon take an Armenian's physic as they would eat a horse. 
They are men who carry all the world in the corner of their 
eye. After that, can you venture to bring an Armenian cow of 
Kars before an Englishman?" 

'^ But, my pasha, my aga," said the unobtruding Bogos>, 
with all humility, ^^ I suppose an Englishman's leg is like an 
Armenian's? and I know the old woman has cured many a leg 
in Kars. Did not she cure Suleiman Aga's broken shin, he 
who is your next-door neighbour, after every other effort had 
failed ? Talismans had been placed upon it, he was turned 
towards Mecca, still all would not do, until the old Caterina, 
with her herbs and her fomentations, put him on his legs again. 
After all, that is something." 

" What are you chattering there with your Caterinas and 
your Paterinas ?" said Mustafa, swelling with importance and 
evolving smoke. '^ Allah I Allah I I should like to see my 
Beyzadeh's leg in the hands of your Caterina. Eh, Stasso !" 
addressing himself to the Greek, " what do you say?" 



AYE8HA. 31 

''What can I say, Mustafa Aga," answered Stasso; *'our Aga 
knows best wbat is to be done ; we must leave it to him to decide; 
I will go and see.^' 

Upon this he returned to his master s room, who by this 
time had awoke from a restless sleep, which only towards the 
morning had closed his eyes. Upon seeing Stasso, he exclaimed, 
^* My leg is extremely painful. Is there anything like a surgeon 
in this place? I shall be detained here for ever, if something 
be not done; to travel in this state is out of the question.^' 

" What do I know, Effendimou — oh my master ?" said his 
affectionate valet. " I have heard of an old woman who cures 
bruises and wounds ; what else can I propose? she is an Arme- 
nian, and a she ass." Then drawing a deep sigh, he exclaimed, 
*' Where is this miserable and destitute place? and where the 
comforts and surgeons known to Franks?'' 

'^ But perhaps she is better than nothing,'' said Osmond, 
writhing with pain, and restless with fever. ''Can I have 
broken a bone?" 

" God preserve you from it !" exclaimed Stasso ; " that 
Arabisa — that negress must have had an evil eye, when she 
turned round to look at us — may the diatolo take her! 
— and made your post-horse fall to the ground I May anathe- 
mas fall upon her eyes I" 

" Don't say so, Stasso," said Osmond, " for if the negress 
had an evil eye, her companion had an eye that could not fail 
to bring good luck : tell me, did you ever see such beauty be- 
fore ?" 

" As I cherish my faith," said the animated Greek, his eye 
brightening up into a flame, " I never did before, nor ever 
shall again. Such beauty ! — Oh these Turks ! — may their laces 
be]! broken up! — animals as they are, yet it must be owned 
they possess women who have no equals. Did you see, oh 
Effendimou, did you remark her eyes, her hair, her complexion ? 
These women have a pureness of blood in their veins which is 
not to be found elsewhere." 

p^ " But what can she be, Stasso ?" said Osmond, warmed 
with the subject, and thus forgetting his pain. " Have you 
heard?" 

" She is a Turkisa — a Turkish girl, that is certain. What 
else can she be? Her dress was Turkish, the house she en* 



33 AYESHA. 

tered was a Turk's— that was evident by the painting of it ; 
and none but a Turkish woman can possess a black slave/' 

" You must find out who she is, Stasso/' said Osmond; ^^ I 
should like amazingly to see her again.'* 

" May heaven prevent you I*' exclaimed his servant; ** these 
devils of Turks without entrails, cut off a Christian's head 
without compunction, and then place it between his legs, if 
they find him even speaking to one of their women. May the 
diavolo take them I" 

'^ But there can be no harm in inquiring who and what she 
is," persisted Lord Osmond ; '' I am curious to know." 

" There is no harm in asking," said Stasso, '^ that's true. 
She is probably a neighbour, and it is easy to know from the 
people of this house who she is; but as for seeing or speaking 
to her, may God preserve us I" added he, whilst he made a sign 
of the cross. 

^' But about this old woman," said Osmond; '' inquire where 
she lives ; perhaps she may afford me some relief. Go, Stasso, 
inquire; and moreover, do not forget the Turkisa." 

Stasso left the room to perform his master's bidding, at the 
same time that Mustafa entered. The Tatar had lost no time 
in going to a barber, who had so trimmed up his head and face 
that he looked like a new man, and havini^ readjusted his 
whole dress, inserting his pistols and yatagan in their pre- 
scribed places, he stalked on with all the pride and superi- 
ority of a true believer. 

'^ Mustafa, sit down," said Osmond, as soon as he saw his 
Tatar, to whom he did not fail to pay all the attentions due to 
one of his station, although he discoursed with him as if he were 
an European, as hein truth was. 

'^ This sickness and bruise of mine," continued he, '' is a 
grievance ; but as you Turks say, my kismet — my fate must be 
borne with patience. I fear we must stay where we are at 
present." . 

^^ Bakalum — we will see!" said Mustafa; never sorry at 
any delay in a town, where he would be left at liberty to smoke 
in a coffee-bouse, and enjoy the luxury of a good shave, and 
also of a hot-bath. " I must go to the Pasha." 

*'*' True," said Osmond; ^' make him my respects; tell him I 
am sick and dying, and then I shall possibly be free from the 



AY*SttA. ^ a 

torment of his chaoushes and chokhadars (officers) begging for 
backshish^ or presents." 

^^Bakalum — ^we will see I" said Mustafa again; " backshis- 
hes are nothing ; leave the rogues to me. Be you well, and 
all will be well." 

'^ Inshallah 1" said Osmon/1, '' I shall soon get the better of 
my fever, but this leg of mine, I feel, will keep me here some 
time. I cannot stir, Mustafa !" 

" It will be nothing," said the Tatar; " God, is great! One 
of our Tatars once broke his leg as he was leaviiig Arzeroum; 
he tied it up, put it into a basket, rode night and day until he 
got to Constantinople, where the bone was set, and he is as 
well now as ever he was. Legs break and are mended — ^such 
is the world !" 

" That is true," said Osmond, smiling at his Tatar's philo^ 
sophy; ^' but I want something more than a basket. I am 
told that there is an old woman here, who understands 
bruises." 

" What do I know?" said Mustafa. "An old woman is often 
a greater evil than a broken leg : however, you know best; if 
you do not mind her, I have no objection; but only take care 
whenever she goes out of the room to bum a bit of paper and 
blow over each shoulder." 

*' And wherefore ?" said Osmond. 

" ,You will thus destroy the eflfects of her evil eye,^* answer- 
ed the Tatar. " Many is the time that I have lost my way, 
and got into all sorts of mischief, after meeting ah old woman. 
Aman! Aman! — pity! pity!" said he, shaking the lapel of 
his jacket ; " preserve me from an old woman !'' 

Upon this he left his master, and lighting a fresh pipcj pro- 
ceeded to the residence of the Pasha, swinging his long robes, 
and strutting through the streets, with an air of dignity rs^rely 
9een among the rustics of Kars. 



. ;. : ..'5» 



-i 






34 AYESHA. 



CHAPTER IV. 



All snddenty abasW she changed her hue, 
And with stem horror backward 'gan to start ; 

i But when she better him beheld, she grew 
Full of soft passion and unwonted smart ; 

The point of pitj pierced through her tender heart. 

Spenser's Faery Queen. 



OjSMoND had not waited long after the departure of Mustafa 
before Stasso appeared, accompanied by Bogos the dyer, in- 
troducing Caterina, the old Armenian woman, whose curved 
back and withered hands denoted an advanced age. She re- 
ligiously retained her veil, particularly that part of it peculiar 
to Armenian women, the nose-band, which goes tightly over 
the middle of the face, and keeps their noses flat. She ap- 
proached her patient with a certain degree of awe; for during 
her long career she had never before been so near to a Frank, 
and that Frank an Ingliz, about whom she and her country- 
women had very vague and undefined notions. He might have 
^^ a fish's head and a serpent's tongue," for aught she knew, 
or he might, as his daily avocation, manufacture penknives, 
or broad-cloth and chintz, as silk- worms spin silk. But when 
Osmond addressed her in very good Turkish, all her imaginar 
tions fled, and turning up her withered eye, with whkh she 
took a good survey of him, she exclaimed to Bogos, making a 
Bign of the cross, " Mashallah I he talks Turkish as weU as 
neither you or I ;" and having said this, she was restored to 
full confidence in herself, and forthwith broke into an unceas- 
ing flow of words. "We are poor folks," said she, "but we 
have not lived to eighty years and upwards without having 
handled many a bruised leg, ay and broken heads too." 

"So you are an Ingliz, are you?" she continued, looking at 
Osmond : " well well ! God is great I that I should have lived 
to dress an English leg!" She then examined the limb, which 



AYESHA. S5 

was indeed (rigbifuUy swoUra, and soon began her operations, 
by fomentations and an application made of cooling herbs and 
sour milk, "Ah," said she, "I attended your neighbour, Su- 
leiman Aga, for a good month ere his shattered leg began to 
give way to my skill, and when it did heal, everybody cried, 
AJhin, Caterina! — Well done, Caterina!" 

''And who is onr neighbour?" said Osmond, thinking it pos- 
isible that he might receive some information concerning the 
beautiful maiden, whose image did not for a moment leave his 
thoughts. 

" He is one oi the principal Aymans, or elders of this city," 
«aid Bogos. 

" He is a wonderful man," said the old woman. 

''How do you mean wonderful?" inquired Osmond. 

"He is a strict and severe Mussulman," said Bogos, explain- 
ing the meaning of his country-woman : "he treats us Chris- 
tians like dogs ; we drink wine with fear and trembling in his 
neighbourhood." 

" Akh I" exclaimed Caterina, " were it not for his daughter, 
we Armenians should have to contend with more difficulties 
than we do ; but she keeps his heart soft" 

"What sort of a person is his daughter?" inquired Os- 
mond, with great animation. 

"Ey vahl" exclaimed the old woman, turning up her eye 
and looking into her patient's face whilst she fumbled over the 
knee before her, " where have you been living all this while, O 
my soul ! that you have never heard of Suleiman Aga's daughter ? 
I myself,! was once something, when I was young, but, as I kiss 
the cross I she is a creature that has never been heard of out of 
Paradise. Pity, thousand pities that she belongs to the Turk ! 
Mashallah ! she ought to have belonged to Franks — to Christians. 
Akh I she is as white as you, a great deal taller than I am, and 
as for teeth, and hair, and eyes, I had mine once, but, bah I she 
has enough of them for the whole town of Kars! What do I 
say ? the whole world might come to her for beauty, and ^he 
would still have enough left to remain without an equal." . 

This was a subject upon which Caterina would have talked 
for ever, and one indeed of which Osmond was not soon tired, 
but he knew the dangers and difficulties attendant upon any 
communication with Mahomedah women. Although he felt 

3* 



86 AYESHA. 

that to see and speak to her was hopeless, still he could not help 
weaving in his mind a thread of romance, which led him on to 
conceive that he might in time be hlessed with the possession of 
this gem of human perfection, improve its lustre, efface any 
flaws which it might contain, and polish it so effectually that he 
might produce it as something unequalled in the estimation of 
his own countrymen. Accordingly he stopped the old woman 
in her panegyric, but could not refrain inquiring more particulars 
concerning the maiden^s former life. 

" Has she a mother? What is her name? Is she about to be 
married?" asked Osmond, all in a breath. 

" O my souH" exclaimed Caterina, " how you go on. I am 
old, and cannot answer so many questions at once. You asked, 
has she a mother? Well may you ask; she has indeed a 
mother, and we call her a misfortune. How such a daughter 
sprang from such a mother is not my business to ask, I am silent. 
She once made the sign of the cross, that's certain, but now she 
is a kadun — a khaniim^ a head of a harem, although she pre- 
serves her Greek name, Zabetta, Zabetta Khanum. But the 
daughter, dear Uttle heart I she is called Ayesha; she has a 
Turkish name, but the soul of a Christian : to do good is her 
whole delight; to do evil is her mother's only thought* Out 
upon the she imp I But life is full of good and evil. If you 
want them both in perfection, go to the next door/' 
" And is she engaged?" inquired Osmond^ 
'* Engaged!" exclaimed the old woman : ''and who is to 
marry her, in this land of thieves and rogues ? there is not a 
man here fit to hold her slippers. She is only fit for the Sultan's 
seraglio. Her father cherishes her as he does his own soul : 
he has taught her everything, and there is not a scribe throughout 
the whole of Kars who could stand before her. She is famous 
here, my Aga! — where have you been living that you have not 
heard of Ayesha, the daughter of Suleiman ?" 

In this manner did the old Caterina entertain her patient, 
as he lay on his bed, whilst she performed her operations on 
his knee. He allowed her to attend him daily, and to exert 
her ingenuity in the composition of remedies, which, although 
they did not much hasten his recovery, did not retard it, whilst 
he was amused with her conversation, and interested by 
making her descant on that never-ending subject the perfections 



AYESHA. 37 

of Ayesha. His fever had yielded to his own remedies; and 
but for the contusion, which required the greatest quiet, he 
jBQight again have resumed his journey. Mustafa began to 
show symptoms of impatience, for he found the remote town 
of Kars but a poor theatre for the exhibition of his airs of 
importance, and, as the season began now to be favourable 
for travelling, he longed once more to be on the saddle. 

Weeks had elapsed, and Osipond was still confined to his 
room, wh^n, tired with breathing the same atmosphere, and 
feeling that the open air would perhaps do him more good 
than all Caterina's remedies, he inquired if there was no 
terrace to the dyer's house, whither he might be conveyed, 
that he might enjoy a few hours of the breath of heaven. 
Stasso, having proceeded to take a survey of the premises, 
soon returned to say that nothing could be more easy, that 
the steps were wide, terrace sheltered, and that it was in fact 
used as a frequent resort of the family. 

With some difficulty, with the help of Bogos and Mustafa,^ 
the faithful Stasso succeeded in conveying his master to the 
terrace, where, having spread a carpet, a mattress, and^ 
cushions, he deposited him, without any more inconvenience 
than a groan or two, and a few wry faces. No sooner was 
Osmond restored to the open air, to the sight of the distant 
mountains, and all the various beauties of nature, than he 
seemed to be a new man, and his spirits rose with the change. 

Caterina, who found that by her applications of herbs and 
sour milk she had not made the progress she expected in his 
cure, had at length given birth to a profound thought: no 
less than to sew up his leg in a sheep's skin, the woolly side 
innermost. Often had she observed this remedy applied to 
horses and asses, and the bright question. "Why should it not 
succeed with man too?'' flashed across her, as she saw a sheep 
led to the slaughterhouse; and straightway she determined to 
propose the scheme to her patient. When she reached his 
room at the usual hour of visiting him, to her surprise she 
fouad him gone, but she was soon informed of his pilgrimage 
to the terrace, and thither she followed, dragging with her 
as much of a sheepskin as would be necessary for her purpose. 

As. soon as she .made her appearance, Osmond greeted her 
with his usual good-nature, whilst Mustafa, who ha<d long 



39 AYESHA. 

thought her labour was in vaiii, and who looked upon her 
as one of the causes of their detention, could scarcely refrain 
from indulging in the invectives which Mahomedans so often 
use towards Christians. 

"What are you about, old mother?" said the Tatar; "what 
filth are you bringing here? I said your eye foreboded no 
good, from the first time I saw you/^ 

'•^Eh^guzum! — Eh, my eyesT said she in an&wer, "what 
can I do P I bring relief to the Aga : this is for his leg," showing 
her bit of sheepskin. 

"Do you take the Beyzadeh for a horse that you treat him 
as one P Allah I Allah I are you mad ? Evil was the day when 
we came to Kars 1" 

" Do not firightenthe old woman," said Osmond to the Tatar; 
" she is at liberty to do with my leg ^whatever she pleases." 
Then turning to Caterina, h^ continued, " Say, what is to be 
done now ? Am I to eat your sheepskin P" 

Upon this question the old empiric broke out into an invo- 
luntary fit of laughter, which rang though the range of terraces 
on the adjoining houses^ and which, to the astonishment of 
diose pres^it, was edioed by a corresponding peal at a short 
distance, proceedi^g,^ however, from a youthful and merry 
voice, and denoting thoughtlessness and high spirits. 

" That is the voice of the little negress Nourzadeh," exclaim- 
ed Caterina, as she turned her ear towards the sound ; " what 
does she laugh at P" Upon which she looked over the adjoin- 
ing wall, and, having caught sight of her, she cried out at the 
top of her cracked voice, "G^e// gel! ai gidi mascara ! — ^ 
Come, come ! oh, you young scaramouch I" 

The terraces of the respective houses were separated by a 
low. parapet, part of which was so entirely broken down, that 
scarcely any division was preserved, and thus the houses of 
Suleiman Aga and the Armenian, who were next-door neigh- 
bours, were under almost one and the same roof. An abrupt 
wall, behind which rose an arch, skreened the entrance of the 
Turk's house to the roof from those who stood on the Arme* 
nian's terrace ; and thus, whea Nourzad^ ran ta Caterina^s 
call, no one could see who stood behind the wall. 

When the young negress, with her merry face and broad- 
grinning teeth, appeared before the assembled group,, she 



AYESHA. ^ 

Stopped short, and would have run back, had not the old 
woman said, "Where is your mistress?*' 

The girl, without saying a word, pointed archly towards 
the wall. Caterina, who after the panegyric, the never-ending 
praises, she had so frequently bestowed upon the daughter 
of Suleiman Aga, had longed above everything to bring to the 
eyes of her patient this flower of her city, in order that he 
might be satisfied of her varacity, at t>nce cried out, ^' As you 
love your eyes, ai khanUm daudou — oh my young mistress I 
come, enlighten our countenances, there is here nothing 
to fear!" 

Upon this all at once appeared, before Osmond was in the 
least prepared for such a vision, the enchanting Ayesha in all 
her loveliness. She stood before him the personification of 
virgin modesty; lowly in her Bearing, though dignified in look 
and manner, blushing, though still unembarrassed, she seemed 
to throw an atmosphere of purity and enchantment around 
her. To see her thus, none could do otherwise than gaze in 
admiration, and remain silent for fear of offending. Osmond 
had never beheld such unrivalled beauty. Travelling where 
women appear without being so closely veiled that their faces 
are almost expunged from the catalogue of nature's excellencies,., 
accustomed to deal only with rough and bearded men, and 
particularly after his long confinement in a sick room, he felt 
his heart expand at the sight of this piece of human perfection, ^ 
in the same manner as if an angel had appeared. The thrill 
of astonishment, admiration, and sudden love, which came 
over the sick youth as the flash of Ayesba^s beauty beamed 
upon him, produced so lasting an effect that it influenced 
every action of his future life. Ayesha had obeyed the call of 
a voice well known to her, little thinking before whom she 
was about to appear; and such was the suddenness of her 
feeling at the novelty of her situation, that for a moment she 
was bewildered to a degree fliat made her forget her exposure, 
and thus allowed herself to. be fully gazed at before she re- 
treated to her veil, wldch she had left where she had been seated. 

Ayesba had a great partiality for the old Caterina, who was 
a constant attendant at Suleiman Aga's house, and thus she 
had not hesitated to attend her call ; but when she perceived 
how she was surrounded, all she could say was, in s: tone of 



40 AYESHA; 

surprise and mortiiicatioii, ^'Cateriaal this is a crime P She 
then retreated whence she came; but, at the same time, not 
without having remarked the. graceful and interesting form of 
0$mond> stretched on his sick bed, whose ardent and impas^ 
sioned expression of countenance helped to renew the impres- 
sion which he had made upon her at theii* first meeting. The 
whole action of this incident was almost instantaneous, and 
took place in nearly s^ shovi a time as it has taken to narrate. 

The impression which the appearance of <Ayesha had made 
upon Mustafa and Stasso was nearly as great as upon Osmond, 
although the fascination had worked in a different manner. 
Upon Mustafa, who was a complete Turk in his ideas and 
prejudices about women, it produced a sensation of jealousy 
that so n^uch beauty ai^i charm should have met any man's 
eyes but his own ; aud although he was like one bewildered 
by some sudden flash as he sat in darkness, overpowered with 
a feeling very much like love, and overjoyed at a sight so rare 
and unes^pected, yet he became apgry at what he esteemed a 
4erelictipn of the respect due to his own countrywomen. His 
0rst impulse wa^ to make sax angry exclamation against the 
old womfi^n^ 

^* What are you about,'' said he, " you old filth-carrier? 
Are you turned mad? do you not see that men are present? 
FinQ doings, indeed ! In the name of Allah ! woidd you bring 
the Beyzadeh into trouble, and this daughter of Islam into dis- 
grace ?" 

'' There is no harm done, light of my eyes I" answered Ca- 
terina. ^' It is only Suleiman Aga's daughter. Franks are of 
no consequence ; their women have no veils ; their eyes are 
accustomed to the sight of woman's face. Did not I say true?" 
she continued, turning towards Lord Osmond; '' have I said 
more than I ought, when I talked to you of the beauty of Ihe 
maiden?" 

, *' You said too little," answered Osmond, iff a serious and 
musing tone. 

*' Ah !" continued Caterina, " but she is even better thaa 

she looks. You ought to have seen how she attended upon her 

sick father. As you love your eyes, she knew better how ta 

imrse him than I." 

3tasso^ who h^d also been witness to the whole scene, was 



AYESHA. 41 

thrown into a fever of admiration ; but the effect it produced 
upon him was to engender an explosion of maledictions in his 
mind upon the whole Mahomedan race, for possessing such a 
treasure of perfection. '' May the devil take )hem all 1" said he, 
in a low and indistinct tone, as he helped his master to descend 
into his room. ^^ We also have our beauties ; go to the FaniBiri, 
go to Tino; but, in truth,'this maiden is unlike anything I have 
ever seen before. She can't be either Greek or Turk ; she 
must be a Frank I'.' 

When Osmond was left alone with his Greek, he said with 
great earnestness, '' Stasso, did you see the maiden? Can she 
really be a Turki3h girl J" 

"What do I know, and what can I say?'* said Stasso: 
" how can she be anything but Turkish, unless she be an angel 
sent to us by the Holy Virgin," crossing himself the while, "by 
way of compassion, for having detained us so long among these 
barbarians ?" 

"Have you seen her mother?" asked Osmond; " they say 
she was originally a Greek, or an Armenian. Gaterina tells 
me she is a bad woman." 

" We will learn how that is," said Stasso : " if she be a 
Greek, I will find out the she-devil, and cut off my mustaches if 
I do. not make her tell me why and wherefore she has thus 
damned herself by forsaking her faith." 

" Can the maiden really have been angry," inquired his 
master, " at having been seen by us ? Women are not natu- 
rally given to hide their charms," 

" What can I say, ^sir?" said Stasso: " these are Turkish 
women — they will show their faces when there is no one by to 
* witness their so doing; but, otherwise, they will rave and rant 
when any one venttkres to 190k at them. In truth, this maiden 
is npt hke other Turkish maidens. WhcAce she comes, who 
can say ?" 

Stasso ieft hk master with the determination of making ac- 
quaintance, if possible, with Ayesha's mother, and conceiving 
it likely, after what had just taken place on the terrace, that 
she might have proceeded thither in person, he returned there 
in the hope of meeting her. The day was drawing to a close 
when he appeared, and, true enough, the first object which 



48 AYESHA. 

caught his eye as he looked towards Suleiman Aga's house^ 
was a woman with a veil carelessly thrown over her head^ 
whom he immediately conjectured to be the Lady Zabetta. 

*' Kale espera, Jkeramou^ — good evening, my madam,*' said 
Stasso, trying her in his own language. 

'' What !" said she, in a tone of surprise at hearing this ad- 
dress, for Stasso was dressed like a Turk, and gave himself 
out as a Boshnak, a native of Bosnia, " What ! are you a Greek ? 
How came you here P How do you know that I am a Greek ?** 

She said this with some little asperity and embarrassment^ 
although there was evident pleasure in her manner at having 
met with a countryman; for modern Greeks very much hang 
together, whatever may be their places of birth. When she 
perceived how very handsome the person was who had ad- 
dressed her, and that he was in every way an object fitted to 
attract a woman^s attention, she was not slow in dropping her 
shawl and exhibiting to Stasso a face of uncommon attraction. 
Her nose was aquiline, her eyes were jet black, shadowed by 
strongly-arched brows, and a profusion of dark hair, tressed 
and braided and turned up in the manner peculiar to Turkish 
married women, was arranged about her face and shoulders. 
She was tall, her person had been finely shaped,, but was now 
coarse and inclining to corpulency; there was a bad and im- 
modest expression in her countenance, and it was evident that 
she endeavoured to enhance the power of her charms by 
paint, and by the many patches and ornaments npiuch used in 
the East. 

On approaching her, Stasso thought it right to treat her with 
all the respect which he would have done had he been ad- . 
dressing a Mahomedan woman. 

'' Yes,'' he said, *' I am a Greek, and your countryman ; I 
am at your service, and I kiss your hands." 

At these words her face relaxed into a coquettish smile, and 
fihe answered, "You are welcome; from whence arie you?" 

" I am a Sedikieuli, near Smyrna," said he; "what can I 
do?" 

" And what are you come ta do here ?" she inquired. 

" I am servant to an English Beyzadeh ; we come firom Persiay 
wi are travelfing onward to Constantinople." 



AYESHA. 48 

'^ An English nobleman 1" she exclaimed, with an inquiring 
accent. ''And he-^wherefore does he travel? Is he an 
Elchi — ^ambaasador^ or what ?" 

^^He travels for his pleasure/' said Stasso; '' he is a rich 
man, and a greai personage in his own country/' 
'' What is his name?'' she eagerly inquired. 
'' His name/' said Stasso, ^' is Osmond; his father is a great 
Bey among the English. We are detained here by his illness, 
and if it pleases God, when he is well, we shall proceed on our 
journey. But you, KadunI how does it happen, that one so 
handsome, so superior to Turks, is found living in this wretched 
place?" 

Without heeding his question, although evidently delighted 
by his flattery, she inquired, '* Has he ever been at Athens ?" 
" At Athens!" said Stasso ; ^' yes, we have been at Athens. 
Eh I wherehave we notbeen? there is neither a hole nor a 
corner, a stick nor a stone, that we have not seen, in Greece, in 
Egypt, in Syria, or in Persia. But, Kadun, as you love your eyes, 
can you be from Athens, for it appears to me by your accent 
that you must be from the Islands?" 

At this question she seemed perplexed and embarrassed, and 
after a long pause said, '^ I am a Tiniote-^from Tino," and 
then laughingly added, '' I am a TouckanJ*^* 

" What do you say?" exclaimed Stasso; " are you really 
from Tino? I am acquainted with almost all the Tiniotes, 
both at Smyrna and Pera. Of what family are you in Tino?" 
With a sigh she answered, *' Why should I tell you my 
name ? What can it be to you ? I am now a Turkish woman, 
and the wife of a Mussulman." 

'' This is strange I" said Stasso, still pressing her to tell her 
name; '' perhaps I may be acquainted with some of your rela- 
tions, and may be able to give you some account of them." 

She persisted in withholding her name, although there was 
a hesitation in her manner which showed that she had much 
to say, if she could allow herself to speak. She turned the 
conversation from herself, as if she feared to have already 
said too much; and with all the inquisitiveness of a Greek, she 

* The Turks have given the nickname of Touchanj or hare, to the natives 
of Tino« owing, we suppose, to their timidity. The Tiniotes furnish servants 
to the Christians of the East, particularly to Europeans. ^ 



44 AYESHA. 

plied Stasso with every sort of question rebding to Lord Os- 
mond : " Was he handsome? Was he young? Was he rich ? 
How long since had he left England ? When would he return? 
Was he fond of the Greeks? Did he like tho Turks hotter? 
Who were his friends at Constantmople ? Who at Athens ? 
How long did he remain tbore ?" 

Stasso gave her every information, but could not help being 
surprised, and even put on his guard, by her manner, which, 
in a person who seemed to have devoted herself to Turkish 
Ufe, was strange and mysterious. 

At length she asked him a question which still more asto- 
nished him — " Tell me," said she, " has he seen my daughter ? 
I know he has — how did he like her ?" 

Stasso launched out in her praises in a manner that showed 
what had been the effect produced by her charms, but again 
considering that the person who addressed him was a Turkish 
woman, his astonishment increased. 

Their conversation had now lasted until the day had entirely 
dosed ; and he who was never backward in his devotion to 
female charms, fearful of the consequences of further delay, 
thought it more prudent to take his leave, still with the strong- 
est desire to see her again, for her brilliant eyes and her co- 
quettish manner had gone far in subduing his heart. 

'^ We will meet again," said he, as she was about quitting 
the terrace. *' As you love your daughter, let me see you io-r' 
morrow evening." 

" Do you forget, brother," said she, " that I am a Mussul- 
man's wife, and that it is unlawful for me to speak to any man^ 
saving to my husband?" This she spoke with a satirical smile 
on her lips, as if she would say ' I laugh at such nonsense.^ 

" What!" exclaimed Stasso, " you a Greek's daughter, and 
care for these bearded Turks I go, go, we will see each other 
ligain." 

Upon this they parted company; she returned to her harem, 
whilst he proceeded to give an account of his meeting to hi& 
master. 



AYESHA. 4S 



CHAPTER V. 

Man is fire, and woman tow ; the de^il comes and seta them in a blaze.—' 

Fielding. 

Before we proceed farther in our narrative, it is necessary 
that the reader should be informed of part of Zabetta's his- 
tory ; the remainder, for the present, must be left in mysterious 
uncertainty. She was a native of Tino, as she had truly in- 
formed Stasso ; and, according to the practice of her country- 
women, quitted that island at an early age, when in the full 
splendour of her beauty, to enter into service. She began her 
career at Athens, where her extraordinary charms attracted 
the attention of the youth of the place, who succeeded, by their 
flattery and devotion, in entirely turning a head which was na- 
turally full of levity. Like most Greeks, she was ambitious of dis- 
tinction, and, finding that those of her own nation who admired 
her, were not likely to give her that position in life to which 
she aspired, she listened to the vows of love whispered by a 
young Turk, whose manly beauty and commanding manners 
entirely won her heart. He was in the service of the Governor 
of Athens, and one of his most distinguished officers ; but as it 
would be impossible for him to marry Zabetta, situated as they 
both were — she being a servant to a rich and powerful foreign 
family, and he a dependant upon a despotic Governor — they 
determined to . elope from Athens and take refuge in Asia 
Minor. Their scheme was most successful ; unknown to any 
one, they embarked in a boat bound to Samos, and soon after 
landed at Scala Nuova, whence they proceeded to Guzzel- 
hissar, where he had an uncle established, rich in lands, and 
a man of influence in the country. Here she acceded to her 
husband's wishes to forsake her faith and embrace Mahome- 
danism, to which, as she was prevented by no principle, she 
made no resistance. 



46 AYBSHA. 

Suleiman, for that was his name, was originally from Kars; 
he became successful in trade, having been noticed and assisted 
by his uncle at Guzzelhissar; and as soon as he had amassed 
a sufficient fortune, he determined to settle in his native place. 
This he did, and became a man of consequence and considera- 
tion there. From his youth he had ever been a rigid observer 
of his faith, and as he advanced in years he increased in repu- 
tation for sanctity and severity of discipline. At the time of 
our history he was esteemed one of the strictest Mussulmans 
of Kars. 

The mysterious part of Zabetta^s history was that which 
related to Ayesha. Neither she nor her husWnd could claim 
her as their daughter, although they had brought her up as 
such from an infant. As she grew up, her mind and person 
expanded to a degree of perfection so superior to the natives 
of the Levant in general, that she became an object of surprise 
and of admiration to all who knew her. Her person was a 
model of perfect symmetry, full of grace in every movement, 
for she never gave way to that slouching gait which so fre- 
quently indicates the indolent Asiatic. Her face was full of 
the best expression, beaming with benevolence, and softened 
by a veil of such modesty, that even the rudest of the Maho- 
medan tribe could not approach her without a feeling of respect. 
We have already spoken of her beauty, which would have been 
but a secondary consideration to the perfections of her mind, 
were it not of that uncommon kind which made it remarkable 
as a special caprice or interference of Nature in her favour. 
The beauty of a Turkish woman when discovered peeping from 
behind the veil with which it is usually covered, cannot fail to 
strike the beholder, who sees it by chance or by stealth, as 
something infinitely greater than perhaps it really is: but Ayesha 
would have been considered a first-rate beauty either behind a 
veil, or in the fullest exposure in any country in the world; and 
when she first was seen by Osmond, she appeared fairer than 
anything he had ever beheld, perhaps, in Europe or in Asia. 

Suleiman Aga, whose nature was kind in the main, al- 
though his bigotry was of the fiercest order, adored his adopted 
daughter, and caused her to be taught everything that belonged 
to her station. The accomplishments of Turkish women are 
summed up in a very short list. If they can read and write, 



AYESHA. 47 

they are esteemed as prodigies. Music and dancing being 
looked upon as the province of professional performers, who 
are synonymous with people of loose character, the children 
of respectable parents are not taught these arts , although by 
way of amusement many sing and play on the tambourine. 
They spin and embroider; are instructed in forms of speech 
and politeness; are taught to say their prayers, and read the 
koran ; but every accomplishment soon falls a victim to the 
idleness and indolence incidental to their mode of life ; for 
scarcely any other method of passing away time is known 
except gossiping with a neighbouring harem, going to the hot 
bath, smoking, and taking a walk to the burying-grounds. 
Ayesha soon overcame the difficulties of writing, and she ri^ 
vailed the first MoUahs in the niceties of their art. She read 
loo with facility every different sort of character, from the 
crabbed Skekesteh to the clear Nustalik; and, after she had 
duly digested her koran, the history of the Prophet, his sayings, 
and every subject relating to her faith, she read poetry and 
history in a manner that astonished every one. After this it 
will not be thought extraordinary that old Caterina should have 
been surprised at Osmond^s ignorance of the fame of Suleiman 
Aga's daughter. 

Her reputed father had himself taken great pains to make 
her a faithful disciple of Islam, and although he was frequently 
at a loss how to answer her inquiries, and to satisfy her doubts 
concerning those points in the Mahomedan faith which can 
never stand before right reason, still he had succeeded in bring- 
ing her to observe all the fonns of his religion, its ablutions, 
and its stated hours of prayer, with scrupulous precision. 

On the other hand, her mother, who, as she grew older, 
would often revert to her conversion to Mahomedanism with 
shame and confusion, and who was acquainted with the rudi- 
ments of her own faith sufficiently to enable her to make them 
a subject of thought, would frequently give vent to her feelings 
on that subject to her supposed daughter, and instil into her 
mind all that she knew concerning the Christian reUgion. She 
secretly wished that the child might be saved through the in- 
tercession of Jesui;, rather than trust to the promises of hap- 
piness made by Mahomet; and so much did she dwell upon this 
in her conversations with Ayesha, that the poor maiden's mind 



4R AYESHA. 

at length became bewildered, and in fact she was left without 
any fixed principle ; for, whilst she performed the genuflections 
of the Mahomedans, she would frequently address herself men- 
tally to the Virgin and the Saints. Her hatred to unbelievers, 
prescribed by the Koran, would often be checked by the re- 
flections raised by what she heard from her mother; and when 
she was told that it was lawful to kill those who disclaimed 
her Prophet, her own benevolent nature, aided by her good 
sense, would tell her that such could not be the intention of an 
all-wise Creator. 

Zabetta's character had been truly defined by the old Ca- 
terina — she might be called a misfortune. Her liveliness, and 
the spirit of intrigue common to her nation, shone conspicuous 
in her actions; the dullness and sameness of the existence which 
she led as a Mahomedan's wife had produced so much impa- 
tience and irritability in her whole being, that she became the 
torment of those around her — her violence was uncontrollable. 
From abhorring her mode of life, she was soon led to detest 
her husband, and to abominate his sect; and so much discon- 
tent pervaded every thought and feeling of her mind, that she 
did nothing but resolve schemes for emancipating herself from 
her present miseries. At one time she determined upon leav- 
ing her husband and returning to her own faith and country, 
but then she was stopped by fe^r of the awful consequences of 
such a step. At another, she would insist upon Suleiman Aga's 
quitting the exile of Kars, in order to seek the pleasures of 
Stamboul ; but this he always strenuously resisted. She had 
no one to whom she could open her mind except Ayesha, who, 
far from encouraging her views, endeavoured only to soften 
her irritability and to make her contented with her lot. It will 
not then be thought extraordinary that she should have joy- 
fully seized the opportunity of becoming aquainted with Stasso, 
and of entering into the conversation with him which we have 
already repeated. 

Upon hearing of Osmond, and finding him so near a neigh- 
bour, an undefined hope of being able, through his agency, to 
leave her present miseries and return once again to the joys of 
a life of pleasure, rose in her breast. Sho had in her early 
youth known and lived among Europeans : — his presence 
awoke all her recollections of tho^ days, so much happier than 



ATESHA. 4d 

the present; and as fast as she allowed her imagination to de- 
vise modes of future enjoyment, so fast did she lose sight of the 
danger likely to threaten her were her scheme ever to be put 
into execution. 

She was fully sensible of the extent of Ayesha's beauty, and 
upon its power she laid the principal foundation of her hopes. 
Could she but lead on the young Englishman to fall in love 
with her daughter, she conceived that, with the help of his 
servant Stasso, whose heart she easily saw might become her 
own, herevasion from Kars, its hbrrors, andher husband, might 
easily be effected; and to the furtherance of that object she now 
determined to bend every effort. 

When'Zabetta had quitted Stasso after their conversation on 
the terrace, she retreated to the harem, her imagination all alive 
upon the views to which that conversation had given rise. 
Her apartment was a large handsome room, fitted up on three 
sides with ranges of low ottomans, biicked by silken cushions, 
the windows of which looked upon a small garden filled with 
flowers, and also enjoyed an extensive view over the adjacent 
plain and its surrounding mountains. The severity of the 
winter had now passed away, and had given place to the 
softness of the opening spring. The shades of the evening were 
succeeded by the soothing influence of a full moon, which shed 
its sober light over every object far and wide, and gleamed 
into the room through the open casements. 

Zabetta found Ayesha seated in a corner of the apartment, 
in a musing attitude; her cheek resting upon her hand, whilst 
her eyes wandered over the expanse before her. Her thoughts, 
however, were occupied with the occurrence of the morning, 
and sensations to which she had hitherto been a stranger filled 
her breast. Since her first meeting with Osmond, whom she 
had then taken for one of her own countrymen, she had never 
ceased to dwell in idea upon his expressive countenance, his 
commanding person, and, more than all, upon the courtesy 
and deference of his manner : a proceeding so totally different 
from that of Turks in general to one of her sex, that she could 
not help drawing a comparison very much in his favour. Still, 
whenever she caught her thoughts stealing towards the con- 
templation of his superior excellence, she would check them ; 

4 



60 AYESHA 

for her iniiate modesty would remmd her that they were enemiei 
to n maiden'^ purity, and her good sense would tell her that 
k was folly to waste her time upon th^ recollection of one whom 
she might never see again. But the event of the mornii^ had 
QiHBpletely destroyed all her equanimity, and, passing fbom 
that qaiet of mind which, had hitherto marked the even tenor 
of her life, she found herself all at once entangled in a labyrinth 
of conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she had been taught 
that it was a crime to hold intercourse with unbelievers, and 
she knew that Osmond viras a Christian; moreover, she bad 
been brought up in the idea that no Mahomedan woman eoidd 
ever show her face to a man. On the other hand, from he? 
mother's counteracting interference, particularly in 'favour of 
Christians, many of the prejudices which are so strong with 
Turkish women in general, had been much softened, and die 
felt herself allowed to look upon Osmond with a more favour- 
able eye than she othe^jwise would have done. Besides, she 
had to contend with that propensity to romance which lurks at 
the bottom of every maiden's heart, and which softens bet 
feeHngs towards every thing in the shape of man, particularly 
towards one, whatever might be his faith, having beauty and 
amiability to recommend him. From what she bad already 
seen of Osmond, a net of such close texture had been worked 
round her heart, that it was enslaved ere she knew how. 

When Zabetta entered the room, Ayesha's mind was absorbed 
in the minutest investigation of everything which had taken 
place at her first interview with Osmond in the street ; and 
then at the second on the terrace. She had begun to persuade 
herself that kismet^ or fate, that expounder of every Mahome- 
dan's difficulty, had much to do with both these eve^t^^;. and 
having nearly settled that point to her satisfaction, she was far 
gone in the speculation whether that same kismet would again 
operate in her favour, and procure her a third interview. 

'' Ayesha my lamb,," said her mother, in a softened and cheer- 
ing tone of voice, do you know what has happened P I, too, 
have seen one of the strangers who lives with Bogos the 
dyer. Is it not most extraordinary P There must be scime- 
thing ift it.'' 

^' It is strange," answered the maiden, colouring at the same 



<i«a^. ^ W'e kt*^ tati^lit ibat it is a cringe lo talk tb h^k^tic^ ; 
but what can oppose dtei^titiy? Was it thl^ tibk strangelrP'^ sb^ 
lli^r^ in a ti^muloud voiee. 

** rNbj ■' isaid Zabetta, " it wais bis scrvafit : and do yon ktiow 
he is one of my own country mtki; he is a 6re)^k, and a kah 
p&Mt^ai good youth. Ofa what did I nbt feel when I spoke to 
fnih iii my otm tongue t ihy heart beat at my breast as if I had 
lieiird the soiind of my brother's tor ihy father's voice calling to 
toe frotn Tino. But what can we do ? Here we are in this 
odious place, living day after day and year after year, like owls 
\n. a deserted tower, unseen and unknown, except by a few faces 
that are grown as common and as familiar to us as chains arte to 
A |]risoher. Aijtxnum^ Stamboul — oh my soul, Coiistantinople !" 
shfe exclaimed with fervour: " could we but once gfet there, then 
Zabetta woiild have nothing more to wish for." * 

** Allah kethn — God is great!*' exclaimed Ayesha, with a 
profound sigh : '* oh, mothfer, let us be resigned to whatever it 
may please Allah to dispense to his unworthy creatures." 

'^Altuh kerim is all verywdl,*'*said Zabetta wilh impatience, 
** but in the meanwhile here we are at Kars. We must leave 
it, hapipen what will. I will no longer be a captive — 1 will no 
more waste hiy life in this odious bondage." 

Ayeisha became alarttied at th^ violent, impassioned manner 
with which Zabetta uttered these U'Ords, add iii the most 
sootliing tone said, "Tiines wilt alter — nothing is stable in this 
\\{% : see, the Winter is gone and spring is come— God directs all 
for the best. I am yiomng, and ought not to offer advice ; but let 
ine intfed.t ktty mother to have patience, and, as we may hope 
frii* Bielrsing, let us Wait with resignation the decrees of un- 
changeable destiny." 

*' AyeihaP' exclaimed her mother, making an effort to sup- 
press the violence of her feeling, " did you speak to the EngUsh* 
tliaii iO-day when'^ou saw hiA upon the ftferrace?*' 

•^^^ifeaven forbidj" S^id she; '^spfeafe? n6 : if sd^v^ him for a 
fnotrietlt^but Sp^k ti) hitn? h'ol ; Am rfa6t.a ihiiden'of Islam'^ 
Ai'^w^ni^ta^^ttoShnntefefitk^?'"^^ ' '' ^i lo. 



52 AYE8HA. 

creatures too — they cannot all be wrong. There can Jlie no sin 
in conversing with our fellow-creatures." 

'' Ahir exclaimed Ayesha, after a pause, '' oiie should think 
that what you say is true; but my father insists otherwise, and 
he has the Prophet on his side." 

^^ Let us leave the Prophet to himself awhile," said Zabetta, 
with a peevish voice and in evident agitation; '' let me tell you 
one thing, Ayesha, which you have never yet been told — you 
were not born a child of Islam — you have more to do with 
Franks than you can suppose." 

'' How P" said Ayesha, with the greatest earnestness, and 
apparently roused from her resigned and passive state, " as 
you love your child, as you cherish your faith, tell me more 
— I know nothing about myself. Am I not your child P — have 
I not a father P — tell me how I am then related to Franks 1" 

Zabetta felt that she had struck upon the right chord, in thus 
attempting to draw the maiden's mind from her devotedness 
to her Mahomedan duties. Who she really was, was a pro- 
found secret only known to herself, and partially to Suleiman 
Aga, and she had never said so much on that head before to 
Ayesha; but she felt it necessary, in order to create a great in- 
terest in her heart towards Christians, to make this disclosure. 
'' The time is not yet come, my daughter," she said, '^ when I 
can explain to you all that fate has ordained— you are young 
— there is a time for all things; — but be this known to you, 
that you must not look upon Franks with the eye of hatred, 
but, on the contrary, open the heart of friendship to them — 
they are your brothers. As your mother I tell ygu tliis-— as a 
Mahomedan's wife I order you to keep.it secret^ — it is a secret 
of the greatest importance to us both. If you can speak tpt the 
EngUshman our neighbour, do so with caution, but without 
fear." 

Ayesha at these words hecam.^ mute with a^nishmj^nt ; ^\}£h 
a permission, although it infused a secret and subtle pJ^easure 
throughout her whol^ frame, affected herin the same manoer as 
the prescription of a new physic^n,.aat^^up(Hi,/^^ 4^^^ 
paticK^ who.f|;a.f| Qver^^eatau^^^ wpoft f/lm a?t:P«^o- 

hibjtedi and is all at oiice allowed io,,driAk it She distrusted 

U,n^ «,/»^iL-,_V. __lt J- :J _j.*11 -1 ^1': .1 _ .il __*^1_ A. 




AYBSHA. 53 

in her ears, the^kfekywledge of having been bom one herself, 
perhaps of having ^^£uropean blood in her veins, acted as an 
antidote does to poison. It was plain that, had Osmond at 
that moment stood before her, she would neither have hid her 
faeelrbm hi'm, nor refused to speak to him. 

But, instead of Osmond, the silken curtain over the door was 
thrown up, and in walked Suleiman Aga in person. He was 
a grave and dignified Turk, of noble appearance, clothed in 
long robes furnished with light furs adapted to the season, and 
wearing on his head a caouk, that is, a stiff cloth cap, around 
i9^ieh was wound a band of white muslin. At the sight of his 
wife his features assumed an appearance of humility : he had 
expected only to see Ayesha, and had come with an open and 
unreserved face and manner, but so afraid was he of exciting 
Zabetta's violence, that whenever she appeared he adopted 
the leafst oflensive and most submissive attitude. Turks in ge- 
neral esteem quiet as the greatest ofblessings — they hate noise: 
• — a seat in the comer of their couch, listening to the plashing 
of the never-ceasing fountain,* smoking their soothing chibouk 
and watching the smoke which they emit into the air until it 
dissolves into nothing, or Ustening to the conversation of a 
friend which may afford some little excitement, is the sWt of' 
recreation they most relish ; and to obtain this they wiM sliow 
powers of endurance to be surpassed by no stoic. Once put 
them in a fury, they instantly go to extremes — they kill or are 
killed; to cut a matter short, they order execution right or 
wrong, and then return to their fountain, as if nothing had 
happened. 

When Zabetta saw her husband enter, the humility of his 
aspect, instead of softening her feelings towards him, imme- 
diately impelled her to place herself in an attitude of open hos- 
tility; her brow lowered, her eye became fixed, her head 
swerved neither to the right nor the left; the recollection of 
every evil, real or imaginary, which she suffered at his hands, 
arose uncontrolled in her breast v whatever she might have 
been the moment before he entered, all at once it occurred 
to ber that she now was an injured woman; she felt that all 
her griefs were owing to her husband alone — that he had been 
unjust in loving her — in seducing her to marry him — in drag- 
ging her from her own country — in. becoming rich — in settling. 



54 AYEI^., 

bimsdf io his native city. ThM wa$. ^er ys^^l c/^dp^ W^iir 
ever th^ unfortunate Suji^imaQ hsyp^pened t^^r?(^l^h0 p^tll^f 
the ^ost susceptible Zabetta. 

"• What do you want ?" said she to ]^, i^ SQop a^ 1^, hftA 
taken his seat quietly before her Of^ tl^ ot^i^a^ ; ^-^l^^iBJif^' 
we least desire youi: company, you are SHre; la a^pf/w?." . / 

" I came tp see Ayesha," aoESwere^i Siwlft^ip^ ^ithi gi^eAt: 
deference ; '' bad I known you \yere here, { ^ould, Ip^e^tay^ 
away, since you abhor my presence.*' 

'' That is so like you T e$&claimed Im wM<Pl9 ni ^ bjuHt^ 
rage ; '* you will go any distance to see Aye^!^ but wJ^ve^iH: 
I am, you shun me — yo^ love any thing but ypur wife.'* 

" You said you did not wisl^ to see me,'* said I^^leim94ptr sliK 
in a softer tone ; " what can. I do|?" 

'' I did — and do,** said his wife ; '* but what has, thai lo.dp^ 
with your iiieglect of me ? Am I not the worst-used wop^ian iiii 
Kars ? — In Kars,^ did I say? — in all Turkey?" 

'' I. am always readyy Zabetta," answered the husband, *^ ta 
act as you desire. Is there anything ia i^casoA which ypunen 
qqiife which I do ^,ot immediately grant ?" 

" Tqhat is gpod ! that is true indeed I Allah, AUahl," sai4!?;af 
betta, '' do not I ask you to take me from this^ horrid pl^e tO: 
which you have brought me — where I am^ shut up like a ^ild 
beast m a cage — ^where I see nothing but Kurds, devil- woi?-? 
shippers^ and savages, and do you noi refuse me ? Answer t^ 
that, O man!" 

" Light of my eyes!'' replied the impassive Sulei^sm, " h^w 
can we leave this place without ruining ourselves ? All I have 
is here. You would have me go to Constantinople,^ wl^^a I 
know no one ; here I am known and respected." 

" You, you! all is for yoM," said his wife,," wd notlni]ig foff 
me. Ma9hallah!-^f raise be to Allah! you are tp; be thought 
of before everything; that long beard of yours must l^e wocr, 
shipped and adored, whilst I am left in a corner li^ea,pa|ro^ 
old slippers! Go, go, I spit upon such a beard." 

"You are unjust, Zabetta," said SuleinKan; " I say ag^ifi|, 
is there any thing in reason that you require whi^lileyer rcr. 
fuse ? Whatever clothes, whatever food, whatever servants, 
whatever amusements ypu wish foj:, do I not g?ve yp^ ? Afjti^r 
fiU, there is such a thing as justice in < tibe wpHd* *' 



** NoHaeitt o ■ Hvi — filth-^-all you say iA such," exekimed 
the angry woman. " Was it for this that I forsook my eoun* 
try^ my ftkiftds, Biy fiiith, my all, and then am to be told 
thai fike a child I may dress myself in fine clothes, that I may 
eat flwecltmeats to keep me from crying, or may walk in the 
burying-gronnd^ and sit upon a tombstone by way of cheering 
my spirijts P You are an ass, you are a fool. I was not born 
a Greek woman for nothing ; I know the difference between 
black and white.*' 

Upon hearing these odious epithets, the colour of the pa- 
tient man rose a little in his cheeks, there was a slight disten- 
sion of his beard and mustaches, and there broke out a slender 
wrinkle on his brow, but still he remained passive. " You say 
a great deal too much," said he;>'ifl had beaten you, you 
could not complain more." 

" Beaten me, indeed! beaten me, do you say?" roared out 
the now furious Zabetta,^' I should like to see that ! Are you 
become mad ? Will you beat me? Am I to be treated as your 
slave? You wretch-^you vBe Osmanli^ I will sbow you that I 
am a Greek woman. Go, I abhor yoti, I detest you. There, 
take Ihat," upon which she pulled off both her slippers, and, 
one after the other, threw them with all her strength at her 
husband. She thenmghed out of the room, slamming the 
doors behind her, and knocking andbettting dbout everything 
wbfefa came in her way, her passage through the house being 
traced by the starmp of her leet, which at length wa» heard on 
the termce overiiefid; 

Oneillpper bad hit Sulehfia^i on the face, the other on the 
hfiad,-*-^6tili he saird nothing ^ile took them up from the otto- 
man whet*e Ihey )»ad fallen, laid them quietly on the floor, and 
tbett tailing to Ayesha, wlio was suffering the deepest angdish 
at beholding this scene, s^id with a sigh, as he slowly shook 
his head, ** Chok chay — that is much," and then mumbled 
wiihitt Im breath his profession of &itb, " There is but one 
Allah and Mahomed is bis prophet." 

Ayesha rose from her seat, and with the tenderest expres- 
sion of interest in her face, approached her father, and said, 
^* Be not afngry, O my father! —my poor mother is sick in her 
mind; forgrve her, as you love Allah, forgive her." 

** ft id nothing^ " ^d Suleiman, calmly ; " be you but well 



56 AYESUA. 

and happy, Ayesha, and all will be weH : God is great — God 
is merciful!'' 

Ayesha said nothing more, but sat ia silence near the op- 
pressed man, who had before but too frequently been obliged 
to stifle his feelings at these e^i^Utions of his wife's ill temper; 
and as she drew off his mind to other subjects, be gradually 
resumed his usual calm deportment, and with the help of his 
Qcver-failing pipe and hi^ resignation to kismet y was soon re- 
stored to that torpid and indolent state which it waa his ambi.-. 
tipn Biever to, lose.^ 



CHAPTER Vt 



stand, and deceive me not ! Oh, noble young mtm, 
1 love t)l|ee with my soal, but dare not say it! 

Beaumont and Flbtchei^ 



. The account which Stasso gave to Lord Osmond of his in-, 
terview with Zabetta, had excited alibis curiosity. There was^ 
something so strange ip the circumstance of a Mahomedan. 
woman taking so much apparent interest in an infidel and a 
Frank, about whom it appeared to him impossible she could 
know anything, that he became quite uneasy until he had 
cleared up the mystery. But what most struck him was her 
anxiety to know whether he had seen her daughter. He could 
scarcely believe his servant as he dwelt much upon this part 
of the conversation; the length of time which had elapsed since 
Zabetta had been at Athens, made it quite improbable that they 
could have met, or that any part of his conduct there could di- 
rectly or indirectly have any influence upon her or her daugh^ 
ter at Kars^ There was evidently a mystery, of the existence 
of which Stasso was also convinced ; ^^Ekhi kateti^ Effendil 
— there is something, my master — there is something," re- 
peatedly exclaimed Stasso, as he talked the matter over. 
"Ypu must discover more this evening, " said Qisniond; 



AYE8HA. W 

'' ask the mother what she means, whether I can do anything 
for mther her or her daughter." 

^< What do you say, Effendi P she is as cunniiig as a fox, 
the she-devil i She will say nothing but what she pleases; but^ 
in truth, there is somethmg, of that I am certain/' 

Stasso concluded every phrase upon the siibject of his in- 
terview with Zabetta, with the words ^^ there is something,^' 
accompanied by a shake of the head; and he promised to him- 
self in succeeding (x>nversations to do his best to discover what 
that '' something" might be. His master ascended the terrace 
with less difiBiculty thau he had done oa the preceding day, and 
sat there until the dews of the evening drove him below, but 
he was not fortunate enough to obtain a glimpse of Ayesha. 
Upon his return to his chamber he waited with impatience for 
his servant, in order that he might be informed of anything 
new which he might have discovered, but all he could learn 
was a repetition of what he had before heard, and nothing 
which could throw Ught upon the real history of the maiden. 

Zabetta had evidently been exerting herself to make Stasso 
her admirer, but not a word more did she say touching her 
own history. The only difference between this interview and 
ihe last was, that she brought her daughter with her, who did 
not open her lips, but remained closely veiled whilst it lasted. 

This circumstance set Osmond's imagination on fire ; he 
saw that he too might have the pleasure of her conversation 
if his health permitted it, and he was delighted to find, upon 
waking the next morning, how much the swelling in his knee- 
had abated, and how essentially better he felt. He then dis- 
missed the old Caterina, to whom iie behaved with a libera- 
lity which brought forth all her gratitude; and sent for 
Mustafa, in order that they might devise plans for leaving Kars« 
To his surprise, instead of finding that worthy all impatience 
to depart, he found him iuU of Bakalum — we shall see ! 
Jnshadlah — if it pleases God, and all^ those little procrasti- 
nating phrases behind which a Turk is sure to entrench himself 
when he wishes to remain in statu quo. The fact is, that one 
glimpse which the too susceptible Mustafa had enjoyed of 
Ayesha's unrivalled beauty, had so enthralled his heart, that, 
emitting even to cast a thought upon a certain existing wife 
4nd small family whom he had left behind at Constantinople, 



5S AYE8HA. 

« 

he had in his idleness fairly set about inquiring bow he n^hl 
secure to himself, as a second helpmate through life, this pr#^ 
cious gem, and had p^^uaded himself into an assurance, that 
a Tatar Aga, residing at the Fortunate Gate of Royal Splen-e 
dour, the confidential messenger of an ambassadorof StambouU 
the owner of a eomibrtable monthly stipend, and one much res- 
pected at post-houses, TVas quite a personage of suitable respec- 
tability to solicit ip marriage the daughter of an Ayan of Ka?s. 
He had in consequence, as a preUminary to further operations, 
fnrbidied up his weather-beaten face by freqpient attendance at 
the hot-bath. Vainly did he ponder overthe scanty allowatiee 
of mustadie which Nature had doled out to him, and every me- 
thod which be devised of increasing the store seemed to baffle^ 
his ingenuity. If he dyed his few hairs black, he found that, 
like radishes on a miser's boi^rd, they became individuated, and 
were easily counted *, if he abandoned them to their original 
sandy^coloured insignificancy, his face could scarcely ass^ 
the man, and he was left that most despised of all features m 
a Turk's estimation, a sakal-tniz-r- a no-beard. Then he was. 
short of stature, Imt that could not be helped; he was also thm, 
but then he found, by heaping on more garments to h« origin- 
nai stock, he might increase in size to any extent he chose. Ac^ 
cordingly, he bought a new furred jacket^ duly trimmed a»d 
braided ; he spread out the circumference of bis sbalwarg^ or 
trowsers,to such a size, that his small legs lay Iddden withift 
their* folds in somewhat the same proportions that a pitchfork 
has'tb^a haystack, wfaSst their bulk ahnost prevented bimfiHHB 
walking, A small muslin embroidered handkerchief, \(4ich he 
threw over his shoulder, and an amber-headed pipe in his handy 
made him up all together, so he flattered himself, a person oi 
irresistible attraction to the object of his wishes. 

Thus equipped, his pistofes protruding from his girdle, and 
his steps measured with mo<re tiban usual dignity, he betook' 
himself to promenading near the house of Suleiman Aga, 
hoping that his beautiful daughter might, as she gazed thrcmgh 
her latticed window, be smitten with his appearance ; or that, 
if she issued forth to walk, he might meet her and attract her 
notice. Alas i he laboured in vain ; he spread his plumage to 
|io purpose ; he might as well have bought neither jadbet nor 
trowsers ; nobody came, no one looked from the lattice. A| 



AYB6HA. bf^ 

If^f^ftl^ he bet^isbt himself of enU^Uqg the old Caterina in his 
stfifvicfb f<E)? \^ k^w t^isuch M^tfk were often done, thut 
nf^a^ri^j^s w#i:e often bfOfugbl ^Iboui by intervening oldwop^e^, 
and he knew that this aged individual was a constant inmate 
ipj ^ulein^n Agafs hai^em. 

Ti^, fi^iUt tiooe she appeared at t]p,e dyer's, he occo&Mi hec 
wHh V^ov^ Q^ri/^y tjkan l^e had doae on the, 1^ occasion wh^' 
hQ bad ifieen bor as an operaloi? on his mast^rV knee, and. 
s^iitd to her^ " JS^n^ kak ai gmzunf, !—\^ok at me,, oh iny'ey^! 
©4?| / — ^ow?! hMher* I have words to say to you 1" 

The cro^^ cheered at beujig thi]|S addressed by a tn^e be- 
lievev, lenA a willing, ear t0i his invitation, and she squatted her^ 
self down before him. '^ What may there be at your service?" 
s,aid sbe. 

*^ Yon are a persoA of senses'' said he, ^^ jm understand at. 
a word. That daughter of ^uleiman Aga,, whom ^0 saw the. 
other day on the terraoe, is noi indiffer^t pi^rson ; — do yau^ 

understand m^ ?" 

^* Yes, yes," said the old Cateri^a, with a dogged sort of. 
iicidf, '^ I understand ; thare is 9ot sach anotber (bi^gintb^ 
world— What of her ?" 

'^ Whatof be^r said Mustafa in suirprise, '^do not ypu, 
understand me? I tbought ymi were? k^ fM I Wbe,q a pa^. 
inquires after a maiden, what thought can he have but of mar'^ 
riage ?" 

M Po yw want Ayesha in marrJiagci ?" ei^^aingtad the M, 
woman, in a tone of the gcaatest sunpi^ise,, a^^ if Mastapba ba4 
propoi^d to herself: — ** ^y, va^ /—^lopk ! ^ee I wher^ ar^,» 
yon, and where is Ajiesba ? Are you mad ?" Vfm wbiabr 
she burst out into a fit of laugbleir, which put the poo^r Tatai^ 
into a straii^e embarrassment. 

'' You ai'e mads" said Mustafa. '^ A girl* a^er a)J, iS' n^htng^^ 
but a§^rl; and when she acquires a husband, wbat. qaUf shet 
want mc^re? I am a man — I ama-X^i^^ Aga — find; suob aAOn 
tb^r in ^ars!. If you are an ass, I have nothing to say to you ;^j 
if you are apt, speak to Suleimaa Aga and hjis daiigh^er hi^ 
ma^ and M; me hear what they will; answev. I bave moneyi. 
Masballah I and want for nothing." 

^' Suleiman Aga, do you say ?" said Caterina : *' wbeire bav% 
^.livad, when; you. cpuiMi Su^imaa Aga appong mm ? 9o»/i 



60 AYESHA. 

der ! — he is nothing ! his wife, the khanAm Zabetta, if you 
please ! but deh I she looks for a Pasha at least for her daugh- 
ter, if not for a Vizir, or a Capudan Pasha. What are you 
thinking of, O man ?" 

Mustafa pulled up his mustache, applied his hand to his 
chin, looked foolish, looked grand, humble, and indignant by 
turns, and broke up his conference with the old woman with- 
out saying a word more than " Bakalum /—we shall see I" 
But still, as he walked away from her, he did not relinquish his 
hope of making himself agreeable to the maiden, and treasured 
up in his mind the knowledge which he had acquired of her 
transcendant beauty, which cheered his thoughts through the 
progress of each intervening pipe. 

Osmond, finding that he was increasing rapidly in health, 
began seriously to turn his thoughts towards the prosecution 
of his journey ; but still he felt himself, as it were, spell- 
bound by the neighbourhood of the beautiftil Ayesha, and he 
determined to gratify his ardent curiosity to know something 
more of her history, by getting, if possible, acquainted with 
her. On that very night he resolved to accompany Stasso to 
the terrace, in the hope that she would again make her ap- 
pearance with her mother ; and moreover, he took every pre- 
caution that this step should be kept secret, both from Mus- 
tafa, and the inmates of the house. 

Accordingly, as soon as the last cries of the muezzins from 
the minarets, calling the faithful to prayers, had died away 
upon the ear, Stasso, preceding his master, first set foot on 
the terrace, and to his joy perceived that Zabetta and Ayesha 
were at their post. Upon this he made a sign to Lord Os- 
mond, who immediately joined him. 

Ayesha had evidently not been prepared for this encounter ; 
and when she saw Osmond appear, she shrank behind her 
mother, covering herself with her veil, and feeling at his ap- 
proach an emotion which those who have been assailed by the 
tender passion for the first time, can alone define. But she 
was perplexed how to act. Her Mahomedan education would 
have taught her to fly from the presence of an infidel, whilst 
the presence of her mother seemed to procure for her every 
protection that she could require. 

Osmond received from Zabetta every encouragement which 



AYESHA. 61 

flattery and a gracious manner could afford. She laid aside 
the haughty demeanour of a Mahoraedan, and became at once 
the fawning and cringing Greek. Renegades, be had always 
heard, were infinitely more intolerant and intemperate in their 
religious zeal than original Mussulmans, but here he found the 
contrary; everything he heard from Zabetta tended to show 
how discontented she was in her present situation, and how 
Qiuch she despised those by whom she was surrounded. 

^' See,^ said she, '' what a miserable destiny is mine, to have 
been thrown among such a people, and to be an inhabitant of 
so ill-conditioned a place as this I You, Effendi, who have seen 
Constantinople and the world, you will have pity upon us 
poor castaways, who are cooped up here in hopeless exile ;^* 
and then she added, as if in joke, although meant in earnest, 
"Will you not take us with you?" 

Osmond was by her manner and language forcibly im- 
pressed with the idea that she was acting a part, and that she 
had some latent design upon him. There was evidently, some 
mystery attached to her, and he felt that it was principally 
connected with the history of her supposed daughter. He 
answered Zabetta with great frankness and courtesy, and whilst 
he encours^ed her confidence, he endeavoured to draw from 
her such an account of herself as might clear up what he 
wished to ascertain , concerning Ayesha. But she studiously 
kept from him such parts of her history as were connected 
with that of the maiden, although she evidently said and did 
everything which might create in his breast an interest in her 
favour. 

Ayesha, in the meanwhile, had been so struck by the voice, 
the manner, and the refinement of Osmond, so unlike to any- 
thing which she had met with amongst her own countrymen, 
that her eyes were riveted on his face as he spoke, and her 
ears open to catch with avidity the words he uttered. Some 
men have more than others the power of engendering confi- 
dence in the breast of woman, and of these Osmond was one. 
He listened with deference to what Zabetta said; he appeared 
to take interest in her words, and the answers he gave had 
reference only to her £eelings, and not to his own. His quick- 
ness of .observation soon enabled him to judge what might be 



«2 AYESltA. 

passing in Ayesha's mind as he atMressed her mother, and^ 
fearful of alarming her timidity by too abk*uptly addressinj^ heft^ 
he did not allow himself to speak to her until he pen^eived ths^ 
he had made some progress in breaking down hier Mafaomedam. 
prejudices. He could not prevent hiknself from occasionaHjr 
casting a glance upon her beautiful countenance, and sfa^ 
seemed grateful for this tacit respect to her situation. At:: 
length, when, in answer to Zabetta's repeated wish of accom- 
panying him to Constantinople, he said, "Would that it wer^^ 
possible for me to put such a scheme into execution! hoMP^ 
happy should I be could I but rescue so much beauty and wort 
from neglect, and exhibit them to my own nation!" * Ayesh 
smiled and shook her head sorrowfully: upon which, Osmond 
venturing to speak to her, said with great intertest in hif 
manner, " But I fear that our destinies have been cast in 
4iifferent mould!" 

*^ Allah fc?7ir-— God alone knows!" said Ayesha, with a 
averted head and a suppressed sigh. 

These words caused a thrill to run through the very bein 
of Osmond ; he had never before heard so bewitching a voice=-^i 
whose tones implied so much feeling. 

"Could those destinies be changed,'' said Osmond, "ancir'T 
would one so charming condescend to receive me as he 
friend and protector, I would bless the hour which led me i 
Kars!" 

"But not the hour," said Ayesha, "which led t6 that fata.^ 
accid^nt.^^ 

"What do you say?" exclaimed Osmond; "that acciden'4 
has been my only joy; without it I should never have iseen you ^ 
without it I should nc^^er have imagined that you couH tak^ 
any interest in my fate. The recollection of that one moment: 
has imprinted your image in my mind for ever." 

" What do you say ?" said Ayesha, her breast heatvin^ tvitl*^ 
eonfusion, whilst crimson blushes overspread her cheeks, at 
the sftme time partially drawing her veil across hfer face i 
^* I Surely tan never be of so much value to you as you secnn^ ^ 
to think. Yon do not, cannot know raei" ' ^ 

" Of no value to me," said Osme^d, '* wIto hav0 never btrfOr^ •€ 

seen anything like ydu I What do you say ? niy fittriglkiation^ ^ 

Qiii 



ATBSHA. 0S 

liiui BBVkt been able to oonceive such excellenee 1 No, I do 
not, and cannot know you, you say true ; my weak mind will 
sever be able to appreciate your worth." 

*' Sir, desist/' said Ayesha ; '' I am a poor weak girl, and 
am Hot accustomed to hear such flattering words. We have 
not been bred in cities, and we are the children of sincerity^ 
Besides,^' she slowly said with a deep^rawn sigh, ^< it is im- 
proper for me to speak to you — I am a child of Islam I You 
despise our Prophet and contemn our religion/' 

Osmond could have caught her in his arms as she uttered these 
words, there was such thorough humility in her whole manner. 
Far from that arrogance of the Mahomedan^ who holds the 
Christian in contempt, she, on the contrary, seemed to esteem 
herself as nothing, and tacitly to imply her inferiority before 
one whom she felt so much her superior. 

'^Heaven forbid," said he with animation, 'Hhat I should 
despise any one, or that I should ever venture to contenm a 
thing so sacred as religion 1 Are we not all creatures of one 
God P^ — Do not think so ill of me." 

'' I cannot think ill of you,'' said Ayesha; '^ but still we have 
different duties to perform, and I have been taught that it is 
sinful to talk to a giaour — an unbeliever." 

^'Ah! say not so — do not refuse to talk tome; you would 
not harm any one, every word and every look of yours telU 
me that : you cannot refuse to talk to me; you would not make 
me miserable?" 

This argument had a strong effect, for it bad never entered 
the head of Ayesha that she could ever make any one miser- 
able, and she looked up into the face of Osmond as if she 
would have said — " What am I then to do between my duty 
and my inclination P" He saw her perplexity and pressed her 
no more, but, glancing from the subject, drew her on to talk 
upon other matters, for he was anxious to ascertain what 
might be the powers of her mind upon such points as were 
likely to have made up the education of a Turkish girl. He 
was surprised and delighted to find how true were her obser^^ 
vations, what a sense she had of justice, and, notwithstanding 
the warp which she had received from her religious instruc- 
tion, how libei'al ^nd unprejudiced was the general ca^ of her 
mind. She appeared so alive to any words of instruction 



04 AYESHA. 

which casually fell from Osmond, that she questioned him oyer 
and over again, and seemed to cling to him as an oracle, as 
one "who would dissipate that mist of ignorance in which she 
seemed aware that she had hitherto lived. There was some^ 
thing so endearing' in her manner, as with great simplicity 
she asked questions relating to Europe and Europeans, that 
Osmond's interest was most sensibly awakened in the desire 
of administering to her improvement, putting aside his admira- 
tion for her unrivalled beauty ; and he would willingly have 
passed away the whole night in giving instruction to such a 
pupil, but Zabetta announced that it was time to retire. 

During the conversation of Osmond with her daughter, 
Zabetta had been taken up with Stasso, who had again en- 
deavoured to learn more particulars of her history, but to no 
purpose. She betrayed much alarm when she heard that pre- 
parations were making for his master's departure, for that 
event would destroy the scheme which she had been planning 
for emancipating herself from her present situation; and she 
immediately began to revolve in her mind how she could cast 
impediments in his way. She had heard from the old Caterina 
the effect which the beauty of her daughter had produced 
upon Mustafa, and as she knew that Tatars held the issues of 
departure in their hands, from their influence at post-houses, 
she soon determined to play him off in furtherance of her 
scheme. 

Upon quitting the terrace that night, she made an appoint- 
ment for meeting on the ensuing evening, to which Osmond, 
excited as he had been by his interview with Ayesha, eagerly 
assented; and as soon as she had returned to her own apart- 
ment, she sent a message to Mustafa, that, if he would call at 
the door of Suleiman Aga's harem early in the morning, she 
would see and converse with him. 

Osmond retired from the terrace perfectly entranced by a 
feeling of love, pity, and esteem, for the enchanting person 
with whom he had conversed. He had made acquaintance 
with a character as novel as it was interesting ; he had found 
a mind capable of the most enlarged and exalted ideas, 
shackled by prejudice and enveloped in ignorance, it is true, 
but seemingly bent upon overcoming the obs^cles by which it 
was beset, and even in its present state able almost intuitively 



AYESHA. 69 

to form coticlusioiiB that would overtum all the errors and faU 
lacies which it had been taught. Osmond could not refrain 
. from deploring that so much beauty and excellence should be 
buried among infidels and barbarians ; and with that tincture 
of adventure and romance whiqh was mixed up in his cha- 
racter, he had already begun to devise some mode by which 
he might rescue Ayesha from her degradation, and, having 
rescued her, so renovate her being as to make her the orna- 
ment and the admiration of civilized life. Never were the raw 
materials of a romantic, disinterested, and devoted passion, so 
suddenly got together as upon this occasion. On both sides the 
passion, if indulged, was encompassed by dangers and difficulty. 
The maiden's faith taught her to hold a giaour in abhorrence ; 
she was threatened with every indignity, even with death, ifshe 
held intercourse with him. On the other side Osmond would 
have to encounter the ridicule of his friends, the disadvantages 
of a different religion, the danger attendant upon the enterprise, 
and, after all, the improbability of ever bringing it to a happy 
issoo. Still, every impediment only the more increased the de- 
sire; and we need not inform the gentle reader that both par- 
ties left the terrace, to use a common expression on so auspi- 
cious an occasion, over head and ears in ^ove with each other.' 

When Mustafa received, through Caterina, Zabetta's mes- 
sage to attend her call, and at the same time an intimation 
that it had reference to the object of his desires, the usual tor- 
por of his thbughts received a sudden excitement, and, al- 
though he had just filled a fresh pipe, and was enjoying the 
first whiff, he suddenly stopped, knocked the tobacco from the 
bowl, and starting upon his legs, exclaimed, *' Gidelim — let 
us gol" 

'^ Mashallah I" exclaimed Caterina, "you are all at once 
gr6wn yottUgP' 

"What say you, old one?" said Mustafa ; "grown young I 
How ttiiich younger would you have me be ?" Upon which 
he pulled his mustache up towards his eye, and, putting him- 
self into 01^ of his quickest walks, followed his conductress to 
the door of Suleiman Aga's harem. When they had arrived 
there, Zabetta soon appeared, and under pretence of having 
some commission to give to the Taitar, who Was to perform it 
I for her at Araeroukn, or Stamboul, she invited him to sit, and, 



66 AYESHA. 

crouching down opposite to each other, they began to con- 
verse. 

"You are welcome, Sir Aga," said she; "may you live 
many years!" 

" Well found," answered Mustafa. 

" Is your humour good ?" said Zabetta. 

" Good, thank Allah!" answered Mustafa. '^Yoii, what do 
you do?" 

"What can we do? we «it," said Zabetta. "What news 

h^ve you ?" 

" There is nothing," answered Mustafa. 

" There is one business, however," said Zabetta, who, hav- 
ing thus much beat about the bush, thought it high time to 
begin — " there is one business of which you are aware, of 
which the old Armenian woman has informed me, — is there- 
not?" 

" What can I say ?" said Mustafa, in some embarrassment, 
"there is — how shall it be ?" 

" How can it be, do you ask," replied the artful woman, 
" when you are about setting off immediately ? You cannot 
marry on the full gallop ; such a business requires time : you 
must delay. You are no ass, Masliallah ! and can put off 
going as long as you please." 

" My Beyzadeh — my master," said Mustafa, " is like fire 
when once he determines to set off." 

"He has not been before the Pasha yet," said Zabetta ; "he 
must go, he cannot start without that ceremony-^ that will take 
up time : y-ou must look to that, upon your head be it 1" 

" Upon my head be it!" answered Mustafa, "and, Inshallah! 
I will raise delays. But let us speak a little about your 
daughter." > , 

" Go first upon this business : put off your djeparlure — tell 
lies — say this thing and that thing — say every thing, provided 
you make the Beyzadeh stay his departure. Have you under- 
stood me ?" 

Mustafa slowly assented that he had understood : he could 
not, however, quite make out why, in the arrangement of a 
marriage, not a word on the subject should have beefu spoken, 
and why he, being one of the principal parties concerned, 
should have been treated as if he had nothing to ^9 with.it> 



AYESHA. 67 

He went off consoling himself with the ejaculation ^^Ne apa- 
lum — what can I do ? avret der — it is a woman ;** then 
shaking the lapel of his jacket, he mumbled to himself, ^* O 
save me from a woman !'* 



CHAPTER VII. 

Hablb el huey^ y dixo mu. The ox spoke, and said moo. ' 

Cejudo^ Refranes Castellanoa, 

Osmond willingly assented to the propriety of Mustafa's pro- 
posal of a visit to the Pasha, for he himself was not sorry to 
frame any excuse which might delay his departure. Accord- 
ingly, the etiquette of the visit having been settled, a horse 
handsomely caparisoned, escorted by two chokhadars (literally 
cloak-bearers), and conducted by a groom, was sent to the 
gate of the dyer's house, and Osmond was invited to proceed 
thereupon to the government house. It was a large and 
unconnected mansion, entered by a pair of folding-gates ; an 
open space or court extended itself to a considerable distance 
within, in which several fine horses were seen at their pickets, 
whilst groups of attendants and persons upon business were 
collected here and there, some seated with their never-failing 
pipes in hand, others lounging about, waiting for admission to 
the presence. f^' 

Osmond alighted at the foot of a long flight of stone steps, 
situated on the outside of the chief body of the building, at the 
summit of which were the hall of audience and the rooms of 
attendance. Below, on the ground-floor, Osmond remarked 
a small iron-grated window, through which he saw some im- 
ploring faces, and which he discovered gave light to a cell for 
prisoners. No sooner had he reached the top of the staircase 
than he was introduced into the Pasha's reception-room, fol- 
lowed closely by Mustafa and Stasso, by way of swelling the 
number of his retinue. 

In the further corner of the ottoman which surrounded the 



M AYE8HA. 

iqpartment) ha perceived a moniitaia of shawls, furs, and Ui fted 
beard, through which peered a pair of eyes and a nose. He 
oould scarcely make out what it could be, until he saw it move, 
when he ascertained that it contained a man, and that man 
the Pasha. Opposite to him sat a reverend Turk, of respect- 
able and handsome presence, who, he afterwards learned, was 
Suleiman Aga, Ayesha^s reputed father ; and lower down was 
squatted a little sour-faced man, dressed like a priest, thelman 
of an adjacent mosque. The end of the room was crowded 
v/iihchiboukchieSj or pipe-men, shoe-bearers, cloak-bearers, 
and other attendants, among whom also stood Mustafa and 
Stasso. 

As soon as Osmond had taken his seat, which he did on 
a place pointed out to him, the Pasha said, " Khosh geldin — 
you are welcome !" 

'' Khosh bulduk-^-yseW found/' answered Osmond, nothing 
abashed. 

After about a miiiute's pause, during which Suleiman Aga 
looked neither ixi the right aor left, and the priest had cast a 
scrutinising eye over Osmond^ the Pasha agaia opened his 
lips and said, " Kiefiniz ayi wie-^Is your humour good ?" 

'' GFOod/' said Osmond, with a severe gravity. 

After another long interval, the Pasha said again, '^ .Khosh 
geldin /' to which Osmond said, '^ I am your servant." 

Upon which, slowly turning up his eyes to his attendants, 
he said, " Chibouk^ cahveh getir — bring pipes and coffee,*^ 
when several long-robed, handsomely dressed men left the 
room to perform bis bidding, the whole being done without the 
least noise, and as solemnly as if the party assembled were 
met at a funeral. In a short time after, the same men rushed 
in, armed with pipes, some six feet in length, and made a direct 
charge at each of the persons present, placing the amber- 
mouthed tips in their mouths, and resting the lighted bowls on 
small round tinned platters on the carpeted floor. .Coffee was 
then served to each, by a servant of superior dress and au- 
thority, in small thin^Ie-like cups, which was duly sipped 
sinoking hot. 

When the coffee had been disposed of, the voice of the priest 
was heard in the smoke addressing the Pasha: alluding to Os- 
moild, he said, "jfiTim boo — who is that?" 



AYESHA. 09 

** This is our friend," said the Pasha, in a good-nalured 
voice; ^' this is an English Beyzadeh, or h>rd*s son. h it not 
ao?*' sb\{\ he, turning to Mustafa. 

" Yes, O Efifendi!" said Mustafa. 

" Who are you ?" said the pries|, turning round to Mustafa. 

" I am the Tatar Aga," answered Mustafa. 

^^ Hai! Hai l^ sighed the priest with a sort of recondite 
sigh, and then stroking down his face, he mumbled his profes- 
sion of faith, and finished it by ejaculating, *^ Shukiur allah J 
— praise be to God!" as if he would have said, "Thank heaven 
I am what I am T 

After another long interval, the Pasha turned to Osmond 
and inquired, " Haye you pipes in your country ? have you to- 
bacco?" 

" No," said Osmond; " like these, none; we do not gene- 
rally smoke." 

Upon which, the Pasha slowly turning himself towards 
Suleiman Aga, dropping his features into a look of pity and 
contempt, said in an under tone, " Haivan cfer-r-they are ani- 
mals!" 

Suleiman Aga dropped his features into a similar look, shook 
his head, and said, " What is to be done?" 

Several minutes now elapsed, when the Pasha again inquired, 
** Have you horses in your country?" 

** We have horses," answered Osmond. 

" Pek ayi — vei^ well," said the Pasha. 

The Mir akhor — the chief of the stable, who was standing 
among the attendants, a well-dressed man, in a tone of humility 
said,-^" May the Pasha live many years ! they have horses, 
but they make them all heguirs — geldings, and they cut their 
tails off, as Allah is great !" 

** Is it so?" said the Pasha, without the least emotion, al- 
though he slowly ejaculated, '' Allah ! Allah f 

Suleiman Aga and the priest also said, '' Allahf Allah !" 

The Pasha, again turning his eyes towards Suleiman Aga, 
said, " Delhi der — they are madmeml" 

" Ne apaltem — what can we do ?" said Suleiman Aga in a 
tone of resignation. 

All at once appeared among the crowd of attendants a man 
of enormous size, a negro, sufficiently meanly dressed, who was 



70 AYESHA. 

the Pasha's pehlivan bashiy or chief wresder. At the sight 
of him the Pasha became animated^ he sat up, his eye glanced 
at him with exultation, and looking towards Osmond,'he said, 
" Have you anything like that in your country ?" 

^ What can I say ?'' amswered Osmond ; '* we have great as 
well as little men in my country.'' 

^^ We shall see 1" said the Pasha ; upon which he made a 
sign to the negro to be gone, and, soon after, he was seen in 
the court below, stripped to the skin, with the exception of a 
pair of wrestling-trowsers well greased, awaiting the signal 
from his master to exhibit his strength as opposed to another 
wrestler, who stood prepared for the encounter, dressed in a 
similar costume. 

The signal having been made, the negro clapped his hands, 
and so did his opponent, and then went through the ceremonial 
common to wrestlers before they set to, which consists in a cer- 
tain mummery of attitudes and prostrations^ accompanied by 
invocations of ^'•Bismillah ! — in the name of Allah." They then 
tried to grapple, which was difficult, inasmuch as both their 
bodies were covered with oil, and they slipped away, sometimes 
on, sometimes off each other, like agitated eels. The negro 
was indeed a powerfiil man; his muscles displayed themselves 
in as strong relief as those of the Farnesian Hercules ; but he was 
slow and sluggish, and could scarcely withstand the more active 
exertions of his antagonist; at length, however, he managed to 
seize him under the legs, and having, as the sailors say, got a 
good purchase, threw him over his head, and laid him prone on 
his back, which is all that is required, and is the signal of vic- 
tory. After this feat, all out of breath, he ran to a convenient 
spot underneath the Pasha'a window, exclaiming," May the 
Pasha live for ever I" upon which the delighted chief threw 
him out a small piece of gold for his pains, and. said, ^^Mashal- 
lah! — upraise be to Allah I" He then ordered one of the servants 
to call him up into his presence, for he was anxious to exhibit 
him to Osmond, and he soon after appeared in the very state in 
which he had wrestled. 

Again the Pasha said exultingly^" Have you anything like him 
in your country?" to which Osmond made a reply complimentr 
ary to the powers of the negro, and at the same time conferred 
upon him a suitable gift, which was very gratifying to the in.- 



AYESHA. 71 

dividual, and also went a great way in ealisting his master 
among bis friends. 

^^ Wallah r^ said the Pasha, turning to Suleiman Aga, *' the 
Ingliz are good men." 

To which Suleiman Aga answered by addressing himself io 
Osmond, and said these words, ^* You are a giaour — an in^ 
fidel, are you not?" 

^' If by giojour you mean a disbeliever in the Mussulman's 
faith," said Osmond, '^ I am ; but let me say that I am not more 
Si giaour than you are, since you do not acknowledge the 
Christian's faith." 

The word, giaour ^m a Turk's estimation, is never used ex- 
cept in an offensive sense, and consequently when those present 
heard, an infidel like Osmond apply it in this manner, and to 
one of the most respected of their community, they appeared 
to be struck with astonishment and horror. 

The Pasha, who was secretly no friend to holy men, and 
led a Ufe of pleasure and sensuality, having heard what was 
said, and fearful of more being elicited, immediately called again 
foe pipes and coffee, which served as a signal for the breaking 
up of the visit. Osmond then arose and took his departure, 
but the words which he had uttered made Suleiman Aga his 
enemy, and excited the wrath of the sour priest, who went 
home more incensed against Christians than ever, and more 
pleased with himself for being what he was. 

After having satisfied the numerous applications for back- 
shish — ^vails, which are usually made by the officers and attend- 
ants of a pasha upon the occasion of a visit such as we have 
described, Osmond returned home. He felt that he had no longt- 
er any excuse for delaying his departure, but still he could not 
tear himself away from the fascination which was spread over 
him^ like a net, by the charms of Ayesha. He was perplexed 
how to act in giviuK his orders to Mustafa, whom he still supr 
posed to be anxioi^ to proceed. 

Mustafa, on the other hand, was plotting in his head how 
he could create further delays, and having on former occasions 
experienced the difficulty of counteracting his master's wishes 
when bent upon departure, he sat down perplexed, and, as a 
Persian would say, inhaled the pipe of thought, and emitted 



n AYfiSHA. 

the smoke of uncertainty. After various schemes, whiehi 
proved the one more abortive than the other, he determiiie<l. 
to have recourse to the ingenuity of Zabetta ; for he was wise 
enough to know that men are but babes compared to women , 
when a bit of deception is to be invented and put into execution. 
Accordingly, he applied at the gate of Suleiman Aga's harem, 
and was soon admitted to an audience. 

^'What has happened, Sir Tatar?" said Zabetta, as soon as 
she saw him; '^how does our affair advance?" 
^ " What do I know ?" answered Mustafa ; " we have been to 
the Pasha — all went oflf well ; but if the Beyzadeh wishes to 
depart to-morrow morning, what cani say? I am no liar to 
my master." 

"How is this?" exclaimed Zabetta; "yon a man, and no 
liar I This can never be. Where have you lived all this 
while? This is the Kurdistan, we are amongst thieves and 
rogues, this is the very country of lies." 
" What can I do, then?" asked Mustafa. 
"Do? go tell your Aga that all the post-horses were stolen 
from the menzil khaneh last night by the Kurds — that occur- 
rence is frequent here ; tell him that the Savanlu mountain is 
impassable on account of Cara Bey's gang ; tell him that the 
Pasha of Arzeroum's troops kill all Franks. — Do you come to 
me, man, when any child in the street here will help you to 
half a score of good lies, better than any which I can invent? 
Go, tell him that he cannot think of leaving Kars for a week 
at least." 

" Bakalum—we shall see!" said Mustafa, thoughtfully shak- 
ing his head. 

^^Bakalum! hakalumV^ exclaimed the irritable woman 
with impatience, "you Osmanlis have never any thing else 
but bakalum at the bottom of your throats, when you ought 
to be up and acting," ^ 

"But, Khadun!" said Mustafa with humiity, when shall wc 
have conversation upon my little affair?" 

"Ah, your aflairl true," said Zabetta, who had almost 
forgotten the circumstance of his being a suitor for her daughter, 
so much was she wrapped up in her own schemes : ^* leave all 
to me; Suleiman Aga, my husband, is a difficult man, but, 



AYESHA. tt 

Iiu»faallah ! the bu$iness will go to your saiisfaGlion. Go, make 
your Aga delay his departure, and then we will converse ; go, 
you have been welcome.^' 

Upon which Mustafa slowly rose, and as slowly putting one 
foot before the other, he began to perform an operation in his 
mind, which the honesty of his nature seldom encouraged 
towards his master, whatever he might do towards Turks, 
that is, the fabrication of a falsehood. In order to this 
he stopped at a coffee-house by the road-side, the resort 
of Tatars and travellers, to refresh his invention by a cup 
of coffee and to soothe his nerves by a fresh pipe. There 
he met with a friend, a Tatar, just arrived, who was on his 
road from Constantinople to Persia, who discussing his journey^ 
informed him, in fact, that he had met with a detachment 
of Cara Bey's gang, precisely in the defiles of the Savanlu 
mountain, tod that he had escaped from them with the greatest 
difficulty; but that the day before they had pillaged a caravan 
proceeding to Arzeroum, and had killed one Armenian mer- 
chant This intelligence cheered Mustafa's heart, and he 
exclaimed ''Praises be to the Prophet!" to the astonishment 
of the narrator, as well as several others silting by, who had 
opened all their ears to hear the history of his escape. But 
Mustafa, in making this ejaculation, as may be conceived, was 
far from rejoicing in the actof murder which had been related to 
him; he only felt relieved inasmuch as he might now boldly face 
his master widiout the skreen of a lie, and was sufficiently armed 
with an excuse for not immediately proceeding on his journey. 

Accordingly, having finished his refreshments, and taken 
leave of his friend, he proceeded to the Armenian dyer's 
house to seek Lord Osmond. He thought it proper to clothe 
his face with an appropriate look of sorrow as he entered the 
room, and squatted himself on the carpet as if he were op- 
pressed with some heavy woe. 

** What's the matter, Mustafa ?'' said Osmond ; " has any- 
thing happened?" 

** Bad news, bad news has just arrived," said Bfustafa,^ 
shaking his head. 

" Has there, indeed ?" said Osmond, smiling in his sleeve^ 
for he had studied the characters of Orientals so well that he 



74 AYE«HA. 

was always amused by what their ideas of good or bad news 
might be. "Has coffee risen in price? or is rice scarce P^' 

''No," answered Mustafa, sorrowfully v " other miseries are 
abroad." 

''Then perhaps^tebacco is scarce; is that it?" 

"No, Effendi, no," sighed out the Tatar; '*we have plenty 
of coffee, rice,, and tobacco, Alhemdullilah! — praises be to 
Allah I But that head rogue, Cara Bey — I have done the 
needful to his father and mother — he is now on the Savanlu 
mountain, and no one can pass. The post-master will not 
give post-horses, and here wo are sitting idle until the fates 
please to set the road free. Omar Aga, the Tatar, has just 
arrived, and he left ten Armenian merchants dead on the road; 
What can we do ?" 

" That is bad news, indeed," said Osmond, seriously ; but he 
would never have allowed himself to be stopped by such a 
circumstance, knowing, as he did, how much such sort of 
stories were exaggerated, had he not himself been inclined to 
delay his departure. " Cara Bey is a scourge : we must wail 
a day or two, Mustafa, until w« hear that the road is clear — 
there is no harm in that I — My knee will be quite well by that 
time; and then, please heaven, whip in hand, we will mak» 
up for lost time." 

" Inshallah !" said Mustafa, greatly charmed with the success 
of his scheme, and totally without suspicion how much he had 
pleased his master by affording him a plausible excuse for re- 
maining where he was. 

Osmond felt asif he had received a reprieve from punishment. 
His passion for Ayesha had made gr-eat progress in his breast, 
since his last interview, and he only dreamed of the moment when, 
his eyes might again be blessed with her presence. The mor& 
he dwelt upon her image, and brought to his recollection the con- 
versations that had passed between them, the more he became 
convinced that hers had not been the common destiny of every 
Turkish girl. He felt assured that her story was involved in 
some mystery ; but, whatever that might be, this- he knew, 
that her nature was so much more refined than that of any 
other Asiatic whom he had ever seen — her mind so pure, and 
her intellect so superior, that he felt every inclination, a mount- 



AYESHA. 75 

ing almost ta a fixed resolutian, to leave nothing untried in 
order to ascertain the truth, and to place her, if possible, out 
of the pale of her present degradation. But the more he turned 
such a scheme over in his mind, the more difficulties seemed to 
stand in his way. Could he by any means transplant her to 
Constantinople, there he made no doubt he might easily evad^ 
the Turkish authorities, and bear her off to his own country ; 
but from such a place as Kars, *' far in the bowels of the land,^' 
unassisted and powerless, a stranger and a Christian withal, 
he felt it would be next to impossible. He rather clung to the 
wish of evasion expressed by Zabetta, although it had only 
been uttered in joke ; and he was anxious to hear the same 
wish repeated, in order that he might discover whether, with 
her knowledge of the country, aided by woman's ingenuity, 
she might have devised some practicable mode of effecting it. 
Accordingly, when the hour for meeting on the terrace came, 
he proceeded thither, determined to make every investigation in 
his power, and to ascertain whether it were possible, consist- 
ently with prudence and rectitude, to enter into some ne- 
gocialion which might ultimately draw her from her present 
situation. 

Ayesha met Osmond on this occasion with every appearance 
of confidence. His words, in their previous conversation, had 
sunk deep in her mind. She longed to receive further in-* 
struction from him, to have her difficulties solved, and to be 
put into the way of gaining knowledge. Ingenuousness and 
candour beamed in her countenance as she approached him^ 
whilst the real incentive of her actions, which to this moment 
had not been revealed to her, that love which creeps so in- 
sidiously into the heart, threw an indescribable charm of retir- 
ing modesty and bashfulness ovpr her whole person and de- 
meanour. Osmond was more enslaved by her beauty and 
manner than he had been at the first interview, but, distrustful 
of his natural ardour and impetuosity, he determined to check 
his feelings. He was apprehensive lest the beauty, the grace, 
and the singleness of heart, of one who was in truth a child 
of nature, might throw him off his guard, and make him avow 
sentiments destructive to her peace of mind. Her mother, who 
was present, scarcely acted as a restraint upon him, for both 
her words and actions were encouraging ; and he probably 



76 AYE8HA. 

'would at this interview have made a full disclosure of his 
passion, and given utterance to his feelings, had he not been, 
perhaps happily been, taken up by Zabetta, who stepped in 
and engaged him in conversation, with the view of proposing 
her scheme for escaping from Kars. That artful woman had 
watched the progress of Osmond's love for her daughter ; she 
saw how much he had been struck by her beauty, and she 
now thought she had no time to lose in making use of his 
agency. She accordingly in set terms, preluding what she had 
to say with those flattering words and abject speeches so 
common in the mouths of Greeks, proposed that he should 
leave Kars, but, instead of proceeding to Constantinople,' take 
the shortest road to the frontiers of Georgia, where he would 
at once come under the protection of Russia ; that he should 
there wait until she and Ayesha joined him, which she asserted 
they might easily do, by means which she felt confident they 
could command. She observed, and truly, that should they 
attempt to proceed to Constantinople direct, either by Tre- 
bizond and the Black Sea, or by the post-road, they would ine- 
vitably be overtaken, seized, and probably be delivered over to 
receive the punishment so severely adjudged on such occasions 
by the Af abomedan law ; and she finished her proposal by 
saying, — " Once protected by the Moscoves, it will then be time 
to settle whether you will take us to Constantinople, or proceed 
to your own country through the different states of Frangistan.'* 
The boldness of this scheme, apparently so feasible, concert- 
ed by a woman, the wife of a Mafaomedan, astonished Osmond v 
for he had ever been accustomed to look upon Asiatic womea 
as so helpless, and so much creatures of routine, that he could 
not but esteem Zabetta a miracle of enterprise. Before^ 
however, he gave his consent, he desired time to reflect, for 
however great might be his love for Ayesha, he felt that he 
ought not to rush headlong into an adventure which might 
involve others as well as himself in, perhaps, fatal and inex- 
tricable difficulties. He wished, moreover, to ascertain what 
might be the sentiments of Ayesha herself upon the subject ; 
for in Zabetta he saw an ardent and reckless woman, whose 
schemes evidently had reference more to herself than to the 
*well-being of her daughter, and whose vehement character, 
blinding her judgment, miglit carry her away into the perpe- 



AYE8HA. 7T 

tralion of violence and of every speeds of imprudenee. But 
to do^ this it was necessary that he should speak to Ayesha 
without the constraint of her mother^s presence, whose wishea 
it was evident she did not allow herself to oppose, and to 
whose guidance she ever submitted with meekness. He made 
an effort to engage her in conversation by herself, but Zabetta^ 
whose hopes of emancipation from her present situation had 
absorbed every other feeUng, had so excited both her powers^ 
of speech and her imagipation, ths^t she did not cease to impor- 
tune Osmond with her projects and schemes, until the night 
had so far advanced as to oblige them to retire. 

However, before they parted, he found an opportunity to 
request Ayesha to meet him by herself on the terrace earlier 
than usual on the following evening; and although she said no- 
thing, it was evident by her manner that she did not reject his 
proposal. It need not be said, that in this meeting he made no 
progress in ascertaining the mystery hy whish she was encom- 
passed. 



CHAPTER vni. 

Jul. My bounty is as boundless as the sea. 
My love ad deep ; tbe ttiofe I gite to tbee 
The tnero I kave, for both are infimte. (A noiaeia heartfj 
I heiur wme noise within; dear Ioto, adieu ! 

Romea and Juliet. 

Osmond passed. the succeeding d&ky in a stale of feverish 
Anxiety. He longed for the evening { he felt as if his fature 
c^oom was about to be sealed. Ayesha had created in his 
fc>rea5t an interest of so intense a nature, that, notwithstanding 
^11 his previous resolutions, it overcame every considieration of 
(prudence or expediency. His imagination had taken fire at 
the mystery in which her history was involved, and he was 
strengthened in his suspicions that such excellence could ne- 
"ver be the offspring of barbarians ; for in her convei*sation, 



78 AYESHA. 

there beamed through her ignorance a refinement which be- 
longed only to the highest breeding; and in her manners she 
might vie with those of the most polished nations. 
' The muezzins had not yet called the faithful to evening 
prayer from the minarets, when Osfnond appeared on the 
terrace in search of Ayesha. There was a balmy stillness in 
the air; the sun was about to disappear behind the western 
hills, and the repose of nature was such as happy lovers prize 
for being in unison with th^ir own feelings. But the lovers 
who were about to meet were far from enjoying such a state 
of tranquillity; doubts, apprehensions, and fears, disturbed 
their breasts too much to leave them in security, and they 
were agitated by the tremors of disquietude which will creep 
into the minds of those who are about to undertake a dan- 
gerous and uncertain enterprise. Osmond waited for some time 
alone; his eyes in vain sought the object of his desire; shie did 
not appear, and he began to doubt whether she would ever 
have the courage so far to overstep the prejudices of her sect 
as to meet him alone and unprotected. Long shadows began 
to cast themselves over the scenery which surrounded him; the 
sun's lower limb was fast approaching the tips of the mountain 
behind which it set, and the shades of evening were gradually 
drawing towards twilight, when he heard a slight rustling be- 
hind the wall which stood before the opening of the adjoining 
terrace. To his delight he perceived the graceful form of 
Ayesha approaching him with a slow and uncertain step, her 
heart impelling her onward to her lover, whilst her Maho- 
medan fears shackled her motions with more than the weight of 
fetters on the feet of a prisoner. He flew to receive her with 
an eagerness that almost alarmed her ; but when she heard his 
soothing voice, and was quieted by the respectful tone of his 
manner, she was restored to all the confidence with which he 
had inspired her, and, in the pleasure of being at his side, for- 
got the dangers which impended over their heads. 

" This is really kind," said Osmond, as he took her hand 
into his ; " how can I show you my gratitude for thus trusting 
in me?" 

" Allah only knows," said Ayesha, timidly withdrawing her 
hand, "whether what I am now doing be right. My heart 
tells me you are good, and that I should be wicked to doubt you; 



AYE8HA. 79 

— but pity me ! I have been taught to think you are one of 
those whom a Mussulman must in duty reject. Oh, what shall 
I do ?" 

"Ayesha," said Osmond, "the day will come when you 
will more clearly see the errors in which you have been brought 
up. I appeal to your own heart, whether the God whom we 
both, worship, by whom we have both been fashioned, and, in 
whom we both live — whether the works of his hands be objects 
of pollution such as Mahomedans esteem Christians to beP'^ 

" I cannot think," said Ayesha, " that there can be pollution 
in anything you tell me. I feel myself better and happier since 
I have put into practice what you advised me to do. But 
when you are gone, who will direct me? must I live without 
a law?" 

" But what if we were never to be separated?" said Osmond, 
ivith a tone of the deepest feeling, whilst he fixed his expresisive 
-eyes upon her. 

^'How can that ever be ?" exclaimed Ayesha, her face beam- 
ing with sudden animation. "Who am I that could venture 
to hope for so much happiness? Will you become a true 
l)eliever, and abandon all for me ? No ; that can never be : 
do not play with my feelings." 

"Ayesha," said Osmond with emotion, "let me not deceive 
~you. I should be unworthy of you if I ever could abandon 
my faith. You say truly — No ; that can never be. But if you 
trust me in one thing, trust me in all. If you believe that I 
love you, believe too that I would never urge you to wrong : — 
I do love, I adore you. You are as necessary to my hap- 
piness as the air I breathe. Say, too, that you love me, 
that you will be mine, and then we will live for each other 
through life until death, through good and evil, and, as we shall 
le of one mind and one heart, so we will partake of each 
other's fortunes, and belong to one country. You must 
tfoUow me whither I will lead you ; — trust in me. As God is 
M heaven, as I am a true man, trust in my word and my ho- 
nour, and I swear to live only to make you happy." 

This passionate avowal, which was spoken with an honesty 
of purp(^e that brought on involuntary conviction, made 
Ayesha's bo3om heave with the agitation of a thousand con- 
tending feelings, whilst her cheeks burned with blushes. She 



«0 AYESHA. 

could not utter a word; her heart was full to suffocation. 
She' would have sheltered herself under the protection of 
some tender parent in whom she could confide, had she not 
felt that Osmond w^ superior to every being whom she had 
ever known, §nd that his p|:ot6cti6n and his love was of more 
worth 'to her than all the world besides. ^ 

^^ Speak! speak!" said Osmond, with increasing tenderness; 
^'let me hear one word of love from your lips; let mcknow 
that I am not indiffitfrent to you." 

*' Ailah knows how much I love you," said the drooping girl, 
and she would have sunk to the ground in making the avo.wal, 
had she not been sustained by her lover, who bent j over 
her with the ecstasy of one who had received a new existence. 
As they stood thus in silent rapture, their minds heedless of 
anything but the. possession of each other's secret, the eyes of 
Osmond casually fell upoa a necklace which hung at the neck 
of Ayesha. It was composed of many gold coins, such as 
are frequently worn in the East, in the centre of which was 
suspended a sort of locket curiously wrought in gold, upon 
which, strange to say, he discovered engraved a coat of arms ; 
the whole evidently of Englii^ workmanship. On looking 
more closely at the necklace, he found that it was principally 
composed of English gold coins, mixed up and strung with 
zequins and ducats, the common gold coin in circulation 
throughout Turkey. At the sight of this object, the current of 
his emotions received a new impulse, and all at once, as if 
seized by sudden madness, be took it into his haikd, inspected 
it with wild astonishment, and exclaimed, — '^ Ayesha, in <he 
name of Allah I what is this? How came you by dikiP" 

The bewildered maiden, who but the moment before was 
on the point of dissolving into tears of joy, or fainting with 
excess of agitation, was struck with fear at his strange action, 
and, shrinking from him, answered, '^Why do you ask? My 
mother gave it to me; is k sinful to possess it?'' 

'^ Sinful, my Ayesha — nol" exclaimed Osmond, still gazing 
at the locket, and endeavouring to make out the coat of arms ; 
<* but, as I live, this came from my country; this has once 
belonged to my nation; how came y^ar mother to possess it?*' 

^* I know not indeed;" said Ayei^a; ** I hate worn it ever 
since I was a child, and was toM it was to preserve me from 



AYB8HA. g, 

the >€vil^ eye : more I caonot say, Bot wlrjr are you so^ asto- 
Ilished?'^ 

<^ My MFe I" exclaimed Osmond, " how can I be olberwise 
than astonished ? There is mystery . iii^is. Are you Sulei- 
nan Aga's daughter? Zabetta's dau^ter ? — it cannot be : re- 
flect a whiles Have you never heard niore4>f this trintet, or 
of these coins? they are jfrom my country. Ayesha, you 
must belong to us. You have been born a Christian ; yon can- 
not have been bom aMahomedan.'' 

Ayesha's feelings received a new turn as she heard this from 

her lover. She knew not what to say; her head became con^ 

fnsed : she felt as if her whole existence was identified with 

Osmoncl's, and that those whom she had ever looked upon as 

ber father and mother, were no longer such. The words of 

ZabBtta, ' You are not born a child of Islam,' which had been 

engraved on her mind ever since they had been uttered, now 

/lashed across her thoughts, and she was on the point of com-^ 

iBunicating them to her lover when she recollected the solemn 

injunction which she had received not to disclose them, and, 

aaaking an effort, she suppressed any allusion to* their meaning, 

sksd merely satisfied herself by saying — ''I once heard that my 

aaother had brought these things from Athens. I think I have 

iftcard that they belonged to Christians. '^ 

Osmond's imagination was fired at this discovery, and al* 

lnough he could not make out to what family the coat of arms 

>si the locket belonged, yet there was enough to establish the 

F^ct, that Ayesha or Zabetta were in some manner or other 

Identified with English people. It is true, the trinket might 

biave been purchased, and the English gold have found its way 

^^to the currency of Turkey ; but it was not likely so to be, 

since the one never could have been an article of trade, and 

Kad evidently belonged to a person of some consequence, and 

the others were unknown among the bankers and merchants of 

the country as a coin in use. But how could he discover any 

trace of the person to whom those things belonged except 

through Zabetta? and she evidently had no inclination to give 

any account of herself or of her daughter, for, as we have seen, 

^e always avoided returning answers to the many questions 

^Mch both Osmond and his servant had put to her. However, 

^ was so much elated by this discovery, that all the hopes, 

6 



88 AYESHA. 

and schemes and eKpedations, of makiag Ayesha kis awn, 
which had so constantly occupied his thoughts, now appeared 
to him upon the point of being realized. His scruples, if he 
had any, of drawing herefrom her parents, so called, were now 
at rest; his resolutions of exerting himself to release her frrai 
her present situation were strei^^lhened, and he gave way to 
his feelings, heedless of the consequences, and almost forgetful 
of the .difficulties which stood in his way. 

The lovers had been so much wrapped np in each other, 
that they had not noticed the eaU to evening prayer that was 
now chanting from most oi the minarets in the city. There 
was a mosque situated at a small distance from Suleiman Aga's 
house : the minaret attached to it arose in a conaittcuous aian- 
n0F Old the side of the terrace upon which Osmond and Ayesha 
were standing. Presently the well-kuoM^n chant of La illaia 
illallah! rang through the ahr from its circular gallery; still 
they heeded it not. When the Imam or priest who was chant- 
ing it , with his hand behind his ear, giving to its wild cadence 
the whole force of his lungs, came rmmd to the side of Su- 
leiman Aga-s house, ail of a sudden, with the half-tfinished verse 
of Allahu Akhar on his Hps, he stopped, for his eye was ar- 
rested by the sight of the lovers, whose atUti^des of confiding 
endearment told him at once the object of their interview, and 
awoke in his breast all his Nahomedan jealousy. He watched 
them earnestly for a white, stroked down his face, ejaculated 
within himself. There is but one Allah I and straight weat on 
again with his diant. The sudden outbreak of the. priest's 
voice, to wfai^h was added a more than usual violence, mixed 
with no little acrimony, startled both Osmond and Ayesha, who, 
looking np, at once discovered the priest, and then the danger 
of their situation as quickly flashed across their minds. The 
frightened Ayesha timidly exclaimed, '^ Allah I Allah I let me go 
— we are seen," and with precipitation covered herself entirely 
with her veil. Osmond, who perhaps did not feel the full 
extent of their danger, would have detained hef , but she was ^ 
too much scared, and knew too well how Catal might be the ' 
consequences to him, whatever they might be to herself, should -i 
he be convicted of communicating with a Mussulman's harem. - 
*' God protect thee!'' exclafaned Ayesha, as she cast a tender''^ 
l^ok at her lover, and with preeipitation retreated islo her own-i^ 



AYESHA. 81 

house. ' Osmond, after looking about him ibr some time, his 
mind absorbed in thought, and a vague apprehension of what 
might be the consequences of this incident passing through it, 
slowly retreated also, and descended to his own apartment. 

It so happened that the Imam of the minaret was the iden- 
tical sour-looking priest whom Osmond had met at the Pasha's 
during his visit there. This true son of the faith, a most bi- 
goted and unrelenting champion of Islam, had recognised Os- 
mond at once by his dress and appearance to be the Giaour 
whom he had met at the Pasha's. The words of his evening 
call had almost stuck in his throat after he had remari^ed the 
lovers, so quick and sudden was the anger which arose in his 
breast. ^^ Curses be on the Christian dog I" he exclaimed, and 
he spat upon the ground as he said this, whilst he slowly 
groped his way down the windipg steps of his minaret. 

'^ See," said he, '^ what pollution these unclean beasts 
have brou^t into our city. If Suleiman Aga does not defile 
that infidePs father and mother, by the soul of the Prophet I 
will." Upon whidi, exploding with exclamations of rage, of 
jealousy, of hatred at Christians in general, and at Osmond in 
particular, he bent his steps towards Suleiman's house. 

He found that personage quietly smoking Ins pipe and look- 
ing out of the window, having just refreshed himself by his 
evening's prayers and lustration. He was in the most placid 
of moods. The Imam scarcely allowed himself time to say his 
" Peace be with you, and may your evening be prosperous 1" 
ere he broke out into the foHowing form of words : — 

^' Suleiman Aga! here you sit, Mashallahl as if there was 
nothing else in the world except you and your pipe. You live 
without news of what is going on, Suleiman Aga.!' 

« What can I do?" said the placid Turk : " I sit." 

^* You are not a fool, you, MasbaHahl your beard* has 
grown white ; you are a man, and in fine a Mussulman, and 
here you sit without news, Suleiman Aga." 

^' That's true," quietly responded the phlegmatic man. 

*' La illaha illallah /" exclaimed the priest ; *' you are much 

— yoU' 1 Shall I say then what with these two eyes I have 

seen, and with this one head I have understood P" 

" Speak, let us see," said Suleiman Aga. 

" By your head ! by Omar I fey the blessed Prophet! I have 

6* 



84 AYBSHA. 

seen one of your house in company with the Frank infidel who 
lives at Bogos the dyer's;" 

. '^ What do you say, man?" exclaimed Suleiman Aga, taking 
the pipe from his lips, and roused up into unusual animatiou. 
" Do you lie, or speak the truth ?" 

*' By that beard of yours 1" answered the priest, " I speak the 
truth." 

'^ Who was the woman?" inquired Suleiman, with increas- 
ing anxiety. 

" What can I say ? who can tell one woman from another 
under the veil P All I positively know is, that the Frank Giaour 
was the man." 

^VSo, is it?" said Suleiman after some cogitation : ''toge- 
ther you saw them ?" 

'* Yes," answered the other, " and it is plain they love each 
other. H Why should 1 keep the truth from you ?" 

'' How and where did you see them P" said Suleiman, his 
agitation and perplexity increasing as he spoke. 

'' I was chanting the Azan at the usual time," repUed the 
Imam; '' I had half gone through it, when, from the minaret 
which looks upon your terrace, 1 saw a woman with a man. 
Curses be on all infidels I May heaven pour mi^ortunes on their 
heads ! — The man was the Giaour we saw at the Pasha's the 
other day — of that I will take my oath upon the blessed Koran. 
The woman, Allah best knows who it was I Ihave said it, 
what more can I do P" 

Suleiman Aga during this speech was gradually expanding 
into rage ; his naturally placid face became sullen, and occasion- 
ally flashed with looks of revenge; low spoken sentences broke 
from his lips, he cursed in whispers, he clenched his hands, 
put them by turns on the head of his dagger, and his whole ap- 
pearance might be compared to a pent-up volcano. He said 
nothing more to his informer, but seemed to be nailed to the 
spot upon which he sat, as if he were there ready to receive the 
announcement of any more misfortunes which might be pre- 
paring for him. A long silence ensued, when the priest said in 
a low voice, '' Suleiman Aga, what shall we do?" ^ 

The only answer he got was, '' I will send ruin to his father 
and mother," whilst his eyes looked upon vacant space, and 
his head remained fixed in one position. 



AYESHA. 8» 

^' Speak, O man!" continued the priest: ''what is to be 
done?" 

^^Pezevenk! — rogue! wretch! softly breathed the jealous 
Turk. 

" ./^i G^arrfac*,— brother, are you turned, mad?— speak!" 
said the Imam, louder than before. 

" Kiupek ! — Giaour ! — dog! infidel !" whispered the other^ 

At length all of a sudden, as if he had been bitten by a snake, 
he bounded off the sofa upon which he sat, and without look- 
ing either to the right or left, flung out of the room, leaving 
the man of the minaret in utter amazement at this unexampled 
ieat. All he could say was, " He is mad !" then straightway 
quitting the house, he proceeded to the Mufti, openmouthed, 
with the intelligence. 

The wretched Suleiman had^rung through the corridors in 
his way to the women's apartments, when he discovered that he- 
had left his slippers behind him : this Uttle circumstance most 
providentially broke the violence of his determination. A Turk 
never loses sight of his dignity; seeing his feet without their 
papouches, he slowly turned back to seek them, and by th& 
time he had put them on, his mind had in some measure turned 
also* First, he released the head of his dagger from his. fast- 
clenched hand ; then the fury of his wife's temper came to his 
thoughts, and acted as a check upon his own ; and last of all, 
the charms of the unoffending Ayesha became present to his- 
imagination, and very materially put to the rout that host of 
Satanic impulses which were goading him on to crime and^ 
bloodshed. 

With less precipitation and more uncertainty of purpose, he 
now proceeded to the harem. Raising the heavy curtain 
which hung over the door, the first objects he perceived were 
his wife and Ayesha talking together with great earnestness. 
Upon seeing him they, retreated into the room before des- 
cribed, whither he followed them. In a manner totally unusual 
to him, and never before witnessed by his wife, he said, — 
''Woman! stand up and speak for yourself ; you are a sinner^ 
and if a sinner, God protect you !" 

" What do you say, Suleiman Aga ?" exclaimed Zabetta; 
^' are you run out of your senses? I a. sinner, indeed ? What 



86 AYESHA. 

abominaiion are you eating? If I am a sinner, ^at are 
you?" 

'^ This is no child's play, woman 1'' sakl the angry ma;n ; 
'^ tell me, as you value your life, as you value that diild whom 
you see there, what devilry has got into your head, that you 
should leave your husband and seek Infidels for your com- 
pany?" 

Zabetta was not quite prepared for this, and as guilt is ever a 
coward, her usual prowess in an encounter with her husbiind 
forsook her, and she turned pale. ^^ I do not understand you," 
said she : ^' you are not a man if you come here with a lie in 
your mouth to oppress a woman." 

'*A lie, do you say?" exclaimed Suleiman; "men do not 
dream when with their eyes wide open they see a Mussulman 
woman i^nd an infidel together : that has "been seen tihis very 
evening; you are that woman, the Giaour at the next door is 
the man, do you call that a lie ?" 

" Bi Ae^y— what's this ?" exclaimed Zabetta, regaining her 
assurance. "A lie I I do caU it a lie; whoever said it, is as 
great an oaf as you are, and that's much. Why do you bring 
your beard here to be laughed at? Go to the ass that sent 
you here, and tell him * I send him a bigger luss back in 
return.'" 

" Woman l" said Suleiman sternly, his wrath rising with 
her iiiipertinence, "your words are of no avail against proof. 
You have been seen this very evening before the Azan in 
company with the Frank infidel: tell me plainly what hap- 
pened, or, by Allah! the consequences will be failed to you. 
Suleiman is not easily excited, but when he is, let me teU 
you, it is time to place your trust in God — speak!'' 

Zabetta, seeing that the suligect was to) grave to be treated 
lightly, did not answer this question otherwise than by callmg 
out to th^ black slave. "Nourzadeh," said she, "come hi- 
ther; say where have I been all this evening until the Azan ?" 
The girl's face, bearing marks of recent tears, and not in 
the least aware of the importance of the question, answered — 
*' You were asleep the first part, you were flogging me the 
next, and then you said your prayers. What more can I say?" 

^'Th^re," said the wife, turning round with exultation to- 



AYB8HA. ^ 87 

^ards her busbabd, '' tell me after (his ibat I was Oiq the ter- 
muse with an infidel. Haif ! haif ! — shame 1 shame T' 

So fully was plideiman impressed with the certaiaty that 
it was his wife who had been seen with OsilMmd, that no- 
thing which she could say could destroy it. Like an enraged 
OK in a pen, when he is baulked in breaking it down in one 
plaoe, msbes headlcAig at smother, so did the angry man 
persist in accusifl^ his wife. All this while, Ayesfaa, who 
was witness lo the whole seene, sat altoost motionless with 
fear. She was fre(]piently en the point of delivering herself 
up to herXatliM'^s fury, and confessing that she alone was 
to Uanie, but she was checked by the apprehension of bring- 
ing on the destruction of her lover. The perplexing contest 
between duty and love threw her into such a state of feverji^ 
excitement, that at length, seeing that Suleiman's anger was 
Bot in the least abated, but rather increased by Zabetta's 
conduct and explanation, and fearing that he might break 
out into $ome act of imrestrained violence, she summoned 
up all her courage, and determined that, if the quarrel did 
not ceasiCj ^he wpidd jqaake herself the victim, and throw 
herself upon her father's mercy. 

^^Zabetta, this is too much," roared out the furious man, 
overpowered by his feelings and her opposition. '^ After all, 
i am a Mussulman — the law protects me — if you have be- 
trayed me, and sought an infidel lover, you must suifer for 
itl" Rising from his seat, his hand on his dagger, he pro- 
ceeded towards her — he would have seized her by the hair 
- — his hand was uplifted — the wretched woman shrieked, 
when Ayesha threw herself forward between them — ^^Aman ! 
amaw/— j)ity 1 pity !" she cried out with a voice of supplication; 
^'If you want blood, take mine! I alone am guilty! She is 
innocent! I met the Frank!" 

Upon hearing these words, aatd seeing the attitude of his 
daughter, the violence of the enraged Turk all at once sub- 
sided : he turned away with a slow and sorrowful action, and 
to his previous vigour succeeded such a prostration of strength 
that a child might have mastered him. 

" Ayesha," said he, " what have you done ?" 
" Done!" said Zabetta, whose spirit rose with her triumph, 
-r-** Can you talk thus to an innocent child ? Go — you have 



S8 AYE8HA. 

been struck by the evil eye of that linsainted Imam, who, ie 
lOur misfortune, has come here in a perverse hour^ and 
watches over your house as a bird of prey does over a^ 
' sheepcot. Curses be on his white feoe and deluding eye I What^ 
harm can a child do?" 

^^She is a child and knows. no better,'^ said Suleimaii in^a 
low voice, happy to skreen his beloved Ayesha from farther 
imputation — 'Uhat is true — I have been in faultl" 

^*To be sure you haveT screamed Zabetta,.with the accent 
of victory : ** And pray when are you ^ver right ? Mashallah ! 
— Praise be to Allah! You see an Imam, you come here, 
you tell me I lie, you would kill me, and then you say you are 
in fault. Behiy ! — fine indeedl And after this you are called 
the wise Suleiman! You are an ay an of the city tob,— an 
elder! one who can judge between right and wrong! Pouff! 
pouffP^ throwing her five fingers opened into his face, '4 
laugh at such wisdom. And then your daughter, a child 
scarcely out of swaddling-clothes, she is to be called a woman, 
forsooth! . and then, because an Imam, like an owl peeping 
out of his hole, tells you he has seen her speaking to a crazy 
infidel, you are to kill your wife!" 

^Aman! amunt — pity! pity!** roared out Suleiman Aga 
in his turn; '^hold your peace. What can I say more?" 

^* Peace indeed! No, you shall never have peace again," 
said Zabetta, "as long as I live, — never shall you hear the 
end of this! I am not to be killed for nothing; I will slay 
in my turn, after the fashion of women. I am a true woman; 
nobody shall say nay to that. If I can't brandish a dagger, 
I can wield my tongue; and so I will, and so you shall learn 
to' your cost. I^ talk from this time to the day of judgment, 
and stop me who can, — not a cow like you!" 

,^^Amdn! amanP^ again exclaimed Suleiman, who, seeing 
how matters were going with him, made one decided plunge 
at thQ door, darted away, and regained his own part of the 
house shaking the collar of his robe, and exclaiming ^Amaih^i 
urmn /** 



AYE8HA. 89 



CHAI^ER IX. 

Brabantio above at a window. 

What is tlie reason of this terrible summoos? 
What b the matter there ? 

Othello. 

The day had scarcely begun to dawn, on the morning after 
the scene which was been recorded in the last chapter, when 
the inmates ofthe house of Bogos, the Armenian dyer, were 
awakened by certain hard knocks at the door given by means 
of a heavy stick, which resounded not only throughout the 
house, but also along the narrow and then deserted street. 

The Armenian, who was still in bed'with his wife and child- 
ren, heard this noise with alarm, for, by experience, he was 
aware that it portended evil (either exactions of the govern- 
ment, or perhaps personal violence). He arose in haste, and 
before he ventured to open his door, thrust his head through a 
small latticed window, and looked below into the street. 
There, to his dismay, he perceived two well-dressed Turks, of- 
ficers ofthe Pasha, with their long canes of ofiBice in hand, ac- 
companied by a small band of armed men. 

" What is there ? What has happened ?" he inquired in a 
voice which betrayed at once his fear and respect. 

" Atch^ bakallum — open, let us see 1" said one ofthe offi- 
cers in a tone of authority. 

"What means this taka tooka? (for so this sort of noise is 
called in Turkish) said the Armenian's wife, who had thrust 
her head out of another window. 

" Atchj pezevenk — open, wretch!" again was said in the 
same tone, whilst the blows on the door were repeated with 
redoubled violence. 

Upon this Mustafa, the Tatar, who was steeping in another 
room, also groped his way out of his warm bed, and muttering 
appropriate curses upon those who were the causes of the dis^ 



00 AYESHA. 

turbance, put his head out of a third window, and looking 
downwards said, ^*' Ay gar dash — softly, brother I — what do 
you want ? The sun is not risen, and you are run mad already 
— how is this ?" 

The officer seeing it was a Mussulman who addressed him 
this time, varied his speech on the third summons by saying, 
*' Atch^ adam — open, O man! Our lord the Pasha has sent 
ps — OpenT and then continued such a volley of blows as 
would have awakened the dead. 

Stasso next, who slept in a closet near his master, hearing 
the commotion, ran to the terrace top, for there was no window 
in his room, and looking over the parapet exclaimed, '^ Ti dia-^ 
volo ! — what the deuce I'^ as he rubbed hia eyes vtA looked at 
the posse in the street ; and then, struck with alaim that some 
danger threatened his master, he hastened to LordOsmiKnd, anct 
informed him of the circumstance. 

Osmond, w^ho was not slow i» his congectores fnpon what 
might be th« real cause of this visit, communicated the same ia 
his servant, and then dressing himself in haste, with great pre- 
sence of mind, and in foresight of liitnre contingencies, secreted 
about his own person, and that of Stasso, as many articles as 
he imagined might be of use to him (among others a piair of 
pocket-pistob, which he concealed in his breast), hid others 
in the by-cornera of the apartment, and ihtis awttfted the 
event. 

Bogos by this time^ with fear and trembling, had opened the 
door of his house to the Pasha's officers. The fir$t salutation 
which he received was a blow over the hdad for having de- 
tained them so long, and then he heard the question, '^ Where 
is ^the Frank infidel who lives here ?" 

" Effendi — Sir," said the poor man, slow in betraying his. 
guest, yet secretly charmed that the visit was not intended for 
himself — '^ he sleeps lip^stairs. But what is there at your ser- 
vice? — be pleased to sit :" at the same time he roared out to 
his wife to bring coffee and pipes. ^^ You have done me ho- 
nour ;'my house is exalted by your presence.'' 

The Turks, who can never withstand the temptation of a cup 
of coffee, on this occasion proved themselves true men ; and 
the two chokhadars, heedless of their commission, sat them- 
^Ives down on the Armenian's cushions, awaiting iSm^ pro- 



; AYE8HA. 91 

. mised treaty thus giviBg time to the whole household to secrete 
sueh Ihittgs as were likely to be 6eized if seen by their visi>- 
t6rs, and which on such occasions they felt themselves justified 
in doing. The guard remained stationed at the sti*eet-door. 

Mustafa, who had the sharpest nose for the smell of coffee 
of any one of the sons of Islam, no sooner heard the well-known 
SQu&d of the mortar in which the roasted bean was braying, 
than h^ dreiSsed himself in all haste, and making the wonted 
Selam aleikwn to the unexpected guests, sat hims^ down in 
afl dignity by their side, and, lighting his first morning's pipe 
(ever a great Inxury to the true smoker), awaited the coming 
sthnulant with as much unconcern as if that was the first object 
of consideration, whOst the reason of their vi«t wias^ apparently 
quite of secondary importance. 

They all sipped in solemn silence, after the coffee had been 
handed about by the obsequious Bogos, and smoked between 
whiles. When it was ovw, Mustab duly said, '^ Jlffiet ottdh 
— much good mity it do you I" to which the others responded 
the same, and stroked their whidcers. 

After a long interval, in which nothing was said, and little 
eke done than inhaling and emitting sm(dce, Mustafa bethought 
himself that it might be as well if he inquired the object of dii& 
their early intrusion, so far as it concerned his master. 

*^ Sir," said the head officer with gravity, ^' I am the head 
diokhadar of the Pasha, I am come to invite the Frtmk to take 
himself to the Pasha's presence." 

^^ I," said the other officer, '^ I am the deputy chokhadar, I 
am come to help to invite the Frank to come to the Pasha." 

" Pek ayi — very well," said Mustafa, " upon otir heads be 
it : Yavash, yavash, — slowly, slow, we will proceed. The 
Beyzadeh at prissent sleeps ; when he wakes, upon our heads be 
it, we will go." This, Mustafa said in the full persuasion that 
these persons were sent om. the part of the Pasha io do his 
master honour, for he was not in the least aware that anything 
had occurred which could give rise to a different treatment. 

The officers, who had an eye to an immediate backshish or 
present, and who had also calculated how much the reversion 
of future donations or extortions might be worth to them, ap- 
peared to agree with Mustafa in taking a conciliatory view ot 
the case ; and although the chief, who was also the spokesmiln,. 



9i AYESHA. 

said "Very well," and *'by and by/' and "slowly slow," at 
first; yet, as the day began to show forth, he gradually threw 
haste into the composition of his speeches, and said ^^Haide, 
chabouk, gidelim! — Come along, quick, let us go!" until 
Mustafa was obliged to proceed to his master, and to inform 
him of the Pasha's message, and of his wish to see him without 
loss of time. However, before he went, he thoi^ht it right to 
inquire what might be the real object of the Pasha's wish to see 
Lord Osmond, since the armed men and the violence of the 
intrusion produced a doubt in his mind whether it might be 
honour, or the contrary, which was in preparation. 

" jBaA: /— see 1" said he to the oflBcer, in a mysterious 
whisper: "is there any thing wrong?" at the same time 
winking his eye and shaking his head. 

"What do I know?" said the other as mysteriously : then 
putting his two forefingers together in a parallel line, he said, 
" The Frank has been seen with a woman." 

"Is it so?" said Mustafa, in astonishment; " that is bad," 
shaking his head at the same time. 

" Truly it is bad," answered the ofiBicer; " our Mufti is much 
of a devil, and visits a zamparalik-^-B. piece of scandal, with 
great severity ; but, if you will put the afiair into my hands, 1 
can do many things.'*^ 

Mustafa, who easily understood the bint, and who had taken 
fright at this disclosure, was not backward in putting a gold 
piece into the hand of his informer, as a retainer for his good 
ofiices. He then, with an accelerated step, sought his master, 
cogitating how the circumstance might have happened, and full 
of anger at his master's imprudence. 

When he entered the room, without waiting to sit, he ex- 
claimed, "Allah! Allah! what have you done? You do not 
know these men ! They are bad men ; this is not your country; 
these are Mussulmans ! If you speak to a Mussulman girl, they 
will kill you without mercy ! Why then did you speak ? " 

" What has happened, Mustafa," said Osmond, coolly ; " it is 
very early to be disturbed in this manner." 

" What signifies early, what signifies late ? Here are chok- 
hadars with long sticks, here are rogues with swords and 
pistols, come from the Pasha to seek you, because you have 
talked with a Mussulman woman. What for did you talkl? 



AYESHA. 93 

This it. not like your country ; if you even look through a hole 
at a woman, they will thrust your eye out : — this is very bad." 

" What is to be done, Mustafa?'" said Osmond; " Women 
are made to be talked to. I am sorry to have displeased the 
Turks; but there can be no offence where none was in- 
tended.'' 

*^ Allah I offence!" said. Mustafa; *' offence or no offence, 
these fellows kill Franks without fear, and say Uhanks to 
God !' when they have done so. Something must be done, or 
else ashes will fall upon our heads." 

*^ I am ready to do what is right," said Osmond. 

*^ Then you must tell lies," answered Mustafa : ^^ with lies 
and money we may escape ; if not, there is nothing between 
us and the stick — The stick, do 1 say 1 — Allah ! what is there 
to prevent the sword from striking our necks ?" 

^^ I will tell no Ues tX) please any one, not even the Sultan 
himself," said Osmond, '^much less to please the Pasha. I 
am an Englishman ; let him hurt an Englishman at his peril." 

** Eh vah /" exclaimed the Tatar in amazement, " English- 
man, indeed ! what do these fellows know about Englishmen P 
They can't tell one Frank from another ; all are Giaours in 
their sight. They know Kurds, Franks, Moscoves — these they 
know ; but all they have ever heard of the Ingliz is, that they 
make watches, and penknives, and cloth. You must lie, — not 
a little,— but you must lie much. $ay you never saw ^the 
woman ; give money to the Pasha ; mount your horse, and 
run away : — ^that is all that you can do." 

^^ We will see what is to be done," said ^Osmond, coolly, 
^' when we have visited the Pasha. Let us go ; I am ready," 

Mustafa looked up at Stasso, who was standing by,, and 
sorrowfully shook his head, as much as to say, — " We, who 
know what Turks are, know the misfortune which this event 
is likely to bring upon our heads ; but he* is ignorant and 
cannot see his danger." 

Osmond, accompanied by Mustafa and Stasso, met the 
chokhadars at the door of the dyer's house, and straightway 
they proceeded in a body to the Pasha's residence. He was 
treated with sufficient civility by the (^cers, in consequence of 
the present already given, and in expectation of what was to 
come ; but when he entered the great court of the n^aosion, he 



9(1 AYESHA. 

of the law. His features were stern, his eye keea, and hi^ 
beard scanty. He never reli^xed into compassion, excepting 
under the pressure of temptation, and that temptation his 
nature had long determined to be gold and silver. Instead of 
scanning his person as his eompeer had done, he specukted 
what might be the dimensions.of his purse« He sun^yed him as 
the tiger does the hind before he springs, and, with aU the viru- 
lence of a bigoted Mussulman, he felt much satisfaction at 
having secured a Christian within his toils. Suleiman Aga's 
naturally impassive face became animated with an angry ex- 
pression, as he looked upon the cause lOf the confusion which 
had taken place in his house; and the Imam felt that he was 
elevated into a man of consequence, by having been the means 
of bringing an offender to justice. 

After Osmond had been seated a short time, Mustafa and 
Stasso standing at the end of the room, the Mufti addressed 
himself to Mustafa, and having ascertained that he was s^nOs- 
manli, and Osmond^s attendant, inquired whether he under- 
stood Turkish, to which Mustapha answered in the affirmative. 
The Mufti then turning to Osmond, without making use of any 
of those common-place phrases of welcome and compliment 
so usual amcmg Orientals, said, — 

" What is your name ?" 

" My name is Osmond, at your service." 

^' Osman ?" said the Turk, in an inquiring tone, ^' how can 
that be ? — you a Frank, and called Osman, that can neVer 
be." 

^^ Mv name is Osmond," he answered : ^'what more can 1 
say?" 

"Allah !" said the Mufti, " either your name is Osman," 
and you are a true believer, or it is not Osnoan, and you are 
a Giaour ?" 

" I am neither a Mahomedan nor a Giaour," said Osmond : 
^' notwithstanding that, my name is Osmond." 

Turning round to the Pasha and to the other Turks present, 
he coolly said, '^ He lies." He then continued to Osmojqui, 

" If you are a Frank, wherefore do you wear oiir clothes ? 
therefore that unpermitted turban on your head ? wherefore 
those yellow slippers ? We are not to be cheated, Mashallah I 
we have wit in our brain, and eyes in our head.". 



AYESHJC 97 

* I do not deny that you hav6 wit in your brain, and eyes in 
your head,^' answered Osmond; *'I do wear a turban; I do 
wear yeHow slippers, and still I am a Frank. If you were to 
go into my country, and choose to wear a hat and a pair of 
Mack boots, nobody would object to that.** 

The Pasha could not forbear hughing in his sleeve at Os- 
Diond's answer. Suleiman Aga, who had not forgotteii that he 
had been called a Giaour, put on an angry countenance, the 
Imam looked fidl of malice, and the Mufti became furious. 

** Man I" said the latter, *' we have not sent for you that you 
should make play undiBfr our beards. We are Mussulmans ; 
this b a Mussulman country. Whoever comes here is lubject 
to its laws. You have seen and spoken to one of our women, 
deny that if you can I" 

** I have," said Qgmond boldly^-" I have both seen and 
spoken to one of your women. If you were in my country, 
you might see and speak to all our women and welcome. What 
more can I say ?" 

" Allah I Allah !" exclaimed the Mufti, " what more need 
be said?' 

" What more ?'' exclaimed the Imam : " this infidel is 
worthy of death. Is he to come into our city, and laugh at 
our mothers and daughters P Suleiman Aga, what do you say 
to this P^' said he, addressing that personage ; '^ this can never 
ber 

Suleiman Aga stroked his beard, and said, '' This man is 
a misfortune. By the prophet ! we are not men, if we allow 
our religion, otir laws, and our harems, to be insulted by an 
infidel. It is not possible that a maiden so timid, and so true 
to her belief, can have been induced to break through her faith 
without some potent spell ! O Mufti I to you we look for 
justice ; to you,'' addressing himself to the Pasha ^ — " to you, 
our Aga, and chief, we look for protection." 

These words, spoken with an earnestness and an animation 
uncommon to him, produced considerable sensation upon the 
assembly. The Pasha was aware how much it behoved him 
to second the decisions of the Mufti, who, in fact, possessed the 
principal share of power in the city; and felt that he could not 
openly oppose himself to the wishes of Suleiman Aga, who, 
from the respectability of his character and his wealth, had 

7 



98 AYESHA. 

acquired considerable influence. He therefore was oWiged to 
assent to whatever sentence might be pronounced against his 
prisoner, and he was about ordering him into confinement, 
when Osmond, who had perceived how ill matters were going 
with him, deemed it high time to do his utmost to protect 
himself. Therefore, addressing himself to tha Pasha, he 
spoke as follows : — 

^' You have power in your hands to act towards me as yon 
please. You have already insulted me ; you may detain my 
person, you may perhaps offer me violence, and there is 
nothing to hinder you from putting me io death. But I warn 
you that you cannot do this with impunity. I am the subject 
of a King who has the power to demand satisfaction, not only 
from your Sultan, but from the most powerful of states ; and 
I shall not die unavenged. Upon your heads the Uow will 
ultimately fall. It will be at your peril if you touch a hair of 
my head. I am an Englishman ; and although the power 
of England may not be known here, and although, barbarians 
as you are, you may infringe every law of that hospitality 
which you profess to exercise towards the stranger, yet your 
ignorance will not protect you. The arm of justice will over- 
take you i for whatever act of cruelty you inflict upon me, 
will, sooner or later, be visited upon each of your heads.^' 
Upon which, taking from his breast the firman which he had 
received from the Sultan on his departure from Constantinople^ 
in which all pashas, governors, and men in authority, were 
enjoined to protect and help him, he unfolded it, and pre- 
senting it to the Pasha, said, "This is your own Emperor's 
order, disobey it at your peril I^' 

This speech, spoken in the best Turkish, and accompanied 
with an independence of manner quite unknown to the despots 
to whom it was addressed, produced almost as great an effect 
as the blow which had been inflicted on the negro wrestler. 

The Pasha opened his heavy eyes with astonishment ; the 
Mufti looked confused, yet still full of wicked intent ; the Imam 
curled up his lip with disdain ; whilst Suleiman Aga looked 
straight forward, and seemed thrown into a sudden train of 
thought and perplexity. 

After a considerable pause, the Pasha handed the firman 
over to the Mufti, who began its perusal with intense interest^ 



AYESIHA. d9 

throwing nMrcMhlity into t^e dMt of his features, and readmg 
with the air of a mafi seeking for a plea of accusation, Ke 
stopped on a sudden, whilst a mailicious smile broke out upon 
his sallow faoO) and saM, ^Tkis firman is i^o^A^^notbing. 
It is not addressed to lis ^ the city of Kars is no^ mentioned 
ihereki. You have made an aocotint "^hont figures !" 

*' May you proqperf' said Mustiqpha, who had been deeply 
intent fqpon all that had tadcen pbce^ ^' btit, as I love iOj ehiM, 
1 swear drat liiat firman has hieen read and respected tfaroiigh>- 
ont Asia. Kars^ after aH, id but a small plaeie compdt^d to l!be 
whole of Ronm^'' 

*^ Whose dog are you that dare to speak P" exelaimed the 
Mufti : ''keep your tongue ^iet ; take care, lest the offences of 
your mouth be visited npeo the soles of yoin* tmblesised tktiL 
1 4iay this firman is notlling to tts.'' T^en turning towards ^he 
Pasha) he said i <' This man is no Frftnk ; he may he a Mus- 
stthnan, or an Armenia^, or an Arab, btft he is no Frank* He 
talks Tnrkish better than we; be dresses <ds a Tui4^; imd his 
name is Osman. What more would you h^ve ?" 

*« What is he then ?" inqnired the Pasha ; ^ he must be 
something." 

^' Who knows what he is?*^ said the Mufti with indignation. 
^' Let us see whether he be not a spy; he may be a Russian 
spy; we will see. We will not allow the cap to be pulled from 
off our heads. We will not suffer the finger of shame to be 
pointed at our women, nor the word of the blessed Koran to 
t>e insulted and reviled for want of protection." 

" Can you make the profession of our faith^ O man?" said 
the Imam to Osmonds 

'' I can make the profession of one faith,^ S£ud Osmond, with 
much spirit, who had now been worked up into a feeling of 
indignation by the insults heaped upon him, — '' and that is, that 
I believe you all to be a set of rogues and miscreants, who have 
no other *aim than to rob and oppress a defenceless man." 

Thb speech acted like a %hted match to a trdon of gun- 
powd^, and they one and ail ^^ploded into invectives and «&« 
damations, whichexhibited ev«ry variety of pasilion. ^^Kiwpek! 
-^Dogl" said one. " GtaoMr/^^nfidrfP' ^^ another. " 111- 
liomr cried a third ;^— and they ail agreed in one sentiment, 
wludi was that his modi^ and sMere were vile, and that his 






100 AYESHA. 

father and grandfather were only fit for the dunghill. Mus^ 
tafa would have stopped the raging of the storm, but his voice 
was lost in the universal uproar; Stasso, with his hands 
clenched, appeared prepared for the worst, and waited for what 
would happen next ; whilst Osmond stood like a lion at bay, and 
seemed to defy the united efforts of the assembled barbarians. 
When the rage of the company had in some measure sub- 
sided, and they began to consider upon the best means of se- 
curing Osmond's person, their blustering began to droop. His 
conduct had produced so great an effect upon them — : of pre- 
sent fear of his valour, of apprehension for the future, that 
there was a pause. The Pasha then began to use soothing 
words and flattering spee(^hes, in order to lull his suspicions of 
what might be in preparation for him ; but, in so doing, he 
made a sign to one of the attendants, who soon returned with 
a body of armed men, and into their charge he delivered him 
as a prisoner. Osmond, without farther expostulation, rose with 
dignity from his seat, and merely saying, '' Upon your heads be 
it that an English subject is thus detained," he followed the 
officer, and left the room, accompanied by Mustafa and Stasso. 



CHAPTER X. 

Bra. A maiden never bold ; 

Of spirit so still and quiet, that lier motion 
Blnsh'd at herself; and she, in spite of nature. 
Of years, of conntry, credit, everything — 
To fall iq love with what she feared to look on ? 

Othello. 



Osmond was conducted to a small room in the Pasha^s palace, 
situated within an apartment allotted to the Kiaya, or deputy 
governor, 'and there he was confined^ a guard being placed 
over him. His first determination was to despatch Mustafa in 
all haste to Constantinople, in order that he might make known 
bis situation to the King's ambassador there, and obtain a speedy 



AYESHA. 101 

rele^e. He accordingly wrote to his friend Wortley, giving 
bim a full account of his adventures, and intreating him to use 
his best endeavours to send^ him assistance. He did not with- 
hold the circumstance of his acquaintance with Ayesha, but 
described to him, with all the enthusiasm of a lover, her charms 
and perfections : he did not, however, permit himself to state 
what were his ulterior views with respect to drawing her from 
her seclusion ; for he felt that the scheme of future happiness 
which he had so recently planned, was likely to evaporate as a 
vision or a dream. When he had finished his letter, he called 
Mustafa to him, and ordered him to depart forthwith. Instead 
of showing any joy or alacrity at this, the dejected courier shook 
his head and sat down. 

" You tell me to depart," said Mustufa, with a sigh ; " where 
are the post-horses, where the Surugi? You do not know 
these people. It will be easier for me to get into paradise than 
to reach Constantinople ; — we are prisoners !'' 

^^ Haw?" said Osmond; '' you have done nothing against 
their laws I Why should you be punished, when I alone am 
to blame ?" 

" In this country if the master be in fault," said the Tatar, 
^^ the servants are the same. When the master eats stick, the 
servants eat also. Ah! why did you speak to that woman?" 
^*' It has been an unfortunate event," said Osmond, thought- 
fully, and we must get out of our difficulties as well as we can : 
however, you can lose nothing by making an effort to depart. 
You must tell the Pasha that I wish to procure proofs that T 
am whati profess myself to be, and- then surely he cannot refuse 
to set me free ?" * 

^ And stand a chance of getting his own neck twisted off for 
his^ains," said Mustafa. '^ No, no! neither he nor the Mufti are^ 
such fools as that. — Animals, yes; but asses, no."*^ 
^^ WjiSit then is to be done ?^' said Osmond. 
" You must give money," said Mustafa; ^* if you will not telt 
Kes, you rarust give money." 

^' I will give nothing," answered his master, with indignation : 
^^ they may rob me if they choose; but I will never bribe a 
tyrant to be just, or encourage a rogue in his roguery." 

" That may be very well in your country," said Mustafa ; " but 
you do not know these feHows. A man here robs, beats, and 



199 AYESHA. 

murders, then siiyfr hi$ prayers, apdi. ihaaka the haJy PfOpbft 
for all fiBLVOurs/' 

Stasso was presest whilst this convers^tioQ took plaee. 
During the progress of his master^s passion for Ayeaha, he haJ 
always had forebodings that it would lead to mi^rtune,. for ho 
never divested himself of th^ idea tha^ they had been struek by 
the evil eye of the negress NoursKadeh, on the day of their ent£y 
into Kars,-^and what, thoiight he, could withstand the kaii'^ 
vochio? His energies, by this conviiotion, were paralyzed; 
and the utmost that he could>do was to pour, out that volley of 
ana&emas, ever so ready for use at the bottom of every Greek's 
throat, and which he principally directed against Zabetta, who 
had been one of the leading causes of their present noisery. 
*^ JDiavoliasa-^the she-devil,'' was continually playing upon 
the surface of his Ups^ as he dwelt upon her attractions,, as wcU 
as^ upon her pernicious influence over him, ^^ I will cut off 
my whiskers," he would exclaim, '^ if I do not insult every 
Tiniote I meet,her father, mother, and sisters, the first and also 
the last.'* 

Osmond at length, after making many resolutions, desired 
that Mustafa and Stasso together should ask permission of their 
keepers to conduct them to^ the Pasha, in ordeit that they might 
demand on the part of their master, either that he would allow 
of his immediate departure, or permit Mustafa to proceed to 
Constantioople with letters addressed to the English ambassador, 
and thus also afford the Pasha an opportunity to state the 
masons of his conduct to his own^ court 

The assembled Turks, after the ^ departure of Osmond to 
prison, began to deliberate seriously what punishment they 
ought to inflict, or what they were to do with him. The Pash*, 
was anxious to secure him for one of Im prize-fightei^ ; the 
Mufti, in league with the Imam,, were for proceeding to extre* 
mities, and dividing his goods among them; whilst Suleiman 
Aga smoked,, paused^ and said nothing.. 

When Mustafa and Stasso appeared before them to make 
known their master's reipiest, it soon becamer ^parent that 
they were all of one mind upon that subject. They would 
neither allow of his departure nor of Mustafa's. The Mufti 
swore, that all that he or they could assert would never conviace 
him that Osmond was a Frank; he yarticularly dwek upon bis 



AYESHA. roa 

language, his dr<^ss and appearance, and insisted that Osman 
was a name belonging only to a true believer. '^ Such being 
the case,^' said he, '^ he must bear the penalties of transgressing 
the law.^' The Pasha, fearing that he might lose all chances oT 
possessing the services of so wonderful a pehlivan, strongly 
opposed his departure; whilst Suleiman Aga smoked and 
pondered stiU. Mustafa and Stasso were ordered to return ta 
their confinement, to communicate the refusal of the authorities 
to accede to their master's wishes ; and after coming to no reso- 
lution upon the punishment to be awarded, the assembly broke 
up, with an agreement that they should meet again on the fol- 
lowing morning. 

Suleiman Aga returned with an unwiHing step to his house.. 
He foresaw the storm that was preparing for him ; he antici- 
pated the angry looks and the unceasing wrangle of his wife ; 
but more than all, he feared to meet the sorrowful looks of 
Ayesha. He was not mistaken in his anticipations. The ac- 
count of what had taken place at the dyer's house was soon 
rumoured abroad, and the whole story, down to the impri- 
sonment of Osmond and his servants, was conveyed, with 
all the usual exaggerations, to Zabetta and Ayesha, by the old 
and officious Caterina. Here then was an end to all Zabetta's 
schemes of emancipation, and a cloud cast over Ayesha's early 
dawn of love. The one was thrown into a fever of anger, 
whilst the other bowed her head with meekness to the decrees 
of fate, but promised to herself to treasure up in her mind the 
recollection of that vision of bliss, which had visited her in the 
shape of one whom she was never more destined to behold, 
and to endeavour to imitate those perfections, of which she 
might be said only to have caught a casual glimpse. When 
she heard of the manner in which her lover was treated, and, 
moreover, of the fate which awaited him, her heart sank within 
her, and her senses almost forsook her. The attack of the 
negro upon him had already been magnified into an attempt 
to take away his life; and having escaped that, his con- 
finement was reported to be only preparatory to the death 
which he was, doomed to suffer^. The position of Ayesha was 
in every way most painlirf. What could a Mahomedan maiden 
do P Secluded from mankind by custom, as well as by the pro- 
hibiti<ms of her faith, bow could she come forward to assist 



104 AYESHA. 

and protect one who was an enemy to her religion, without 
implicating his safety as well as her own? From the moment 
she had heard of his seizure, she was lost in thought 4 the 
colour foi^ook her cheeks, her whole appearance bespoke 
anguish and despair. She knew her father to be a rigid Mus- 
sulman ; and although he was naturally passive, and dispesecl 
to take the reverses of life with mors than the philosophy of a, 
predestinarian, yet in every thing that regarded women, Iheir, 
purity and s^lusioo, he was jealous and vindictive to the 
highest degree. At one moment, relying tipon her influence 
upon him, she determined to avow* her loye for Osmond, and 
to implore his interferem;e to save him. At another,, she re- 
collected to what a pitch kfs anger had beep excited by his 

m 

suspicions of her mother, and she feared that he would mot be 
more lenient towards herself. She had frequently heard of the 
GTuelties committed hy hei* countrymen upon Christians ; and 
in the violence of her love , she could 3ee nothing but the. dear 
object of her affections exposed to the brutalities and the. 
outrage of the Pasha and the Mufti. Again, she reflected how 
effectually her father could stay their hand, could she but enlist. 
him in her cause : and agaia she despaired, for what is there 
so inexorable as religious persecution upon principle? Ponder- 
ing deeply uppn Osmond^s situation as well as upon her own,; 
she at length determined, happen what might, to make one 
vigorous effort to save him, even were her fatbfer to proceed to 
the utmost extremities with her. 

Suleiman Aga, upoh reaching Ins house, stole quietly to his 
own apartment to smoke and think : this he did. for some time 
before he proceeded to the harem, when, finding lipon inquiry 
that his wife had gone out, and that Aye^ha was alone, he arose 
and sought her. He found her, as he had anticipated, sorrowful 
a^d dejected. She was seated in a comer, apparently mindful 
of nothing, with an abstracted look, and was not conscious of 
the presence of her father yntil he actually stopd before her; 
she then stood up, as children in the East are wont to dp. 
before their parents^ and waited his pleaflure. 

" Ayesha," said he, " look at nae, why are you so sorrowful .' 
Am I not your father ? Speak but a little — wherefore so ? " 

At these words, which were spoken with as great an ex-: 
pression of tenderness as the phlegmatic.man could pommandi^ 



AYESHA. 105 

die grief-stricken maiden burst into an agonizing flood of tears. 
She had in vain sought for consolation in her distress; she had 
found none in her mother, and none in her own thoughts ; and 
when t^e kind words of her father struck her ear, every fibre 
of her heart was softened, and her whole nature melted into 
tenderness. 

Suleiman, i^hilst he aJ(lowe4 her tears to flew, was himself 
affected; and although he was no adept in the art of eiiidear- 
Qients, he managed ^y his words and manner to soothe this 
ebuUitien of Ayesha's grief, 'and to inspire her with corres-' 
ponding confidence. Sh^^ first expressed her sorrow for hav- 
ipg beei^ tho cause of. giving him so much displeasure and 
uneasiness; bewailed thset she should have brought so much 
misery upojL Osmond, and finished by intreating her father 
to. exert all his influence to skreen the youth from harm. 

"God knows,^' said she, "whart grief I have devoured,— 
I am weak, — whatever. I did to resist my feelings was of na 
use, fate struck me, and made me act. I never intended to 
displease you." 

"But in the name of Allah!" said Suleiman, "wherefore 
not speak to me? have I not always bj^en your friend?" 

"True you say, O my father I" returned Ayesha; "but who 
could ever think that so much distress would fall upon me, 
from an accident which happened to another!" Upon which 
she described ><every circumst^ce relating to her first ac- 
quaintance with Osmond^his fisill-^her alarm — 'his respectful 
behaviour — her running to his assistance. 

"Allah! Allah!" exclaimed Suleiman, "did he see your 
face?" 

"What can I siy?" answered the maiden, "perhaps yes» 
perhaps noi 1 did not know ^at I did: I fl^ar that we looked 
i^t each other, and during that time fate struck us; from that 
moment a change was worked in my mind, and, from being 
happy and in peace, ever since then I have been full of anxiety 
and strange hopes." 

Suleiman, upon hearing this, shook his head and pon- 
dered. "But then," said he, "he fell sick, — we heard that 
from Caterina, — what did you do then P you saw him no more 
for sometime?" - 
^ "^Ai.'",,3aid Ayesha, sighing, "'tis true I saw him no more 



lOG AYESHA. 

then, but Allah ! AHah ! what a thing is memory ! how treach- 
erous is thought 1 did nothing but think of him.'' 

" You thought of him, Ayesha ?" said her father, " that was 
wrong." 

^'But what could a poor maiden do against fate?" she 
returned : — '^ besides, was there a day in which Caterina did 
not come to me and sing his praises ?" 

^'The praises of an infidel — of a Giaour!" exclaimed Su- 
leiman Aga, as if he were horror-struck; ^'I ^m astonished. 
That Caterina is an old bit of misfortune. This must not be. 
We are Mussulmans. Let the infidel perish. Shall we be 
polluted in our very harems? Ayesha, this must not be. You 
have committed sin." 

"JSaftam! — O my father!" exclaimed Ayesha in alarm, 
" are we not all God's creatures? Why should an innocent 
man perish, though he be not of our faith ? Oh, think better 
of this, and save him." 

"Allah, Allah!" exclaimed Suleiman, *'you a Mahomedan 
maiden, and speak thus? To what end have my instructions 
served, if you are ignorant of what is decreed against infidels ? 
You have read our book of faith, and are you now to plead in 
favour of a Giaour? Ayesha, do you love this Frank?" 

Ayesha was overpowered with contending emotions ; her 
father's stern intolerance was so directly opposed to the spirit 
of Osmond's benevolence, that she could not but feel how 
amiable was the one, and how reprehensible the other. Still 
she saw that all was lost if she did not control her feelingi; 
and she remained silent for a white, until, fearing that the 
most dreadful fate was about to befall her lover, she fell on 
her knees before her father, and said, — 

"If any one i^ in fault, it is I, I alone am guilty— do what 
you please with me, I will not repine ; but save the innocent 
youth. If he diesj Ayesha dies also." 

The grave Turk had never contemplated such a misfortune 
as the loss of his daughter ; little did he suspect how deeply 
her affections were opened. He would have exploded with 
anger but for the beautiful form and imploring attitude be- 
fore him; his own sense of what was right impelled one way, 
whilst his affection led him the other. He Was perplexed how 
to act, and would have left his daughter without a reply, had 



AYISHA. lOT 

not a thought struck him that a compromise might be made, 
by which her happiness would be secured, and his own rec- 
titude remain unsullied. 

*'Ayesha, my lamb,'' said he, as he made her rise, "the 
decrees of fate are indeed unalterable. We will make a thought 
for your happiness." 

"Heaven bless my father for those words!" exclaimed the 
distressed maiden; "Think not of the happiness of Ayesha; 
she will be content happen whatever may ; but let him protect 
the innocent. What have you devised ?" 

"Let tl^ Giaour become a true believer; let him forsake 
his faith, and adopt that of the blessed Prophet and his fol- 
lowers, and as there is but one Allah, Ayesha shall become 
his wife. Suleiman has spoken the word." 

Ayesha's bosom heaved with new sensations, and although 
she felt a sad foreboding, from the knowledge which she had 
already acquired of Osmond's sentiments, that this could 
never be,^ yet her eye& beamed with delight upon hearing 
this proposal of her father. She kissed his hand, and made 
her acknowledgments of gratitude; and although she could 
not control that look of despondency which marked her real 
feelings, still in his eyes she appeared comforted and at ease. 

At this juncture Zabetta entered the apartment. She had 
bestirred hei*sdf most actively to acquire information in the 
city concerning the seizui*e of Osmond, and was just returned. 
Her passions were roused at what she had heard. At one 
[dace it was said that an infidel had arrived, and, aided by a 
worshipper of Satan, had carried off Suleiman Aga's daugh- 
ter into the Kurdistan mountains. At another, she was told 
that, Suleiman Aga having found his wife with the Giaour, 
be had thrust her into a sack, and drowned her in the river. 
Then those who resided near the Pasha's palace affirmed 
that the Pasha's Ethiopian had broken the infidel's back, and 
that he was lying dead in the court. At length she ascertained 
to a cert^unty what had really taken place, and she returned 
home in full venom against her husband. As soon as she 
persoeived him, she exclaimed, "And so, you have become 
the dei^royer of your own house ? Mashallah ! you have 
brought your beard to a good market ! All the world, men,^ 
"women, and children, are passing their whole time in spitting 



108 AYESHA. 

at it, and for what P because a dog of an Imam chooses to 
come and. tell you lies!" 

'' Zabetta,*' said Suleiman, unmoved, ^' are you become 
mad? Am I to blame because I have done nothing?" 

" How 1 done nothing?" screamed the angry woman : *' Is 
dishonouring your wife and oppressing your child, nothing? Is 
making us the talk and derision of the whole city, nothing? h 
the oppression of an innocent man, nothing? Is putting him 
ill danger of his life, nothing? Eh vah ? by wJbat account do^ 
you reckon?" 

'' As Allah i« great," said Suleiman, ^' I have done nothing I 
If the hind chooses to squat before the lion, is it the lion's fault 
that he eats him up ? When a Giaour, of his own accord, leaves 
his own country, and comes hither to insult our laws, is it the 
Mussulman's fault that he defend^ them, and punishes the 
guilty? Women talk with their hearts, and not with their. 
heads." ' ' 

^^ What have you to say against women?" said Zabetta, in 
a voice of anger. " Without women what would you be?* 
What but a dried-up old stump, with nothing to refresh you? 
What but a dirty heap in a corner, without a helping hand to 
purify you? Go, go, you talk as if your tongue belonged to your> 
hands instead of your head. You straight come to your stick 
and your strength, when the little wit which you possess has- 
left your brain. You may uphold your men when women are 
90t here to guide you; but as long as you have a Zabetta in 
your house, you shall hear her and her only, even had you but 
one ear to help you to hear her words. I say you must not al- 
low that ill-fated infidel to perish; he must be saved; and as 
you have caused the evil, so must you bring back the good." 

'^Are you mad, O woman!" exclaimed Suleiman, " to speak 
thus ? Wherefore do you coin useless words ? Who but the 
Imam is the accuser of the Frank ?— he saw the deed — he bears 
witness to the crime. What can I say against facts?" 

'^ Imam I Imam!" exclaimed Zabetta, mockingly, as she rested* 
her hands upon her hips, looking straight into her husbandV 
f^ce; '' one would think from your words that that old scare-, 
crow, who croaks out his profession of faith from the minaret 
top, was as sacred a personage as the Prophet himself ! But. 
what is he but an old dotard? a toothless, beardless churl, who^ 



AYE8HA. 109 

n stead of minding his dzan and the affairs of his mosque, 
ehooses, like a bird of iil-omen as he is, to soar over and pry 
into. our harems; to look where he should not; to imagine 
evil. where none is meant; to destroy men^s houses by his 
vile falsehoods; to set father against daughter, and husband 
against wife ; and to spread such false rumours as may produce 
misfortunes, and none but AUah knows where they may stop. 
Go, go 1 let us hear, no more of your Imam, except when you 
may have secured for him a sound bastinado upon the soles 
of his feet Suleiman Aga I you must put an end to this 
thraldom. Go to the mekemek, and insist that the infidel 
Ingliz be set at liberty. Wallah billah ! — I will not rest 
until he is.^^ 

i Suleiman allowed this burst of his wife's volubility and rage 
to subside, and then looking at Ayesha, replied, '^ What 1 have 
said, I have said. If the infidel will consent to abandon his 
faith, and adopt that of Islam, she shall become his wife; and 
then all will be well." 

"What words are these?" exclaimed Zabetta. " She shall 
become his wife, do you say ? she shall become no man's wife 
unless I choose it.. Am I nothing, that I am not to be con- 
sulted? What man in the world is there who knows anything 
about marriages? men can no more select a husband for their 
daughters, than they can choose the colour of their wives* 
vest. . Let them keep to their pipes, their horses, and their 
camels; let them sit in the bazaar, buy, sell, fight, and steal, 
but let them not meddle in what concerns them not. Allah! 
AUahl what is the world to become if a mother cannot do 
what , she pleases with her -own daughter? Go, man! go 
smoke, go pray, but leave marriages to women.'' 

" There is no harm in what you say," returned Suleiman, 
with a most placid mien, "be it so. But if youwish to save 
the infidel's life, he must first abjure his faith ; and if it be your 
desire that your daughter remain unhurt, she must marry him 
after his abjuration of his own faith, and when he has adopted 
ours." ! 

These words in some measure stopped the current of Za- 
betta's rage, and she was so far cooled as to perceive that, if 
something were not done, all her hopes of emancipation from 
Kars must fall to the ground, and thus this opportunity, so fa-« 



no AYESHA. 

vourable to her views^ would be lost She therefore gra- 
dually desisted from that fierce opposition which she was in 
the habit of making to every proposal emanating from her hus- 
band, and, like the gradual cessation of artillery whidi marks 
the dose of a battle, she withdrew from the contest by slowly 
diminishing the power of her angry words, and at length quit- 
ted the room under cover of a low growl. 

When left in full possession of her harem by the absence of 
Suleiman, she closeted herself with Ayesha, and there she gave 
full vent to her feelings at the untoward turn which their ac- 
quaintance with Osmond had taken. She disclosed to her the 
various schemes which had passed through her mind for ef- 
fecting his release. She first thought of despatching a ittes- 
senger to the nearest Russian post on the frontier, in order to 
invite the officer in command there to an attack on the town. 
She next turned her thoughts to a chieftain in the Kurdistan, a 
fi*iend of hers, who might be useful in destroying the Mufti, or 
carrying him and the Imam prisoners into the mountains. 
She afterwards thought how bribes might best be administered 
in order to open the gates of Osmond's prison; but, the more 
she divised schemes, the more one after the other they ap- 
peared impracticable. At length she was obliged to sit down 
in the conviction that, for once in his Ufe, her husband's scl^me 
was the most feasible, and that, after all, Osmond Turk would 
serve her purpose just as well as Osmond Christian ; for she 
thought to herself, let him but once rid me of this horrid 
place, and then I care not what happens to him. 

Ayesha was for the moment relieved by the hope that her 
lover's life was not in danger; but, after due reflection, she 
could not conceal from herself that the blow, although' it might 
be averted by her father's interference, would only fall the 
more heavily, from the line of conduct which she felt sure Os- 
mond would pursue. She could not entirely open her heart 
to her mother, for experience had taught her that she was 
ever too much impelled by passion and sudden impulse to act 
with the prudence and circumspection so necessary in the 
present posture of her afiairs; and moreover she felt, that as 
the scheme which filled her mother's mind had reference en- 
tirely to her own well-being, it would be wise not to intrude her 
own, and thus produce a collision which might be fatal to all 



AYESIU. Ill 



parties. The maiden, called upon to act upon an occasion 
of difficulty, exhibited all at once a sagacity far beyond her 
years ; and she now first learned the elements of that fortitude 
which accompanied her through the series of adventures 
which it will be our task to bring to light in the forthcoming 
narrative. 



CHAPTER XI. 



The Mahomedans are neither inyolved in the impiety of atheism, nor the 
darkness of idolatry; and their religion^ false as it is, has many articles of 
belief in common with our own : which will facilitate our labours in diffasing 
the tra^ faith, and dispoie them to receive it.-^FoR8TER's Mahomedamsm 27m- 
veiled. 



On the following morning the authorities met to deliberate 
upon the best course to pursue in regard to their prisoner. 
Each party put forward their opinion ; lenity was urged on the 
part of the Pasha, severity on that of the Mufti and Imam. 
Suleiman Aga, having been called upon for his decision, of- 
fered the alternative which he had proposed to his wife and 
daughter. ''If," said he, '' the infidel will embrace the Maho- 
medan faith, nothing more need be said ; he shall marry my 
daughter.'* 

This proposal was unexpected, and produced a pause in the 
deliberations. As good Mussulmans, neither of them could ob- 
ject to it, for they were bound to make proselytes in the best 
manner they could, and h^re was too favourable an opportu- 
nity to be missed ; but this stroke of Suleiman Aga's magnani- 
mity did not hit precisely in the right place the intentions of 
either the Pasha or the Mufti. The Pasha wanted to secure a 
good pehlivan, and was ready to have paid a price for Osmond, 
should death have been decreed to him ; whilst the Mufti was 
expecting to make a good harvest of gain by the youth's ddin- 
quency; but with this compromising proposal both were likely 
to lose their object, although their faith would gain a true be- 



112 AYESHA. 

liever, and Suleiman a son-in-law. However, as Suleiman 
Aga strenuously persisted in his scheme, nothing more could 
be said, and it was determined forthwith that their prisoner 
should be ordered to appear before them, and the decision to 
which they had come be duly announced to him. 

Osmond, in the meantime, had enjoyed full leisure to reflect 
upon the situation in which he was placed. Notwithstanding 
all the buoyancy and spirit of his youth, notwithstanding the 
natural force and manliness which formed a principal feature 
of his character, yet, when, he looked around him and found 
himself destitute of help, far away from friends and protectors, 
a prisoner in the hands of barbarians, and guilty of what in 
their estimation was a Crime only to be expiated by death, his 
fortitude was shaken, and he began to despair of his safety. 

The tender passion which had been awakened in his breast 
by Ayesha, interfered not to soothe, but to add more bitterness 
to his feelings. Whatever schemes he had conceived in her 
favour were now blasted, and he dreaded to think to what 
horrors and brutalities she might be exposed on his account. 
He dwelt upon her perfections, recalled the conversations they 
had held together, repeated to himself the endearing expres- 
sions of love with which she had charmed his ears, only to 
feel more intensely the misery of his situation. His imagina- 
tion would then wander to his own country — his own home; 
he would picture to himself what dread desolation would strike 
the hearts of his parents when they heard of his fate, and 
was moved to tears in the remembrance of all the dear friends 
of his youth, with whom he, perhaps, had parted for ever I 
Nor was the presence of his fellow-prisoners, Mustafa and 
Stasso, of any real comfort to him; for they too moaned over 
this check to their prosperity, and added, by their anticipations 
of what might probably be their destiny, to the gloom and 
horror which surrounded them. 

Mustafa did nothing but con over the barbarities which were 
peculiar to the region in which they then were. He affirmed 
that the Turks put their prisoners to death by impalement; 
the Persians, by cutting the body into equal parts, or by 
explosion from a bomb; the> Kurds, by strangling, or burying 
alive ; and, by way of being learned on these matters, he dis- 
cussed whether, if their heads wer^ cut off, the Mufti would 



AYBSHA. 113 

have the courtesy to allow his head, as being that of a true 
bdiever, to be placed under his arm, or whether he. would be 
condemned, along with his master and Stasso, as an infidel, 
to be degraded and abused. 

"Allah send them misfortunes T he would exclaim ; "may 
their houses be ruined I we may die here like dogs, and no 
one will be near us to cover our faces or turn our feet towards 
the blessed Mecca r' 

'^ Allah kerimder — God is merciful!" said Osmond, endea- 
vouring to keep up the spirits of the dejected man; "let us 
hope for the best." 

"Allah kerim is very well in its way," sighed Mustafa, "but 
what good will that do me when my head is offp^' 

" Why do you think of your head," exclaimed the faithful 
Stasso, "when our master's life is in jeopardy? May the 
wicked one take her to himself — that black devil !" alluding to 
Nourzadeh, "for she it is who has brought us into this scrape.^^ 

In the middle of these their discussions, the door of the 
prison was opened, and, with the usual salutation in his mouth, 
the Pasha's chokhadar made his appearance, stating the 
orders of his master, that Osmond should immediately repair 
to the presence. He would answer nothing to the questions 
put to him both by Osmond and Mustafa, excepting the 
indefinite ' Bakalum — we shall seel' the refuge of every Turk 
in ignorance or indolence ; and straightway marshalling him- 
self at their head, he led them into the room where the Pasha, 
the Mufti, the Imam, and Suleiman Aga, were assembled, 
besides a khoja or scribe, in readiness to make any notes that 
might be necessary. 

As soon as Osmond appeared, it was evident that they did 
not intend to extend to him the courtesy of allowing him to 
sit; but this question he soon settled himself, by at once plac- 
ing himself next to the Pasha, — an action in the eyes of all 
present so extraordinary, and so imposing by the resoluteness 
which it proclaimed, that, instead of militating against bim, it 
acted in his favour; for Orientals are aaper awed by an assertion 
of dignity. 

The prize-fighting Pasha, enveloped in {urs and shawls, 
was excited into something like nervous agitation at the neigh- 
bourhood of one whom he looked upon as an eater of lions, 

ft 






114 AYEmiM. 

which he evinced by novtffg big ^esA abeat a apan, at tlie 

time ooaxing bis lips into flatteiiiig and eoncilicUory expnessioas 

The Mufti, too, was starded, but be wa» not lo be eheati 
out of bis inflexibility; the Imam was passive, and Suleimai 
Aga appeared, as usual, torpid and indifferent. At length, 
when it was plain that Osmond intaided no overt aet of assault, 
and sat quietly in his plaoe, the Mufti opened his lips and said, 
** We have sent for you, O Frank! in consequence of eomplainl 
made i^ainst you : here is the man," pointing to Suleiman Aga, 
'^ who sues you ibr an outrage done to his harem-^Speak, 
Suleiman Aga, what accusation have you against this fVankP* 

'^ My accusation is this," said the Turk ; '^ that this man 
infidel to our faith, and stranger in our land, did seduce an< 
hold converse with one of our harem ; and this man here/ 
pointing to the Imam), ^ is my witness." 

'^ )f you are the witness," said the Mufti to the Imam, ^^ stati 
what^oaaaw/^ 

*f May you hve maay years !" said the Imam in an b]^- 
criticfli tone ot voice, '^ I am viritness ta the fact-^l, with m] 
own eyes, saw this Frank with a woman of our faith upon 
terr^ee of the house of Bogos, the Arpieftian dyeiv^Whai 
more cap I say P" 

'^ Frank I speak," said th« Mufti to Ch»itiond, '^whaft hav< 
you to say to thi^ aecsusation ?" 

'^ I have beGore acknowledged ihst^ I did meet and speak U 
a woman on the Armenian's tarraee^" said Osmond with firm — " 
ness^ ^ and I aeknpv^fedge it agaiow It was n(^ my istentioi^V' 
to infringe your laws, for in my own eenotry men speak fireei^j^ 
to women, and do not controvert the laws of God in so doing.^^ 

^' What says the law on t];ua iMSoa^ian P" said the Mufti -^ 

addressipg the scribe, who had hith«Bta taken note of the pro 

eeed^lgs. Thp^ s^orifae turned ta aeo^yof the Keian, apM^-9^ 
takiing it up with mnch reverenpe, opened] the leaves, aitd afjb^ ^^ 
some search stopped ftt a passage, to, wUeh he pointed witfl^ 
his finger, and l^ea rea^d alowd, '^ Asian the uaMtevf ns, it wt^ 
be e(|ual to them whether thou admoaisii them, or do not a^^ I i 
monish them, they will not believe — God hath sealed up their / i 
heavta and their .hearibg^ a dimn,^s< cov^th iheit sight, an^ / jb 
they shall suffer a pcievmm. punishttient*" J tei 

The assembled cdrnpsup^y hMiked atiQs«9(md 96 these wfmb 



AYB8HA. 11& 

were reitd, wbwi Ibe M^fti said, '' Uate you heard, O Frank ? 
what ean you say aghast receiving your merited punishment ? 
You, who wear our dress, and adopt our manners, must know 
that you have transgressed against our laws, invaded the sacred 
privacy of our harem, and thus, admonished or not admonished, 
you have persisted in your sin — wherefore shouM you not b^ 
punished P" 

" The passage which has just been read,'* said Osmond with 
greai self-possession, '' has nothing to do with my holding 
conversation with one of your women — show me a law against, 
it, and I will answer you/' 

The Mufti, who knew that there was no special injunction 
in the Koran against an unbeliever holding communication 
with women of the true faith, and who had twisted a general 
denunoiaticNi into a special one, as the custom frequently is 
among Mabomedan lawyers when their sacred bode is at fi&nlt, 
grew angry at Osmond's answer, and made a long and con*- 
fused exposition of the law against unbelievers in general, which 
it is unnecessary to repeat, but which only left him more open 
than before to the criticism and exposition of his prisoner. 
Suleiinan Aga, who was a sound Mabomedan, and v/ho had 
paid great attention to the discussion, seeing how ill the argu- 
meni was conducted on the part of his countrymen, thus briefly 
broke silwce and said, **' AU infidels are worthy of death, of 
that there is no doubt — throw no more words into the air upon 
that head, but hearken to these words f" and taking the Koran 
from the hands of the scribe, and turning over a few pages, 
ke stopped at this passage, which he read aloud, *'> Give not 
in marriage women who believe, to the idolaters, until they be^ 
lieve.' This is positive, and it is also positive that unbelievers 
are worthy of death. Let the Frank embrace our faith, and I 
wBl pve him my daughter in marriage. Should he refuse — 
let him die. I have said«" 

Upon tliia tlie Mufti, who was pleased at being^ delivered 
fFom his embeLvrassfSieaij expressed his approbation, and was 
seecmded by that of the Pasha and the Imam. He then said to 
Osmond^ '^ Have you heard P This is our ordinance : instantly 
make dbe profession of our faith, accejpt Suleiman Aga's daugh- 
ter for a wife, and live ; — refuse, and you die." 

Osmimd^y who had not anticipated this resdt, was strode with 



i 



116 AYESHA. 

perplexity. He would have at once rejected with indignation 
the invitation to become an apostate to his own faith, but he 
recollected that the fate of his enchanting mistress might be 
involved in his own ; therefore, to gain time, he appeared to 
listen to the proposal, if not with approbation, still not with dis- 
gust and anger. With as much calmness as he could com- 
mand, he said, ^' As for embracing your faith, prove to me that 
it is better than mine, and I agree, with this proviso, that, if I 
can prove to you that my faith is better than yours, you will 
adopt it in preference to your own.^* Then turning to Suleiman 
Aga, he said, " And with respect to receiving your daughter 
for my wife, with this hand and heart I accept her under all 
•circnmstanoes, and offer you my gratitude for the gift." 

Upon hearing Osmond's words, the assembly sat mute for 
isome time, reflecting upon their import, and full of wonder at 
what might be the result. The Mufti, however, who soon 
perceived what an advantage his prisoner had ceded to them 
by his proposal, said with great gravity, '^ There is no harm in 
-what the Frank proposes. We accept. Let him prove that 
our sacred religion is false (which Allah forbid 1) then we will 
liecome Christians ; but, as Allah is in heaven, as the holy 
Mahomet is his prophet, we swear, should he not cede to con- 
viction, although convinced, and should he be obstinate in re- 
fusing to be convinced, then, by the beard of the Prophet, 1 
swear that he dies !" To which his compeers gravely and em- 
phatically answered, " Evalla — truly yes." 

During his early studies, Osmond had paid great attention 
to every thing which had reference to the East, and in particu- 
lar to the religion of Mahomed, and to the extraordinary fact, 
4hat so large a portion of the human race should be living un- 
der the delusion^ of a false faith, subjecting themselves to its 
laws, and influencing their hopes of futurity by its false promises. 
His mind, accustomed to embrace large and extensive views of 
the schemes of Providence, did not view Mahomed merely in 
the light of a designing adventurer, an artful fanatic, or an 
ambitious chieftain; but he referred to the unalterable truths 
of prophecy recorded in the sacred scriptures, to expound the 
4ifiicnlties /which existed in his mind concerning the sway 
which his doctrines had acquired throughout Asia. Adopting 
the opinicws of one of our learned divines, he had taught him- 



AYESHA. U7 

self to look upon the Arabs, amongst whom he had travelled, 
as the descendants of Ishmael, and upon the Turks, "who had 
so taken up the spirit of the Prophet's views, as the most pow- 
erful upholders of the false faith, both working out the truths 
of prophecy. He had always held the opinion that the false- 
faith was so nearly imitative of the true, that in time it was- 
preparing the way for the conversion of those who now 
professed it; and that those doctrines which they foundit 
interspersed throughout the Koran, which had been takeii« 
from the book of truth, and incorporated into. the book, of, 
falsehood, would, as it were, be the virus which in time would, 
bring out the baleful disease, and produce a renewed and« 
wholesome state of being.. When, tlierefore, the proposal, 
was made to him by the Mufti to abandon his own faith,, and 
to adopt die Mahomedan, he was immediately struck by the 
idea that an opportunity was now afforded him of exposing the. 
falsity of the Prophet's doctrine, and that, however weak and: 
superficial such an exposition might be, still he might perhaps, 
be the means of shaking some one mind, and adding his mite, 
to the contributions which were now making in furtherance of 
iite great object of.converting the heathens to Christianity. 

Haying, been reconducted to his prison, he turned his mind. 
to the serious task which he had imposed upon himself, He 
repeated ta himself all the arguments which l^e thought would. 
be most likely to produce conviction upon his antagonists- — 
ai^tments, on the one hand, to subvert the false basis upon, 
whin^h Mahomedanism was founded, and on the other to 
uj^hold that which formed the groundwork of Christianity. 
His. ardent mind lost sight, in this exercise, of the imminent 
danger to which he was about to be exposed, and, looking 
upon himself as a champion of his religion, he felt prepared 
to encounter every species of martyrdom in the struggle which, 
he was about to undergo. 

Not so^ however, did Jiis companions meet the forthcoming 
controversy. They began to esteem their master as one but 
a degree removed from a madman. They had been ac- 
customed to hear Englishmen called *'delhi Inglizy the mad 
English, and now th(ey were about to learn the truth of that 
appellation, as illustrated in their master ; for though hitherto 
they had admired his wisdom and respected his high personal 



ns AYESIIA. 

qualities, yet, in this instance, they feared that the nerve of 
insaniCy had been touched, aod that he would be truly entitled 
to the epithet often applied to his conntrytnen. 

'' By Allah! he is mad," said Mustafa to Stasso. ''He does 
not know these Turks. What do they dare for what he may 
say I All they want is his property — ^they do not care an asper 
for his doctrine. Let an infidel wear a green turban, or even 
put on yellow slippers, without permission ; let him go into a 
mosque, or even into a bath, unprotected, and they will tear 
him to pieces. What then will they not do when they hear 
him announce in full assembly that their religion is false, aiid 
that the blessed Mahomed is an inqtostor ? Allah I Allah I they 
will fell upon him lifce lions^and wolves, and drink Ub faloed. 
And what will happen to us P They wilt' drink our blood alie.'^ 

'' What can I do?'' said Stasiio, looking the picldtig of w^e-, 
'' he is a Frank, and, what is more, an finglisbman. English^ 
men are very devils— -they neither go to the right lior teft*— 
but straight on— on they go--*they never will believe that 
danger is before them, they never do things like otbev people 
— they never will run away. Don't you remember,. Mustafay 
some years ago at Constantinople^ when a ^w was bung of^ 
posite to the gate of tlie bazaar, and everybody nm away 
fearing he might be obliged to perform the opefraf^ion, thM 
an English sailor, walking along with the gve^U&i indilfermed, 
was seized upon and ordered to do it? aiid that, iDsiea4 of 
running off, he willingly lent hinntsetf to the task, threiw ^ 
rope over the first beam, and having hatiled up the wr^leh 
as if he had been a cai^, quietly <»r«ed ^bout and inqttir^ 
if there were any more?— As yoti love your mother, this is 
fruef they are sdl mad from first to kst."^ 

They then determined to expostulate with their master, in 
ordier to£vert him from bisinteiyfiOH ; ai|d to propose % scheme 
for bribing their keeper, escaping from l^e wulls of the eity, 
and making the best of their way to the Russrad froolier. But 
when they did s&, they feend him inexorable ; he wa» de^ 
termined not to fUnch from the proposal wlnoh he himself had 
madfe, and informed his servants that, if they would Itot^tinid* 
by him, they were at perfect Kberty to depart, ass«*ingl&s«i 
that, by letters whidi he wouW give th^ to h\A agent ml 
Constantinople, he wouM secure to ihem 4 full au^ amplb 



remtmaratiDii for Ibeir S6irvi6«s. StaMso's fiMtty i*«laaiii««l 
tiiicllaiiged ; Muntafift's ?ei*y firobably wmiM not Hnv^ proved 
io firm ttfld he fosseised the mdans of taking fiidVantage dC 
hiB nlaster's bffeh^ bat, ad be would tkve foaad the post- 
bouses shut to him, and fifrofoaUy wotiM have losi hte Situation 
al tbst British Embassy had he rettttrMI ib Gotistaatidoplfe 
Without hfa ehar^, he thought it beist tb remain m^b^re fa^ 
wia, and to take the ehatioe of whatevei^ hi»ket^ late, teight 
ihrow in his way. 

Wbibt thai which we have jimt relcldl ^e^ fiasstiig hi 
Osmond\i prisdb, the Turldsh dignitaries refaahoied tof^h^ hi 
oottileil. Stmk iiwk before, a cfremmtaiic^ of a neMy aimtlar 
natore had taken pbce in Persia : a plon^ Prank had apjkeai*ed 
th^e, and had advaneed sueh argaments^ in fayon^ of the i^e- 
£giM of Chrirt (halt non^ of tlie Per^aA dmum ootlld misw^ 
him. The Turks on this Oc6asioki were defeerik^ed to dd 
better; aad to put forth io mach leal'aing^ atfd advkttoe stieh 
jirgnments as iwdld iit on<^ riyal Iheir iui^howtiS and an- 
jfiihilate the Frank. Aoiordiagiy, tb«y aoUeoted all that th^ 
eity" possessed of wisdom and IeaYniii{^r~'^}^j^ MolMhs, 
Haktms, Imams, all were assembled; btit that wMth ih^y 
* mo8|l depended Upon was the %ss0Aif of a edieb^l^ Bdfvtsh, 
who hve^ a )^aci«ie in a moa^tain c<ft(f, ti^here fa^ pt*d^<^i9M 
^ffstmde^ aad pt^ayed wilhbtit omihg. Ih tms said icf haVd^ 
ike Koran by hieart, and wasi so w^\f tei^ed in tb^ sayings of 
the Messed Maiiomet^ that m^ bn^ ^oUld >Mbp^e^ With hitil. 
He seldom appeared i|i Aileettfy akd>, wA^li^ dfd^ Wits so 
be^t by ajjrpKi^nits fo» tallsiti^b, eharM^j ate^ ib^didinal ilro^- 
tf^ntn^ that hid obuld imit^l^ Qi6Ve t&t tb^ ^owd >^hich 
besM hif|i« ' Ttef v^ har^ of his bi^d w^i^§ pf^6^vM as 
<rdic6, awl eveh tbfe p»(f ings of hfs ^i^iUs had a pried. To hini 
Ae^VbM ^wt i depii|ati6nf re^^l^ttag his^fl^ndatiibd upoki 
die a^>pohitoA Myy «hs«Dundiiyg to hi^ Ihi^t thti iVtahomedan 
faitji was in danger, and that an unbeUeving Fi^aflk had titi- 
dertaken to dispute its authenticity. 

Nothing was spoken of in Kars but the approaching con- 
troversy; and the aeal of each true believer was heightened 
to such a pitch, that it was looked upon as certain, if Osmond 
should venture to walk the streets unprotected, he would be 
torn tb pieces by' the populace. The news soon reached the 



liO AYESHib 

ears of Zabeita and Ayesha, who were afiPected by the. report 
ia a very different manner. The one was fully aware of the 
danger of the undertaking in which OsmMd had engaged, 
and, little caring about his motives, which she would have 
derided had she known them, looked upon him m a worse 
]ig;ht than Mustafa and Stasso had done — for they only thought 
him a madman, she a fool: the other,, wrapped up in the 
object of her admiration with an intensity of the most ardent 
love, was smitten with fear and apprehension at the dangers 
which awaited him. To oppose himself single-handed to a 
multitude of fainatics in religion^ to attempt by argument t(^ 
convince them of their errors, and to attack their prejudices, 
one of which was hatred and abhorrence of infidels, and con^ 
tempt of Europeansr in general, was altogether so wild a 
scheme, that even to Ayesha, who admired Osmond as much 
for his wisdom as she adored him as a lover, it appeared 
downright madness. AH she could do was to pray for jiis 
safety. She paised her time solely and entirely in thinking (f 
him, in^repeating ta herself all that he had ever sai^ to her, 
in bringing before her mind's eye every feature of his face^ 
and in devising means for his escape. 

Such was the state of things in Kars ; and those who afcat* 
all acquainted with Turks, with their jealousy .at any interfe- 
rence ul matters of their faith, with the quickness of their .re- 
venge, and contempt of life when their passions arecouse^ 
will be able to judge of the dangerous j^edicament ihVhich 
Osmond was placed. Perhaps, had he been himself fully aware 
of it, he would not have risked his life in so unequal a contest^ 
but, impelled by a spirit of enterprise, actukted by an ardent 
desire to do good, and feeling himself called upon to uphold his 
religion, even at the ri;»k of his life, he was blind to danger, and 
determined, happen what might, to proceed with vigoui* in 
what he had undertaken. The result he'left to the dis^^osition 
of Providence. • 



jfreSHA. 121 



S4t 



CHAPTER XU. 

War is enjoined jon against the infidels. 

Koran, ch. 2. 

The day being appointed for the controversy, the mearessehy 
or schopT; which adjoined the principal mosque, was selected 
for^&eplace of assembly. On the morning of that day, every 
one who had any pretepsion to sanctity Was seen taking his way 
tt) the spot 5 mep with large turbans and scaiity beards ; knams 
witl) wan faces; scribes, young and old; those connected with 
the schpiris, dervishes, the attendants upon the Mufti, and in- 
deed, itm&y be said, all who hated Franks'and upheld the Ma- 
faomedan faith. By the tlHie they^ had taken their places, the 
medresseh wa§ nearly filled, so that dense rows of turbans^ 
facesy^asid t^^ards, appeared rising one above the other in a 
compact mass, ii» one may have seen in an Eastern market piles 
of water-melons in a stall. A vacant space in front had been 
prepared for the Pasha, the Mufti , the Ayans, and others of the 
chief men of Kars, duty cushioned and carpeted ; whilst those 
^ho from tl]^eir learning or superior wisdom were entitled to 
consideration, were placed ia a conspicuous position, for the 
better ^confronting the adverse pdrty. Wbefi* the Pasha had 
l^ken his se^lt, the Mufti, Suleiman Aga^ and others in atitho-^ 
rity also arrived, and took theirs^ : but the person to whom the 
greatest respect was paid, was the recluse, flie old msm of God 
from &e iSfiountains. He had arrived^ pursuant to the call, and 
his aigie^rance had given a fresh uapetus to the zeal and fana^ 
ticism wj^ch more or less pervaded all ranks and classeis. He 
was a short mam, shrivelled, wan, and haggard ; his eye deeply 
sunk in his head; his lips always in motion, reciting passages of 
the Koran ; and his person was always fixed in one position^, 
wbich never deviated from the perpendicular. A very scanty 
tag of green wd$ wound round a brown felt cap^ by way of 



Ii4 AYESFU. 

stating the length of its duration, and enumerating the va»t 
portion of the inhabitants of the globe which acknowledged its 
obligations. His wish was at first to fix the attention of his 
auditors by interesting and amusing them with historical refe- 
rences and details. He alluded to the origin of the Arabians, 
gave a short account of ihe history of Abraham their patriarch 
and ancestor, and then exhibited the differ^it promises which 
had been made to bis two sons^ Isaac and Ishmael; ^'how 
Isaac had, through Judaism and Christianity, given laws mid 
religion to a great portion of the inhabited world; whilst 
Ishmael, through the primitive Arabians and the variously 
incorparated Moslems, had given laws and religion to a still 
larger portion of mankind. How Isaac new-modelled the faith 
and morals of men, first, Uirough his literal descendants the 
Jews, and secondly, through his spiritual descendants^ the Ghris-^ 
tians; and how Ishmael effected a corresponding revolution in 
the world, first, through his literal descendants the Arabs, and 
secondly, his spiritual descendants the Turks and Tartars. He 
showed that, in the case of Isaac, the change was wrought by 
the advent of Jesus Christ, a person uniting in himself by di- 
vine a^^ouilment the offices of prophet and apostle, of priest^ 
lawgiver, and king, and whose character and claims are equally 
unprecedented; and in that of Ishmael the change was effected 
by the appearance of Mahomet, a persoa professing to unite in 
himself the same offices as by the divine appointment, and pre- 
senting in this union the only known parallel to Jesus Christ 
and his typical forerunners in the annals of the world.^' * 

By the time he had proceeded thus far in his discourse, he 
saw that the angry disposition of the assembly had been mate- 
rially allayed; that his soft and persuasive manner, set off by 
his intimate knowledge of the language in which he addressed 
them, had produced a change in his favour; and that the doc- 
trine which he expounded, so new and unh^rd of to them, had 
fixed all their attention. Having established a parallel between 
Jesus Christ and Mahomet, showing the divine appointment of 
the one and the self-appointment of the other, wiUiOut having 
naaterially disturbed the sensation in his favour, he again di- 
verged into the history^ of their celebrated lawgiver. He re^ 

* Forstef^ Mabomedanism Unveiled, vol. i. pp. 71, 7S« 



AYESHA. 125 

mailed that the propagation of his religion, whether considered 
ioits rapidity or in its extent, presented a signal and singular 
contrast. He showed that, encountering simultaneously the 
rival empit*es of Rome^ and Persia in the East, the immediate 
snccessors of Mahomet established, at the same moment, their 
dominion over the fairest provinces of both powers, and their 
creed upon the ruins of Christianity and the Magian supersti- 
tion. He then raised his voice, and, carrying the attention and 
evident admiration of his audience with him, adroitly apostro- 
phized them, saying, '* You then, O Mussulmans, achieved the 
conquests of Syria, of Persia, of Egypt, of Sh4m, or Palestine, 
which succeeded each other with a celerity that outruns de-> 
scription. You then led the storm onwards, without check or 
pause, eastward to the frontiers of India and China, westward 
to the utmost confines of Africa, and to the shores of the At- ' 
laintic, and on the north to the banks of Oxus and Jaxartes, and 
the uttermost borders of the Caspian. In the twenty-first year 
of the Hejra, the Mahomedan crescent shed its influence upon as 
large and considerable dominions as had been flown over by the 
Roman eagle. In eighty years, your empire, O sons of Islam, 
extended its power over more kingdoms and countries than the 
Romans in eight hundred; and in less than a century from the 
period of its rise in the barren wilds of Arabia, your faith ex- 
tended and bore sway over the greater part of Asia and Africa, 
and threatened to seat itself in the heart of Catholic Europe.*' * 

TUs address to their vanity so entirely succeeded in secur-^ 
ing for him a breathless attention to his words, that he woul4 
have found no further difiiculty in making good his discourse, 
had not the wary and jealous Mufti, who had been an anxious 
observer of the temper of the assembly, begun to apprehend 
that he might lose his victim. "What has this to do," he 
exclaimed, ''with the object of our meeting? Did not I say 
that he was a true believer P Has he come hither to laugh 
at our beards?" 

Osmond extended his hand as if to impose silence, and then 
continued, ''Grant me your patience as well as your attention, 
and I will explain myself with those words which God has 
granted to his servant." 

* Mahomedanism Unveiled, vol. i. p. 11. 



l^ AYBSHA. 

*^ Speak OD, sipeak on!*' was heard to oome froni diffiereat 
paHs of the crowd, whilst the old maa of the mouQtaiQ merely 
looked up and shook his head. Mustafa and Slasso dearoely 
could draw breath, so utterly were they astonidied at the suc-> 
cess which had hitherto attended their master, althongh they 
neither of them could wdl comprehend to what resuk he was 
directing his speech. 

He then proceeded to draw a paraUel belween Christianity 
and Miiliomedanism— to show the eyidences whiok ousted 
for the former being vouchsafed to mankind by God for the 
remission of their sins, that it was ushered in by prophecy, and 
estabSshed by miracles performed in the person of our Sa- 
viour, and remarked that no such evidences existed in favoor 
et IVIahomedanism. Christianity, he asserted, was a rettgion 
of peace, whereas Mahomedanism, on the other hand, was a 
religion of the sword; and in enumerating the various facts in 
Eastern history illustrative of the violence which marked its 
propagation, he dwelt much upon that prediction which rdated 
to Ishmael — ^'^his hand will be against every man, and every 
man's hand against him,'' strongly exernptifying the state of the 
Arabs at that very time. They were called ^^a people armed 
against mankind." 

Wilb much eloquence he spoke of the esLtraordinary quaK^ 
ties of Mahomet, of his ingenuity in drawing his nation out of 
their barbarism and superstition, in leading them to adopt a 
highw lofie of morality, and giving them truer notions of the 
greatness of the Creator. '^ He led them to believe in one Ood, 
creator and lord of all, to whom they attribute infinite power, 
justice, and mercy — he taught them to hold to the immortality 
of the soul, to expect a future judgment, a heaven and heH— 
to honour the patriarch Abraham as the first author of their 
religion — to acknowle^ Moses and Christ to have been great 
prophets, and to allow the Pentateuch and the Gospel to be 
sacred books.^ But then it must be plain to every one," con- 
tinued Osmond, " that all that is good in the Koran is drawn 
from the Christian's Bible." 

«* The Koran iteelf is a miracle," exdaimed a voice fro«\ the 
crowd ; " deny that if you can !" 

* Mah<)medaBism IJnveilecl, vol. i,p. 102^. 



AYESHA. Uf 

Thit wm a signal to the whole aASetnbly (o pour oiit their 
kidierto suppressed retorts, aod it would have been difficult to 
make out any definite answer, or any sueeession of argument, 
to ^at Osmosd had aviuwed, or any thing but a general tone 
of faosAiiity against him. ^^Let him answer that," said one. 
^^ What words has the infidel bees throwing into the air ?** 
cried anoth^. ^' We have {4H^ses whieh wiH disperse aH bis," 
said a third. ^ Let hkm disappear from among us,** roared out 
others. '^ We are Mussulmans I" eried out those who listened 
only to passion, aod cared npt for argument. Again was voci- 
ferated, '^ The Koraii is in itself a standing miracle, let him bul 
accede to that, and we want no more.^' 

Silence having been obtained, Osmond, undismayed by the 
risiBg tumult, although disappointed at what he had at first 
hoped had be^ a promise of success, answered : ^< The Koran 
might indeed have been calted a miracle in the dark and bar- 
bitf'ous times in which it was first pnblii^ed) but then it must 
have been so called as an extraordinary efibrt of human inge- 
nuity, not as a supernatural interpesil^on. The parts which are 
taken from the Christian Bible are divine ; those which are the 
works of a mortal are net divine. They are spurious. They 
are b»$h — nothing.^ 

At these words a general «ad: violent outcry of anger and 
execration was raised in the assembly against Osmond. In 
vain had he hoped that he had shaken the belief of some of 
his hearers, and arrayed them oft his side; the burst of yioIen€ 
expressions which exploded at his last assertton showed him 
how much he was fiustahen, and how impossibte it wxHild be 
for hfan to make a lasting impressfon on so short a notice. 
Answers to his argument were no longer sought for ; abuse io 
himself, his creed, and his nation, atone met his eat^-Khtpek 
^-^Qg9 ieJSft~eur, jfioewi'-^infidei, haremzetdeh-^ill-hoTDj and 
a thottsand other abusive terms, rose from the bottom of each 
angry throat, and were confirmed by the most violent gestures 
and ladid^ens of aversion. The faces of the mass opposed 
to Osmond assumed the character of a compact Kving mosaic 
of demons, their eyes flashing ftiry, and their mouths distorted 
iniok every %jisre whieh that ieature can take. 

The Mtt&i at length, commanding silence, solemnly ad- 
dressed Osmond in these words; '' As ydu are a man, and as 



128 AYESHA. 

you fear to die, say, do you acknowledge the Mahomedan faith 
to be the only true one, and the blessed Mahomed to be the 
prophet of God, or do you deny it? Speak, and Allah direct 
your speech T* At these words the whole assembly roared 
out, " Speak, speak T' and by the fierceness of theif looks uid 
gestures seemed to be preparing for violence. 

Osmond was still undismayed. His object had been gra- 
dually to lead on his audience to this (act, that MahoWetand 
and his empire had been predicted from the first ages, and that 
from the days of Ishmael (o the present his career and that 
of his adherents might be traced in our prophetic books, and 
that, although his religion was false, yet still it was, from the 
large portions which had been drawn from the Christian Bible, 
so far good that it was preparatory to the adoption of the faith 
in Jesus Christ. He made several attempts to resume the 
thread of his argument, but in vain ; the more he endeavoured 
to obtain a hearing, the more violent were the cries for an 
answer to the Mufti's question. Mustafa, who sat behind him, 
peering into his face with a most beeseching look, said to him 
in English, ^' In the name of Allah I tell lies. If you do not say 
you area Mussulman, we die — then what will be the use of 
your truth?'' Stasso, too, who saw the depending storm, 
said, ^^ Master, as you love your eyes, let the devil take them, 
but save us — -these demons will cut our throats." 

Osmond felt that he must decide what course to pursue in 
this awful crisis of his fate, and that decision was not for a 
a moment doubtful. He extended his hand and arm in the 
midst of the uproar in order to obtain silence; and the instant 
he had done so, although every tongue was quiet, it might 
have been supposed that every face had been also fixed, as if 
by magic, into the ferocious cast of its features, so intense was 
the attention. The Mufti's features bore the stamp of great 
excitement, the Pasha alone surveyed Osmond with admira- 
tion, whilst the old man of the mountain, who hitherto had 
been principally concerned in mumbling out portions of the 
Koran, stopped the action of his lips, and cast Iiis old withered 
eye towards the object of the tumult. 

When silence was restored, so that even a suppressed ^igh 
might have been heard, Osmond, in a firm and audible voice, 
said : 



AVESHA. 129 

** You ask me whether I acknowledge the Mahomedan 
faith to be the true one : I answer that I do. not, and that it is 
false." 

No sooner had these words escaped from his lips, than a 
scene ensued which words cannot describe : the agitation of 
the sea in a storm, the rocking to and fro of a forest, or any 
Othier usual simile, are but poor figures to illustrate what took 
place, the otherwise calm and placid Turks here at once 
became^the representatives of infernal beings; their eyes flashed 
forth every hateful passion, whilst their extended hands showed 
to .what extent thdr violence would impel them. Even the 
spirit of a Turk arose in Mustafa ; and he too almost partook 
of the universal rage against his. master, so angry was he at 
finding himself thus implicated in' what in his heart he called 
his folly and English pertinacity. 

Osmond stood boldly forward, his right-hand thrust within 
the folds of his breast, whilst his left hung by his side. The 
Mufti had no sooner heard the prisoner's declaration, than he 
exclaimed to the assembly, at the utmost extent of his voice : 
'^ Mussulmans, do you hear this? Mussulmans, our faith is in 
danger! the infidel is among us — slay!" The^ld man of the 
mountain then for the first time opened his lips, and cried out 
in a cracked though distinct enunciation, ^' IVIy children, in the 
name of Allah, kill the Giaour!" Upon which a general rush 
towards Osmond took place, and a confusion ensued which, 
although awful in its import, might well be called ludicrous 
in its incidents. Turk rolled over Turk, turbans fell and dis- 
covered naked sconces, and instruments of all descriptions, 
from a slipper to an inkstand, were thrown in the direction of 
the prisoner. He coolly watched the danger as it approached, 
and his faithful Stasso would have skreenedvhim with his 
person; but when Osmond found himself seized by several of 
the foremost of the crowd, with a sudden bound he shook off 
his immediate assailants, and, making at once to the spot where 
the Mufti was seated, with bis left hand he seized him by the 
breast, and with the other drew forth a pistol from his vest 
and presented it at once to the head of the appalled and as- 
tonished chief of the law. Osmond vociferated in a voice of 
thunder, " Advance but a step further, and I fire !" This de- 
cisive act produced an instantaneous effect, for the Mufti im- 

9 



180 AYE&HA. 

mediately roared out, ^^ Stay, be quiet I in the name of Allab, 
peace !'' and although, like wild animals deprived of their teeth 
with impotent fury, the maddened Turks could scarcely refrain 
from violence ; still they only paused for the moment, in the 
hope that treachery would effect that which open force at pre* 
sent could not. Osmond was, however, too much aware of 
his danger to quit his hold without havii^ some assurance of 
security ; and accordingly kept the struggling and half-fainting 
Mufti under the muzzle of his pistol, until the Pasha, rousing 
himself from a half state of repose, ordered his guard, which 
was in attendance, to take charge of the prisoner, and recon- 
duct him, together with Mustapha and Stasso, to a place of 
confinement : thus favouring their retreat, and securing them 
from immediate danger. 

The Pasha, whose admiration of Osmond had greatly in- 
creased since he had witnessed the power of his oratory, had 
already determined in his own mind that the wiles of the Mufti 
and the religious set with whom be was leagued should not 
succeed, and consequently be remained passive until the proper 
moment for action arrived; but then, having preserved him 
from present destructioa, he still felt that he could not so much 
oppose the popular feeling aa to openly espouse his cause, and 
therefore ordered that he and his suite should be confined in 
the prison which has already been noticed as looking upon the 
court-yai'd of the Pasha's palace, and thither they were con- 
ducted amid the howling, the hooting, and execrations of the 
crowd. 

When they had reached that place, and were left to them- 
selves, the first impube of Osmond was to put up a hearty 
prayer of thanks for his respite from death, whilst that of Mus- 
tafa was to pour forth the. vial of his wrath against his master. 
^ Am I an ass,^ said he, that you will not listen to what I say ? 
Did I not tell you that these fellows were not men, but devils P 
What do they care for your fine speeches, for your Ishmaeb 
and Abrahams, for China and the Roman eagles, and I know 
not what I May the mothers and fathers of Roinan eagles be 
defiled! Before you speak, they already think you fit for Jeha- 
num ; dp you suppose they will think you a bit less so afiter 
ypu have spoken P No I were a Giaour to speak with the 
tongue of anangd, be stilll would be a Giaour." Then taking up 



AY£SHA. 131 

tbe lapel of hh eloak, and shaking it, wb'dai bis bead tibratod 
in unison, exclaimed, " Allab I Allah ! heaven preserve us 
from such another misfortune 1 we have escaped thia time, but 
see, if you are mad again, shall we escape a second ?'' 

Thus did he go on, whilst Osmond took a survey of his pri- 
son. It was considerably more like a stable than a room ; low>, 
unfloofed and unpaved, and festooned with cobwebs* On one 
side a small iroiHgrattng aflforded a view of the Pasha's court- 
yard, so that every one entering or strolling about might be 
tieen; on the other was the door, fastened by a lock of no great 
strength, and (q)ening into a snail narrow lane, wlueh ter- 
minated in one of the streets c^ the city. Here they were ex- 
posed to the gaze of every one who chose to look through the 
l^rating, and many were tbe expressions of ccmtempt and execra- 
tion which they occasionally heardaddrel^sed to them. It would 
have been no difficult matter to break qpen tbe door and force 
iheir way, but whither could they fly, totally destitute of he^^ 
and surrounded by guards ? It was plain that their best plan 
was to remain quiet, to aOow the storm which had been raised 
to abate, and then, either by stratagem or n^ociation, to sei^ 
«yp<m some fitting opportunity to effect their escape. 



CHAPTER Xia 

I drive back the horses on their haunches frc»n the lofty seat of my thin<- 
flanked Ahjer.— The sword is my father, and the spear in my hand is my fa- 
ther's brother. — 

Hamilton's Antar. 

As soon as the prisoners had left the medresseb, die as- 
sembly broke up, and every one returned home. The result 
was the same as that of a stilt swelling and unsatisfied passioii 
in the human breast : every man who had been present re<- 
eolved in his mind that the Giaour should not leave Kars alive, 
and the whole population might be sind to be impelled by that 
resohition. The Pasha returned to his palace, the Mufti to his 

9* 



132 AYE8HA. 

house, the tattered saint to his mountaia, ahd Suleiman Aga io 

his harem. 

Zabetta had made herself very busy aaiong the women of 
the city, mounting first on a terrace, then on the roof of a 
mosque, then on the nearest projection which overlooked the 
place of meeting, in order that she might ascertain the truth 
of the proceedings against Osmond, upon which depended her 
own future schemes ; and when she had seen him return to 
prison, she bent her steps homeward. The dejected Ayesha 
had not ventured to leave the walls of her home, great as was 
her anidety concerning the fate of her lover. She dreaded the 
results of the morning's controversy; for she well knew the 
inflexible nature of his mind, and was convinced that one so 
guided by principle would never swerve from it under the 
most severe visitation of danger. She also knew the uncom- 
promising nature of the fanaticism of her own countrymen, 
and how totally useless even the most convixicing arguments 
would be in turning them from the path of their religious faith. 
She had therefore made up her mind to the worst; and as sh« 
sat at her window, listening with breathless attention to the 
least noise which arose in the city, she expected every mo- 
ment to be called upon to hear of her lover's destruction. In 
her distress she could not long remain fixed on one spot, but 
wandered to and fro from her apartment to the house-top, and 
from the house-top to her apartment, in restless agitation. At 
one moment her cheek became pale with fear ; at another her 
whole frame was dissolved in tears of the deepest grief — then 
she would pause and endeavour to gain relief from prayer, 
burying her face in her hands, and sobbing out her supplica- 
tions to the foot of the heavenly throne for the safety of her 
lover. 

In this state, she heard the door of the house open and close 
again, and recognised the footsteps of her mother, followed by 
her slave. She could scarcely refrain from rushing out to 
meet her, forgetful of veil and every precaution which a Ma- 
homedan woman always takes before she issues forth; and at 
last when she saw her enter, she trembled so violently that 
her limbs refused to do their office, . and she almost fell head- 
long on the floor. She had sufficient strength to exclaim, 
^'Does he live?" and would perhaps have lost all sensation, 



AYESHA. 133 

hfid she not been instantly revived by hearing her mother 
answer, '' He lives-— the dogs have not killed him yet P This 
quick revulsion was succeeded by its concomitant evils — vio- 
lent hysterics — ^an almost total extinction of life, and then a 
flow of overwhelming tears, which brought on the usual ex- 
haustion and relief. Any one but so heartless a creature as 
Zabetta would have devoted herself to the care of this most 
interesting maiden, who throughout her distress had exhibited 
feminine loveliness in its most bewitching character; but, Teav* 
ing her to the care of the kind-hearted Nourzadeb, she merely 
thought of planning her own schemes and pursuing her own 
inventions. By the time Suleiman Aga had returned, his 
daughter had in a great measure recovered her self-com- 
posure, and although her recent violent emotions had left her 
a prey to languor and dejection, still she was well enough to 
receive and converse with him. 

Suleiman Aga, as before stated, was a bigoted Mahomedan,; 
lie bad heard all that Osmond advanced with dogged obstinacy, 
little understanding the drift of his speech, and predetermine4 
not to assent to a single argument; but still he was pleased at 
first to find that he had obtained a hearing from the as- 
sembly, and that it had evinced a disposition to be tolerant, for 
he hoped that this augured well for the conversion of his future 
son-in-law. Whilst his mind was firm in his own faith, his 
thoughts would wander to Ayesha, to whom he hoped to bring 
a good account of the result of the meeting; but when the tu- 
mult broke out, and he found that all his hopes were dispelled, 
his naturally tacit nature was roused into more than usual 
viol^ice, and, catching the maddening infection, he was ^oon 
4he foremost in the crowd, forgetful of Ayesha. and of every 
softer emotion, exciting, its violence towards the destruction of^ 
Osmond. 

By the time hehad reached his home, his fury had in a great 
measure abated; and he was hastening to complete his 
composure through the medium of his favourite pipe, when 
he was startled by the wan and dejected appearance of his 
daughter. She soon read in his looks that there was no 
hope left, and would have quitted him ; but with all his intole- 
rance he was kind-hearted, and calling her to him, said, ^^ Aye- 
-sha, my soul, what has happened P'' 



134 AYESHA. 

^< You know uriiat has happened/' answered the brokeo^ 
spirited girl : ^* Let the decrees of Allah prevail — What can 
we poor creatures do P" 

^* Allak iertm— God is merciful I" returned her father with 
a deep-drawn sigh ; ^ What can we do, the Giaour is mad t 
what can we do ?" 

*^ You must save his life 1'^ exclaimed Ayesha with great ear- 
nestness. ^^ Set him free ; let him depart. As you love A1-* 
lah ! as you bend to his holy decrees I as you are a servant of 
his Prophet ! you must not allow the blood of the innocent man 
to be upon your house ! After all, you are the person to speak! 
Go to the tribunal of justice ; say you insist upon his being set 
free — let him depart in peace !" 

Suleiman, who had been so active in exciting his townsmen 
to destroy the unbeliever, sat sullen and silent at this appeal ; 
and as one between two roads, uncertain which to take, stands 
stock still, he remained fixed to his seat, unmoved and unde- 
termined. At last, full of the same uncertainty of purpose, but 
anxious to be removed from the immediate influence of hit 
daughter, he suddenly rose, and uttering the never-failing 
^< Bakalam^^we shall see T' retreated with haste to his own 
apai*tment. 

In the meanwhile, the Pasha, who occasionally would have 
visitations of wisdom, particularly when it was to oppose the 
designs of the Mufti and the priests, issued his orders through- 
out the city, that on the fidlowing day he would exhibit to the 
people feats of wrestling, to be succeeded by a camel-fight, and 
to finish by a grand gameof ./er^cZ. Nothing could be better 
calculated to extinguish one excitement by producing another 
than this order, for nothing was more relished by all ranks than 
such sports. The whole scene was to take place in the great 
court of his palace, under his immediate direction ; and as h^ 
himself was devotedly (bndof the excitement which it produced^ 
preparations were made with all the splendour which Turic^ 
ish grandee; genercdly put for^ on such occasions. We have 
already shown that he was a great patron of wrestler^*; he 
possessed the first of his species in that line : his camels, were 
also some of the finest in Asia ; and his horses, as well as. 
t heir riders, were said to be equal to any in the Kurdistan. 
I^hus provided, he always took the field with superior adva»^ 



AYESHA. 135 

tage I and as soon as it was known that Peblivan Pasha was 
about to ^ve a jertd party, all the neighbouring agas, or chiefs* 
immediately flocked to the city, mounted upon their favourite 
horses, and accompanied by their adherents, to partake of the 
sport 

On. the following morning, the whole city was on foot in an- 
ticipation of the pleasure of waiting for them. Parties of 
horsemen were seen entering the gates by five or six at a time, 
and, proceeding to diflTerent coffee-houses, they alighted U> 
drink coffee and smoke, in order to await the hour of meeting,, 
whilst their steeds were picketed about in various places, rend- 
ing the air by their shrill neighing. The women too, in readi^-^ 
ness, had already taken post on the walls and the tops of the 
houses which surrounded the scene of action, all clad in their 
white veils, looking more like spectres than those whom we 
are wont to call Nature's fairest half. Though unseen, they 
were not unheard ; and althoii^h their charms were concealed, 
their tongues, loud and unceasing, showed, even among Turks,, 
that they had a great deal to say for themselves. A conspi- 
cuous and elevated place had been swept, carpeted, and 
cushioned, for the reception of the principal agas and visiters ; 
whibt the kiosk, which looked immediately on the court, was 
prepared for the Pasha, the Mufti, and the principal men of 
the city. As soon after the noonday prayer as was convenient 
the world began to assemble, and it was. not long before the 
greatest portion of the inhabitants had managed to. eoUect- 
tbemselves into compact masses, covering every wall, crowning 
every heap, and overwhelming every spot ; in short,, doing 
that which other mobs do, excepting, perhaps, that the mob 
now in question might vie with all others in quiet, sobriety, and 
dignity of deportment.. At length the Pasha,, and the other 
dignitaries, having taken post, and having smoked and said, 
^^Khosh geldin^^ and retorted, ^^ Khosh buldouky^ a signal 
was given, and the Pasha's chaoush led forth two wrestlers into 
the arena. Indifferent performers at first began, and were 
followed in quick succession by others, until the Pasha's cele^ 
brated negro came rushing on to the scene, like a Hon longing 
for his prey.. He threw every one that was opposed to him 
with uninteresting facility ; and the Pasha would willingly have 
sent fot^ Osmond to oppose him, and indeed was about to lend 



136 AY£SHA. 

himself to the cry of '' Giaour ! haniah Giaour ! — Where i^ 
the Giaour P^' whieh some of the negro's enemies tauntingly se(, 
up, wh^n he was checked by the fear that his appearance 
might give rise to a religious tumult, which probably would 
put an end to the day's sport. 

The wrestUng was: succeeded by a set-to of camels. These 
otherwise passive creatures^ at certain^ irritating seasons are apt 
to be very furious. When male is brought face to face to male,, 
all their evil passions are awakened, apd the moment they are 
at liberty they fly at each other with corresponding violence., 
At ^ given order from the Pasha, a magnificent camel, his 
mp^th white with foam, his tongue performing curious convo-. 
lutions, emitting loud and hoarse cries, was led forth by two 
];uen, who were scarcely strong enough/to restrain his impe- 
tuosity. He was gaily caparisoned with a saddle of crimson, 
green, and yellow cloth, his head being decked with a bridle 
glittering with inlaid shells and worsted tassels;, he was, more-: 
over, ornan^ented about the upper arm of the leg with arm- 
lets, also inlaid with shells. This fine animal now no longer 
wore the usual calm and patient^spect of his race ; for his na- 
ture appeared quUe changed ; his neck and head were erect, 
his eye fla3hed fire, and, the moment he perceived his oppo- 
nent approaching from an opposite quarter, it was almost im- 
possible to restrain him. 

At the word ^' GitsirC' from the Pasha, both the animals 
were slipt from their rein, and they rushed upon each other 
with astonishing agility. Their mode of attack is very much 
that of wrestlers ; their bite is terrible, but, being both 
muzzled, they were harmless. They made the most dexterous, 
use of their necks as well as of their legs in trying to throw 
each other down, twisting and writhing, giving way, then advanc- 
ing with contortions the most singular, which, although grace- 
less, were neverthless not deficient in picturesque effect. The 
Turks appeared much interested in. the result of the fight : 
from anxiety they could scarcely smoke— -bets were laid — 
their own calm nature, so like that of the animal itself,, was 
rouged, and more words were heard among the crowd at that 
moment than perhaps are ever spoken throughout the year at 
Kars. At length the result was declared to be in favour of the 
Pasha's camel, who, by certain able combinations between hi$ 



AYKSHA. 137 

neck and legs, had managed to pin his adversary to the ground, 
where he lay motionless and unresisting, until he. was at 
length dragged away, amidst the exclamations of Mashallah I 
and Evallah ! of the surrounding audience. 

The camel-fights continued, in varied succession, to take up 
the time until the day began to decline, when the court was 
cleared Id admit the horsemen for the exhibition of thejerid. 
Whoever has witnessed this exercise in perfection among the 
Turks will, I am sure, own that it is the most manly that can 
be devised, requiring more courage, agility, and skill than any 
other, and developing in the finest manner the energies both 
of the rider and his beast. Two parties of horsemen arrange 
themselves on opposite sides, and gradually engage in a gene- 
ral skirmish, armed M^ith a staff or javelin about five feet long, 
and as thick as one^s middle finger, which they lance at each 
other, in the fullest speed of their horses, with the straightness 
and strength almost of an arrow from a bow. It is usually a 
contest between man and man; for, either by animating 
shouts or by gestures, the parties individually select each other,, 
and proceed to dart the fiercest blows which their strength and 
dexterity can command, alternately the one in flight, the other 
in pursuit, thus sometimes inflicting very serious if not mortal 
wounds. 

Osmond, Mustafa, and Stasso had, by way of beguiling the 
tedium of their confinement, by turns taken post at the iron- 
grated window which looked upon the court, to see the sport,, 
when a little old woman, whom Stasso recognized to*^ be the 
old Caterina, stepped close up to it, and, watching her opportu- 
nity, threw in a small folded slip of paper, and straightway 
disappeared. Osmond immediately took it up, aiid found within 
it these words written — *Fly for your life — your death other- 
wise is certain — Allah preserve you!' His , whole frame shook 
with secret transport as he viewed this note, for he well knew 
whence it came— it could have been dictated by none other 
than that faithful heart which beat in response to his own ; but, 
in looking hopelessly around his prison, he asked how he could 
fly — where were the means? He paced his miserable room, 
deeply reflecting what he could do to save himself, for he 
knew but too well how true were the words which he had just; 
read* 



138 AYESHA. 

The jertd party had now begun its movements. A dense 
body of the pasha's officers and guards, mounted on the finest 
horses, richly caparisoned, their mouths foaming and fretting 
under the heavy bit, curveting and uprearing, were arranged 
in due order on the one side, whilst a corresponding body 
of Kilrds, men of the plain, and agas from the villages and 
hill country, were placed on the other, the whole dressed in 
cloths, velvets, and silks of every hue, their various orna- 
mental arms and accoutrements glittering in the sun : fornufig 
the most brilliant combination of men, horses, rich drapery,, 
and fine colouring, that can be conceived, and, perhaps, ex- 
ceeding in picturesque beauty any similar combination in any 
other part of the world. After a pause, previously to the first 
onset, a sensation was observed among the assembled horsemen, 
which was caused by the appearance of the Pasha in person 
among them. 

He had stripped himself of his heavy furred pelisse, and had 
put on a light silken wadded jacket, which fitting tight to his 
shape, set off his herculean shoulders. Mounted on a powerful 
Turcoman horse, whose sleek and shining coat showed at once 
the excellence of his breed and the superior care with which he 
was tended, and whose magnificent trappings, glittering with 
gold and embroidery, shone conspicuous above all others, he 
was altogether a striking personage. He wore a shawl on his 
head ; his legs were clothed with an immense pair of cloth 
shalwars, that hung in folds to his ankles ; and the vigour with 
which he bestrode his saddle, and wielded his jerld, showed 
that of all the combatants present he was the most formidable. 
He threw the first javelin, and this became the signal for en- 
gaging in the sport. The whole mass was soon in motion. 
At first, those who engaged proceeded with wariness and 
caution. One cavalier was detached from the Pasha's party 
towards that of the KArds : advancing .at a slight trot, he gra- 
dually approached, discharged his jerld at the foremost man, 
^ni immediately turning sharply round, fled at full speed, fol- 
lowed by the antagonist whom he had selected, who in return 
threw his javelin with all the force and dexterity which he 
could muster. The retreating horseman, with head looking 
behind, and with an eye accustomed to watch the direction of 
the coming weapon , was ready either to catch it as it glanced 



AYESUA. 139 

by htm, or to throw himgelf entirely under his horse's belly if 
ha saw it about to take effect, and then, with unparalleled 
dexterity, when discharged, to stop his horse at once with a 
sudden jerk, turn and pursue again, until, his javelins being 
expended, he was obliged to seek for more, either picking them 
off the ground with a crooked cane, which he had for the pur* 
pose, or receiving them from the hand of some valet whose 
business it was to collect and distribute them. This took place 
in succession with every cavalier present, until Jthe whole were 
engaged ; and as the fray increased, in the same proportion 
increased the animation and tigour of both the horses and their 
riders. The noble animals, enjoying the sport as much as the 
men, were soon bathed in a white foam; and, their eyes flash- 
ing fire, their nostrils expanded, every muscle stretched to 
the utmost, and their whole being changed, exhibited them- 
selves in attitudes and forms which perhaps are never seen 
excepting in this sport, or in actual warfare. Their riders, 
too, whose usual dull and phlegmatic humours make them look 
more like automatons than living beings, were now not to be 
recognized — every look was animation, every gesture agility ; 
and as the engagement continued, their cheerings increased 
into shouts, which, mingled with the trampling of their horses 
and the clatter of their trappings and accoutrements, afforded 
as true a picture of a real battle as can well be imagined. The 
Pasha kept aloof, and did not engage in the heat of the fray, 
but every now and then, when he found his opportunity, he 
selected some more aspiring or more successful horseman above 
the rest, and did him the honour of throwing his jertd at him, 
seldom failing at the same time to confer the distinction of a 
broken head. 

There was one among the rest who was more distinguished 
by the Pasha than the others. This was a Kilrdish cavalier, 
magnificently dressed : his varied-coloured silken head-dressi 
hung low over his face, and in combination with his immense 
fflustaohes, which curled up to the corners of his eyes, it wa& 
with difficulty that his features could be distinguished. Then 
the large crimson bag or pouch peculiar to the Kilirdish head- 
dress, terminated by an immense blue tassel, was larger than 
those appendages usually are, and seemed to be turned over 
his head on purpose to throw as much shade upon his coun- 



140 AYESHA. 

tenance as possible, which, to say the truth, was sufficiently 
remarkable. He rode a horse which might have vied with 
the Pasha's in beauty, but which certainly excelled his in 
activity; it was coal-black, a rare colour in those countrieSj 
and not generally in high estimation, but in this instance gave 
the lie to the received opinion among Asiatics, that it denotes 
a vicious and bad temper, for nothing was ever more docile or 
sagacious than it appeared to be during this day's sport. It 
was seen carryjpg its master into the thickest of the fray, now 
advancing, then retreating, with the rapidity of lightiung. He 
was rather of a slight figure, but full of muscle and nerve; 
and the astonishing feats of horsemanship which he exhibited 
were the remark and admiration of the whole field. The 
Pasha had twice selected him as one of his victims, had given 
him chase, and had launched his jerld at him without effect. 
It was in retreating before the Pasha the second time, that be 
had dashed his horse immediately under the small grated 
window of Osmond's prison, and had stopped there in order 
to pick up one of his own favourite jerids. 

Stasso had been posted there some time before, admiring 
the feats of this man, longing himsielf to be one of the party, 
and criticising in his mind th^ action of every horseman. His 
eye had, however, been riveted by the distinguished Kiir4 
more than by any other— -he thought he had seen him before; 
there was a certain turn of his. back and shoulders which was 
familiar to him. Still he argued within himself that he never 
could have known so magnificent a personage ; his acquaintr 
ance ran more among grooms, guides, and muleteers — ^no, 
he never could have known a Kurdish pasha, for such h^ 
esteemed him to be, of such high pretensions. However, 
looking with all his eyes at the man, who was then standing 
close to him and stooping down to pick up his javeUn, to his 
astonishment, under the flow of silken tassels that skreened 
his eyes and brow, he discovered his old friend Hassan the 
Surugi, whose life on a former occasion his master had saved. 
His heart rose into his mouth at this important discovery— r 
without one moment's delay and consideration, he exclaimed 
loudly, ^'Hassan Aga, Hassan Aga, bak — look." The Kurd, appat 
rently annoyed at being recognised, was about leaving hisjerid 
^nd turning away his horse, when, on raising his head, his ey? 



AYBSHA. 141 



caught Stasso's. His surprise was great at seeing one whom 
he had long thought gone; he immediately recognised the man 
whom he had known as the Boshnak, and quickly said, " Ne 
oldou — ^What has happened ? Upon which Stasso in a low 
and mysterious manner said to him, " When last we parted, 
you told me, should we ever be in want of your services, to 
apply to you. If you are a man, Hassan Aga, be faithful: to 
your word; release my master from this prison, and depend 
upon his gratitude." The Kurd heard these words with 
attention, put up his finger before his moutli to enjoin secrecy, 
and straightway dashed his horse again into the thickest of 
the fray. Stasso of course continued to watch his movements, 
but, to his utter disappointment, the Kurd proceeded in his 
career of sport, apparently totally unmindful of him or his 
master. 

The fray had now risen to its highest pitch. The Pasha, 
whose anger had been excited at being foiled in his two attempts 
to] plant a blow upon the gallant Kurd, had determined to 
make a third, and launched out his horse at him with all the 
vigour which a pair of sharp stirrups to his side could give 
him. He approached him jertd in hand, roaring out at the top 
of his voice, ^^Y^allah^ Y^allak, Agam!— In the name of 
Allah my lordl" when Hassan turned his horse sharply round, 
and retreated on the fullest speed, throwing himself entirely 
under his body, merely hanging by the mane and by his leg, 
which he hooked on to his saddle, thus giving the Pasha no 
one good spot upon which to deliver his javelin; which he did, 
however, on the under part of his large brass stirrup, so that 
the only result was the ringing noise which announced his ill- 
success. Immediately upon this, Hassan was on his saddle 
again, and, turning with the greatest agility upon his ponderous 
adversary, who, according to the laws of the game, was 
obliged to retreat in his turn, he lashed up his horse to the 
highest pitch of his mettle, and this time, heedless of the re- 
spect due to the Pasha's rank, which as a point of courtesy 
always prevented a return of the attack, he delivered his well- 
poised, his unerring jertd, immediately between his highness's 
shoulders, which indeed presented a noble target, and so nicely 
between, that the weapon, meeting the back-bone, bounded up 
high into the air like a rocket. Seeing this, Hassan^ to com- 



Ui AYESHA. 

plete his triumph in the eyes of all the field, (for a pause had 
taken place to witness this feat^) dashed his horse forward in 
the direction of his javelin^ and with hand erect and arm ex- 
tended, succeeded in catching it firmly in his hand, ere it fell 
to the ground. Such an exhibition of dexterity was hitherto 
unknown to the Turks; and although at the expense of the 
Pasha, all those who had seen it, could not refrain from ex- 
claiming aloud, ^^Aferin! Aferin! — Mashallah! Mashallahr 
This applause, added to the mortification of having received 
so palpable a blow, aroused all the Pasha's passions. He 
felt himself insulted, and, what was still more galling to him, 
he felt that he had found his superior in skill, and, moreover, 
that that superior was a Kurd, one of a people whom it is the 
fashion in Turkey to despise. Immediately, in his fury, he 
turned again upon Hassan; and his own ofiicers and ad- 
herents, who were never sorry to insult the Kurds, seeing 
how it had fared with their master, were not slow in catching 
his rage, and, one and all, made a most formidable chaise 
against the adverse party. The game, from being a ^rt, 
became a fight — their cries of mutual cheering and excitement 
were turned into cries of insult and invective — '^ Kurdish 
hogs! Sons of the devil l" were roared out by the Turks; 
*' Long-bearded asses ! Filth of Omar!" were returned by the 
Kurds. Jerids flew as thick as hail — horse was inqpelled 
against horse, and the air rang with the shock of breastplates 
and stirrups. The Pasha was seen urging on his men — Has- 
san bounded on his furious steed from one side of the fray to 
the other. At length a Kurd was brought to the^ ground by a 
Turk, the dismounted man, in falling, fired his pistd, and 
killed the Turk ; then a general cry of '* hand to the sword^* 
issued from both sides, and a scene of life and death took 
place, which not unfrequently terminates this sort of tourna- 
ments. 



AYESHA. 143 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ThenDe Florence ra^'d as anie madde. 

And dydd her tresset tere ; 
O staie mye hnsbaiide, lorde, and lyfe ! 

Sir Charles thenne dropt a teare. 

Chatterton. 



The raging of the battle had assumed so loud and threatening 
a character, that its clang and uproar roused Osmond from the 
train of thought into which Ayesha's note had thrown him, and 
brought him to the window. Stasso stood there, likewise^ 
and, pointing out Hassan, related what had so recently taken 
place between them. Osmond was musing on this circum- 
stance, and a ray of hope dawned on his mind that through 
Hassan's means some mode of escape might be devised, when 
Stasso, with a look of despair, shrugging up his shoulders, said, 
^^ He is a devil — all K&rds are devils 1 I have watched him 
ever since he left me, and be seems to have heeded my words 
no more than the wind.'' 

Mustafa, who had lent his ear to what Stasso had said, was 
too happy to put in his word of invective against Hassan and his 
countrymen, and said, ^' If you trust in that bit of villany, you 
will only find how well he can laugh at our beards. They come 
all from one dunghill : May their mothers — may their fathers, 
be bought and sold I • If you want a dog, look at him for the 
first dog in Roum." 

The battle was raging ; the first pistol-shot having been fired, 
a burst of shouts came from the Mrds, a roar of execration 
rang through the Turkish band; the confusion and uproar wa» 
at its height, when a pushing and vibration were observed by 
Stasso at the door of the prison, followed by an attempt upon 
the lock. He hastened to the spot, when he heard the words. 



144 AYESHA. 

" Atch! — open! vour! — strike, break!** spoken in a low and 
most cautions tone : ^' I am a friend — I come from Hassan. 
Horses are ready, break down the door, and you are free!'* 

These words acted like magic upon the three prisoners : a 
thrill of delight ran through the whole frame of Osmond ; Stasso 
instantly lent his whole strength to the work, and Mustafiei stood 
by in silence, apprehensive of treachery. The door of the pri- 
son opposed but a slight obstacle to the strength and ability of 
so many. The friendly hand thrust a stone under the door, 
and Stasso, having immediately seized it, began to batter away 
at the rude lock, heedless of noise — for what noise could be 
heard in the clamorous din that was going on around them? 
Osmond discovered a bar in a dark corner of the prison, and 
using it as a lever under the door, soon found it most effica- 
cious in forcing it off its simply-formed hinges. The expulsion 
of the door was the work but of a few minutes. When it began 
to fall, the prisoners were curious to see who might be their 
deliverer, when, to their surprise, they found, not Hassan as 
they had expected, but a stranger, a Kiird in dress, who said 
little, but showed how much he was in earnest by furthering 
the work of demolition to the utmost of his power. At length, 
having secured an egress, Osmond cast his eyes around his pri- 
son by ^^ay of bidding it adieiT, and looking out of the grated- 
window for the last thne, there, to his surprise, he saw Hassan 
still in the thickest of the fight, dealing out his blows like an- 
other Rustam, and apparently totally heedless of his, Osmond's 
fate. At first, he also suspected treachery, but, when he recol- 
lected that none but a friend could have effected this first step 
towards an escape, he boldly followed the Kilfcrd, accompanied 
by Stasso and Mustafa. 

The mysterious guide glided down the narrow lane into^ 
which the door of the prison opened, at the farther end of 
which stood four horses, which, by their heated appearance, 
evinced that they had recently been in active service : he 
himself mounted one, and desired Osmond and his attendants 
to mount the others. This they did without a minute's delay, 
and, the guide leading the way, they wound through the streets 
with haste tempered by caution, which indeed might without 
much fear have been neglected, seeing that the streets were 



AYE8HA. 145 

aitirely deserted; for sneh of the itthaMtftnts as hstd rettiaihed 
behind ts iirat^b the housed anfd shops had abandoiied them, id 
lesatn the r^asoift of the inereasiBg fttry of the fray. 

Tfaey iH^ily mdde good theii' escape ftott the eity. This 
being aeU6V^, thd giiide iihmediafely strth^k iiito a path lead- 
ing to the fieslr^St moimtainS, and haVinrg i^iSlcfaed a small 
tiiiaed btnldii^, the reniaitiS of one of those mkny Arm^niati 
ehurdies so ft^quently seen about this part of Asia, be there 
told iketik they must await ih^ Arrival Of Hassan Aga, his chief. 
They dismoented^ and the guide tying the horses^ nose^bag:s to 
theii^ heads (for these they always carry with thein), allott^ed 
tl^na to fe€^. To the faithful Stasso, however, it bccarred 
that this delay might be turned to a better account; for, baViiig 
pefcefved bow little danger of detection there ^as in passing 
throcrgh th^ eity, he proposed to his master ftat he ^oilld 
returrn, make for the dyer's house, and redeem the arms Whidh 
&ey had therein secreted, and which ^ete now became af- 
tides of tfa^ first necessity ; whilst at the sam^ time he migbi 
easily carry away Siieh other effects as were nedessary for fais 
dress AuA c&mfott. To this Osmond slowly assented, atrd tio 
sooner was it proposed than put in practice. Stasso, having 
mOuntckl his borse, took bis departure, but he had scarcely 
proceeded an hundred yards ere be heard bis mastet^S Voice 
caUiiig upfWi him to return. 

E^er since OsmoEkt bad received in the prison the note fVoM 
Ayeelba^ he had been impelled by a violent longing to see bei* 
before bidding her adieu, perhaps, for ever. Seeing bis ser- 
vant depart to seek the very spot where she lived, produced a 
desire to accompany him, stronger than any consideration of 
tnee ; and he forthwith determined so to do. Mustafa 
the guide, hearing him call for his horse, interposed 
ibemselves, and would almost have used violence to prevent 
this evidently rash koU but, finding him resolved, sill they 
eotild do was to entreat him to return Without the smallest 
delay, seeing that Hassan might join them at any moment, and 
that the safety of all depended upon A speedy flight from Kars 
aofd its neighbourhood. 

Osmond and Stasso soon fotind themselves at the gate of 
the dyer's house. The good Ai^menians stood all aghast when 
they tiaw them enter. Bogo^ bad carefully i*efrained from 

10 




146 AYESHA. 

beiDg present at the morning's exhibition, having learned freoi 
experience how dangerous it was for Christians to show them- 
selves when there was a chance of a conflici between Ma- 
homedans ; and now that the conflict had actually tnken place, 
he still more carefully kept at home. Having upon theirarrival 
ascertained who his guests were, he allowed them to enter, 
and secured their horses in the court of his house. He would 
have overwhelmed them with attentions, but they desired him 
to desist, for that they were on a business of life and death. 
Stasso immediately flew to the well-known spot where he 
should And his masters' arms and effects, whilst Osmond as- 
cended the terrace. As the latter scaled the steps which led 
to it, his heart almost leaped into his mouth from excess of 
agitation. He paused ere he ventured upon the last step, and 
then looked around him — he heard the noise of the conflict 
still going on in the direction of the Pasha's palace. Every 
thing on the terrace remained as he had left it. The love- 
liness of Ayesha upon her first appearance on that very spot 
came strongly to his recollection. He advanced some steps 
towards the opening of Suleiman's terrace : the first object 
that caught his eye was a praying-carpet, which seemed to 
have been spread preparatory to devotion, and from' this he 
concluded that Ayesha might soon appear. After the miseries 
which he had undergone, he could scarcely believe Ikat he was 
so near the enjoyment of happiness. He saw traces of Ayesha 
in many things which lay around ; she had evidently been 
passing some of her time on that spot. There was a cushion 
near which she had been seated ; the temporary veil, or large 
covering which Mahomedan women throw over their heads 
when they look from the terrace, rested upon it ; near it was 
a cambric handkerchief. Osmond took up the handkerchiirf: 
it appeared to him that this was not an article of dress usual 
to Turkish women, that it was evidently a European's handker- 
chief — he knew enough of women's work to be certain that the 
sewing had never been executed by Turkish hand&nhe inspected 
the corners, and to his surprise saw in one of them the remains 
of a European mark — the letters were almost obliterated, but 
it was plain that there had been letters^: — he was lost in con- 
jecture. But a few minute^ had palsed in this ooeupaition, when 
he heard voices at the foot of the ^irs leading to Suleiman 



AYESHA. 147 

Aga's terrace, then the rustling of clothes, and at length some 
light steps ascending. What was his ecstasy — his overpower- 
ing delight — the next moment to see his beloved! She ut- 
tered ajihriek at seeing him — a deadly paleness came over her 
-^she tottered, and was only supported by his arm. What 
pen c^n describe, or what words can sufficiently give an idea 
of their mutual sensations! In a few words he told her how 
he had been released, and how he had succeeded in getting 
thus far. It would be impossible to describe the look of love 
and interest^ mingled with apprehension, which beamed upon 
the features of the maiden as she turned her eyes towards her 
]over — it was the perfection of beauty, for Osmond at the 
moment thought that nothing human was ever like it. But the 
endearing confidence which his presence inspired, was the 
moment after broken and blasted by the fear and apprehension 
of discovery : — at one moment she would cUng to him with 
rapture, at another retreat from him with the chilling ap- 
prehensi(»i that the demonstrations of her love were but so 
many steps which might lead to his destruction. Instead of 
appearing to enjoy his presence, she only seemed anxious to 
see him depart Every moment, she felt, was pregnant with 
danger — she looked around with alarm to see if any one was 
espying her actions — she drew her lover with precipitation 
behind^a projection, lest they might again be seen from the 
adjacent minaret, that ofispring off all their miseries! It ap- 
peared to her that the air was studded with eyei^, beaming 
their full glare upon her — there was no concealment at hand. 
Osmond did all in his power to control her fears — he entreated 
her to hear him with composure. As he pressed her to his 
heart, he poured out the assurance of his ardent love — he did 
not know what futurity might have in store for him, but this 
he knew, that he was determined to five only in the hope of 
one day possessing her. He disclosed to her his conviction 
that there was some mystery in her present situation, which 
had given rise in his mind to doubts almost amounting to con- 
viction that she was not the daughter of Suleiman and Zabetta; 
and he assured her of his determination, if he lived, to en- 
deavour to clear them up. He alluded to the handkerchief 
which he had just seen, to the locket and the coin which he 
Jiad before observed. He entreated her to reflect deeply upon 

10* 



Uft AYE8HA. 

all their past conversations, — perhaps she might hear what 
he had advanced in the assiembly which had been convoked 
to oppose him. He entreated her to live in the certainty that 
he wotild never abandon her — adding, that he was obliged t6 
te^ve her now in order to secure both from the death which 
otherwise would eertainly be inflicted upon them, but that 
many evebts might interfere to bring them together again, and 
ihek*ef6r^ he again conjured her to live in hope. 

Ayei^ha lent the most anxious ear to all he said, although at 
the i^ame time her whole being seemed to be abroad to W^tch 
ag^itist danger. They were interrupted by the ha^ty footstep^ 
of Sta^sO, who, nishing up to the terrace With the arms of hii^ 
master, would have dragged him away at once, so full of ap- 
pt^hension was he lest any further delay might be the caus^ 
of their destruction. Osmond having thrust his pistols into his 
girdle, atd [^trapped 6ti his sabre to his side, assnrcid him ihkl 
h^ wotild instantly foilow, atid ordered him to g:0 and prepare 
the hbrses. Stksso retreated, shaking his head, and doubting 
his master's Wordis. Osmond then returned to Ayesha, who, 
in her turn, opened her whole heai't io him ; told him of her 
grief -^ of her feats tot his safety ; ai^sut-ed him that ih^ would 
adhere to every wdrd 6f advice which he had given her \ that 
she Would live in the hope of being his ; and that, if Constancy 
wfer^ evei^ to fo^ ^Uttd in the breast of Wom^tt, it shotiU be ih 
hiiTi. tt)Vers' Vows ate perhaps this *ame in all pwts of the 
world 5 therefore, it will be needless to describe more of those 
whieh w6te mutually repeated on this occasion, excepting to 
temind thfe r^ade^ of the extraordinary circumstant^ under 
W^ich thfey were m^de. 

The hitherto undistutbed continuatiou of theit interview 
pr6du6fed Cbttfid^nee, and they both begin to lay by part of 
Ihei^ flears, Whfen, providfentially, they wete brought to a sense 
bf their situatiou by hearing the rkttlin^ steps of ^ hon^e ap- 
proach ilong the psiyed street it ftiil j^illop, M6i^ed at a dis- 
tance by the steps of other hot^e^ at the sime i^p^ed, i^scdnfi- 
^anied by shouts afid oecisionil pistol-shots. C^tnond 
Ittimtidiately thrust hi^ head ovet the i^arat)et tit the ti^ri^, 
and to his dismay he reeognized in iAie ipproacliing hotiiiitikau 
the brilHautly-dresised figure of Hasi^aU, the Sbhigl, urging his 
horse on to the utmost of his speed, and at a distaube peric^Vi^ 



AYESUA. |4a 



several of the Pasha's guard equally impellii^g their horsie^ in 
pursuit At one glance h^ ^w the state of the ca^e, apd aware 
of the imprudeace of fiirther delf^ying bi^i departure, he wa§ 
obliged to $icr«w up his pourag^ to l^avie Aye^bft- She saw 
the necessity more vividly than he could dp. She would have 
gone with him ;. her whole existence seemed to beeom^ a^ a 
thing of nought, now that ahe wa$ to be deprived of him in 
whom her pwa being v»s identiQedi hut, the dapg^r^ viih 
whieh he was about to be assailed bursting at oQce upon her 
imagination she threw herself upon bi^ hreas<! and wispt aloud ^ 
whilst at the same time ^he impelled him gently tow^^rds the 
descent of the Armenian's terrace. Qsmpiid was turniAg[ ml 
his mind what he could leave with her as a^ token of \\\^ Ipve ; 
the only thing which he conjd give her ^t the mpwent w^ ar 
Turkish ring, with his own n?irae, Q^wiu (^fter the Oriental 
mode of pronouncing it), engraved nppn it, and frpm this be 
entreated her never to part, bnt to deliver it tp him when it 
i^hpuld please Heaven tp bring tl^em tpgether again* A shot 
(ired close under the walls of the terrace reminded bim agfain 
hpw necessary it was to depart, and, with one sudden wrench». 
h^ darted away from his drooping mistress. 

He hastened down the stairs, received the benedictions of higf 
bpst on his passage, threw himself on his ho?^^, and, witU 
Stassp following, dashed boldly into the street. He fonnd 
himself at pnce in the centre of a band of th^ Pasha's horsemen 
who were in full pursuit of Hassan :^-r-dres^ed like them? he 
was not noticed, but passed for one pf the pursuers. Casting 
one longing look upwards, he caught the form pf hi^ Ayesha, 
who was straining all her eyes tp ^ee the la§t pf a)l thl^t ^he 
held most dear ; and, having received frpm ^heJT a siijn of re- 
cognition, he pressed the flanks of hip steed, ^nd m^de equal 
way with the band amongst whose ranks, he rode. They soon 
cleared the streets of the town, crowded through the narrow 
^ate, and then, swprd in hand, made for the bridge. A^ a short 
distance he perceived the flying Hassan making head ftgainst 
his pursuers, although he remarked with dismay tha^t three pf 
them rode horses whose speed was as great as hj^ pwn, and 
who seemed likely to come up with him. 

Having got into a more open space, and his hof^c being less 
worn than either those of the pursued or the pursuers, he 



15a AYESHA. 

urged him forward with redoubled impetus ; and as he bounded 
over every impediment, he came up with the three Turks, who 
were preparing to seize or destroy their victim. Their words 
were full of exultation ; fierceness and determination were de- 
picted in their features. " Kelb, rfwr/— dog, stayT roared 
one. " Anna sena baba sena! — I will destroy his father and 
mother!" cried out another. ^^Pezevenk ! — wretch P' exclaim- 
ed the third. The one with whom he first came up was just 
taking a long aim with his carbine at Hassan, rising on his short 
stirrups and leaning over his saddle-bow, when Osmond, with 
a blow of his arm, knocked the weapon from his hand, which 
instantly delayed his career. The second horseman, who had 
his hand extended with a pistol, intending also to discharge it at 
Hassan, seeing what had happened to his comrade, and re- 
cognising Osmond at the same instant, fired at him; the ball 
passed through his turban without touching his head. This 
immediately brought the attention of the headmost man upon 
Osmond, and, sword in hand, he reined in his horse, in order 
to discharge the whole force of his arm upon him as he should 
pass ; but our hero, who now saw that he had but one effort 
more to make and he was safe, with great dexterity parried the 
blow aimed at him, and with still greater, extended his arm, 
and succeeded in cutting the bridle-rein of his antagonist in two, 
thus leaving him to the mercy of his horse, who soon bolted 
out of the road, and carried him away more in a line with his 
own stable than with Hassan^s route. 

Thus, having got clear of his enemies, and delighted to find 
that Stasso was close upon him untouched, his next object was 
to make himself recognized by Hassan, who was evidently mak- 
ing every preparation to receive his pursuers with a gallantry 
equal to any part of his day's exploits. " Hassan Aga !" roared 
out Stasso. " Hassan Aga !'^ exclaimed Osmond. — "Stop, in 
God's nameT cried one. — " It is the Frank; the Turks are 
gone!" vociferated the other. Nothing would do; Hassan rode 
on, heedless of every thing. He occasionally looked behind him, 
but only saw Turks in his rear, and therefore, perceiving no 
change, he still rode on. At length, Stasso calling up his loud- 
est voice from the depths of his lungs, roared out, " Hassan 
Surugi, stop!" This appeal struck Hassan at once. He had 
flattered himself that no one could have recognised him as a 



AYESHA. :5l 

Siirugi, and therefore the circumstance of being called such^ 
brought his attention to a closer scrutiny of his pursuers ; and 
as soon as he discovered who they were, for they had now ap- 
(NToaehed very close, the gloom of his countenance was dis> 
pelied, and joy broke out upon it in a manner seldom seen upon 
an Asiatic face. 

Having got clear of his Turkish pursuers, who had perceived 
how useless would have been any further efforts, Hassan gra- 
dually drew in his horse's rein, and allowed Osmond and Stasso 
to come up with him. When he found that it was to his for- 
mer deliverer from danger that he was again indebted for life, 
and particularly when, looking at the shot through hb turban, 
he saw how nearlv his own had been sacrificed, he would have 
dismounted from his horse to kiss his skirt ; but Osmond would 
not allow of any acknowledgments, seeing that he owed his 
liberty entirely to Hassan's exertions. Indeed, this was no time 
for unnecessary delay ; they might again be pursued by the 
Pasha's horse; their jaded horses might be overtaken by fresh 
ones, and it behoved them not to lose a moment in leaving 
Kars at as great a distance behind them as possible before the 
shades of night came on. Taking the direction of the spot 
where Mustafa and the guide lay in wait, they soon added them 
to their party, and then, keeping their horses at the best speed 
they could, they struck across the plain in an easterly direction, 
through paths well known to Hassan and his comrade. Little 
was said, for the attention of the whole party was taken up in 
looking constantly around them, so apprehensive were they still 
that their steps might be traced. They were yet in the coun- 
try under the Pasha's control, and therefore thought it right to 
keep clear of all habitations; and it was only when night had 
closed in upon them, that Hassan thought he might with safety 
despatch his comrade to a village, in order to provide corn for 
their horses, as well as provisions for themselves. They waited 
at a convenient distance until this had been successfully per- 
formed, and then struck into a more uninhabited tract ; they 
sought a sequestered spot, a cavern on the side of an arid slope, 
well known to Kurdish freebooters, and there they determined 
to pass the night. Having reached it, they at length dismounted 
from their jaded horses, and each, after their respective creeds, 
offering thanks to Heaven for their deliverance, they proceeded 



158 AYESHA. 

to settle tbe^l$eIves for tbe nigbt HaMan aii4 bia comrade 
took phar^e of th^ bprses, which they picketed ^Q9^ to them ; 
apd replenishing their nose-bags with corp^^h^ poor hrutea seea 
forj|;ot their fatigue in the eiyoyment of their fepd. Stasso ihen 
made a Gre, and by means of stakes, cut in a neighhoinriDg 
thicket, he managed to make a spit wherewith ^ roaflt a pieee 
of kid^ which, with sundry flaps^ of bread, foroied the evening's 
xoea). Mustafa took the concoction of the coffee under bis sur 
perintendence ; whilst Osmond, extended upon a horseoloth, 
endeavoured to collect his thoughts, ^d tQ eome^ to 30me eoiir 
ehifl^ipns upon the best QOnrse which he pirght to pursue in the 
present posture of his affairs. The 'm?^ 9f bi(» Ayesb^ wai 
interwoven with every scheme which h^ ventured to fompi; asl 
when he turned his mind to his r? latioi^ apd frienAsi m Eagr 
land, he sighed as he thought how gpiput w^ the distanfie 
betw^ep them, iand bow many evei^ts n^st uptervene ere he 
copld hope to iind himself restored to them in safety. A^ for 
his more immediate schemes, he had not hitherto ascertaioel 
from Ha^i^ap whither it was his intention to conducft 4^bi ; hirt 
he was determined to allow himself to be glided by him ; for 
be felt that not to place confidence in a ipan who h^ do^e ^ 
mueh for himt would be at once bese and upw^se. 

Stasso having announced that the kid ^^as sufficiently routed 
to be eaten, Osmond called all the party together around hisi, 
$ind baviog seated them in a circle, the me^t w^ placed ki tb^ 
midst upon a flap of bread, and few words were ss^id ere the 
whole had disfippeared by the vigorous ^ppUcaticm pf filiger^ 
and jaws. Water from a neighbouring rivulet washed dPWP 
the coarse materials which their voracious appetite^ (O^mpndV 
^t lea3t) alone m^de them devour^ and wbon Miist^f^ bad fm- 
dueed his coffee^ and they were all seated aroiind, p^Qb wUb a 
refreshing aiid ponsolatory pipe in \ns vapuihj tbey bad entirely 
forgptten the dangers and fatigue^ of the d^y m the 9fe^^t 9nr 
joyment. 

Osmpnd, bemg ansipus to ascertain wb^tber it was Ha^s^iiV 
il^te.ptipi:( to cppdu0 them, ^^^ ^so to discover who be w^s, 
9inee bi^ pr^senit splendid appe^rapce sepmf^d igcprnpf^tihle "ffii^ 
bis former bumble avocation of Surugi, requested him to giy^ 

^ Bread in this part of Asia, and tkrevghout Persia, is rolled out into 
4ktte^ed porticos, like large pancajees. . 



AYESHA. 153 

SQ^e accomt of himself, premisiag tb^ quesUoq by makiag bim 
^ipc^re prpfe^siop^ ef gratitude for baving tbiii^ s^ved bjm from 
tblB yiolwpe of the fuH^ish autborUi^ of Ran». 

tf ^i^ap WW ft w^ry fpUow, and would ncv^p have qous^nted 
U> cg.wnilt bipis^lf by tbe ftvpwaj wbich Osnao^d requiried, b^d 
mt ftll cqnppftbw^pt b&^n now useless ; he tbercfpre agreed ^p 
hi^ repei^^ mi ke%%^ as foUowi^ :r-^ 

'^ I am your plave^rr J am uotbiflg'^r-wbat^ver you will order 
ipe to be, tbat I aiP. You saw me first as a guide, and a driver 
of baggage-borses ; I am, bowever, no Surugi-^I am Cap*a Bf^y V 
priQcipal officer, tbat's wbat in trutb I am. I am his ki^y^h, b^ 
4epi^: — I sit in bis plac^ wben be is absent-r^hp i^eposp^ muoli 
confidence in me. S<)miptimps I appear as a Surtigi, whe^ jt 
is necessary to acquire intelligenqp of wbat pa^e^ on t^p r<>ad, 
of wbo comes and wbo goes ; and as such I appeared to ypu* 
At the time during^ wblPb you were trayeHing, when, by the 
blessing of Allah! you saved my life, my master was lyiag ifi 
wait for a caravan that was to pass into Persia. On the road 
we met two pf his horsemen, sent to ascertain wbo you were; 
I ordered them to return, and we passed unmiolested^-^this is the 
history of tbat transaction^ I have not appeared at Kars, where 
I am npt Jqiown as a Surugi, since that time— but the npws of 
thp Pasha's prpjected Jerld party having reached us, I asked 
Cara Bey's leave to attend it — in the first place, because I am 
devotedly fopd of the game, and in the next, because J had re- 
ceived an insult from one of the Pasha's officers, which I jlopged 
to revenge, and I hoped that I should on this occasion fiqd a 
fitting opportunity for that purpose. I was permitted tp gp 
— -I bestrode my be$t horse, one of the finest in the Kurdistan 

— six pf my owp men attended me, and op the appointed day 

we appeared jn the fieldf opposed, with other agas, to i1a^e 
Pasha's faprsemen, I perceived my enemy, and I determined, 
ere the day's sports i?^^ere ended, to revenge myself upon bim' 
either by fair means or fpul. The moment I discovered jrour 
situation through the means of the Bo^bnak," pointing to 8tasso 
as be spoke, " my plan was laid. I determined to return the 
Pasha's attacks upon me, and I knew that this would lead to 
a serious affray, during the noise and confusio9 pf which you 
might escape. Mrds and Turks mutually hate each other, and 
ihe least spark is always sure to kmdle the fire of their pa^siops 



154 AYESHA. 

into a flame. I told him/' pointing to his comrade, " to dis- 
mount three of our men, to appropriate their horses to your 
use, and to release you from prison : all of which I knew he 
€0uld perform, for he had done the same service to myself some ^^ 
years ago. I then returned the Pakha's attack upon me, by 
discharging a jertd at him with all my best violence : this made 
him angry, he rallied his men and made a charge upon ils. 
My enemy was the first who fell ; he received my pistol-ball 
in his head, and shrieked out my name as he writhed with pain. 
I urged on the engagement to the utmost in my power, for 1 
hoped that, during the noise and excitement which it would 
produce, you would be able to cflFect your escape. You know 
the rest : but for you I must have fallen a prey to the three 
Turks who so closely pursued me. And now, O Agam! O my 
master! what more can I say?'' 

Osmond made all appropriate acknowledgments of the gra- 
titude which in reality he felt, and expressed his admiration at 
the ingenuity and presence of mind which Hassan had displayed. 
Even Mustafa could not refrain from exclaiming " Mashallah!'' 
and finding himself safe in his person, secure from immediate 
molestation, and, moreover, with a cup of coflfee in his mouth, 
he seemed, for the present, perfectly at his ease. But 
when he heard that Hassan intended to conduct them to Cara 
Bey, and moreover that his master acquiesced in that inten- 
tion, his lips forgot to sip, his mouth to inhale smoke, and 
he remained with his face and mustache perfectly agast ! He 
did not venture at this moment to speak his sentiments, for the 
lieutenant of Cara Bey, who sat before him, was too formidable 
a personage to displease, and therefore he reserved himself for 
some future opportunity to warn his master of the dangers into 
which he was thus voluntarily thrusting himself. Cara Bey 
had always been the one object of his fear, whenever, crossing 
this part of the frontier between Turkey and Persia, he carried 
despatches to and from the British Embassies of Constantinople 
and Tehran : he had always avoided his castle, as the seat of 
misfortune. Such stories had been related to him of his cruel- 
ties, his personal prowess, his cunning in attacking and robbing 
caravans, of his hatred of all Mussulmans, and of the great 
ability which he had displayed in setting at nought all the au- 
thorities which were opposed to him, that to fall into his hands 



AYESHA. 155 

with one's eyes open, and in full possession of one's understand- 
ing, a ppeared to him an act which none but a madman, and be 
also thought in his own secret mind, none but an Englishman, 
j^j^ld perform. Thrown into deep cogitation by this prospect, 
all he could do was to comfort himself with a deep-drawn 
''*' Allah kertm der — God is merciful ! " sighed from the bottom 
of bis throat, and delivering himself to kismet — fate, he laid 
himself down on the bare ground with bis companions, who had 
already long buried their hopes and fears in the arms of sleep* 



CHAPTER XV. 

As glowr'd the louts, amaz'd and cnrioas, 
The mirth and fun grew fast and farions. 

Burns. 

The sensation which had been created throughout the town 
of Kars by the engagement which had taken place, had entirely 
driven Osmond and his controversy from the heads of its inhabi- 
tants. Nothing was talked oflf but the machinations of Cara Bey ; 
for, his officer having been recognised in Hassan, he was accu- 
sed, and indeed not unjustly, of having been the instigator of the 
mischief. Curses came from every mouth upon Yezidies — and 
in cursing Yezidies they of course included Mrds ; then upon 
unbelievers, among whom Osmond and all Franks were freely 
comprehended. The Turk whom Hassan had slain, was an 
officer high in the confidence of the Pasha, and consequently 
that dignitary's wrath was excited in no small degree on that 
head ; but, if the truth were known, perhaps it would be found 
that his indignation bottomed more upon the recollection of the 
blow which he had received between the shoulders from Has- 
san's jerid, than upon the death of his servant. 

It was only at night-fall that the door-keeper of the prison^ 
upon returning to his charge, discovered the escape of the 
prisoners. A Turk's misfortune, whatever it may be, soon 
finds relief in exclamatory words. On this occasion the jailor 
exclaimed, '* Alia bela ver sin — heaven send thee a reverse !'* 



150 AYES^A 

^^ Anna sena^ baba $ena satim-^l b^ve sold your ^ther and 
mother r H?i qpnlinwed to e^^halc^ tW ^f\^n m grower fyvm 
of ^P6Pq}1i 9Pt tP bci triiQslatedi wbioh, duly q^cuk^t^^) $efi»cid 
to ^ooth^ his q^tvire into resigjp^Uon at ih^ decreeisf of d^^y- 
H« qompletpd his Qpii^olatipn by fiU'mg hi^ pipe, mi fitting 
down ov^r ftgiiip^t the se^t of his mi^fprtune, puffed away his 
<:^p, f^lid restored his equanimity, A^ h^ pppder^d QV^r tho 
fiyent, ^nd reflpcted duly upop the copsequep^^ wh)^ might 
in the qpursp of thiM^ accrue to himself, he d^tepixiiped, in the 
present state of excitement of men's minds, and of the Pasha's 
and the Mufti's in particular, to defer the communication of it 
until the following morning. He scented an immediate basti- 
nado to his own particular feet if he spoke now — he hoped that 
nothing more than a slight iGine would be imposed if he deferred 
till the morrow. After the Pasha had risen on the next day, 
the jailor, having ascertained that he was refreshed by a bath, 
and that his kiej\ spirits, were in proper order, ventured to 
make the disclosure, and with great humility of mien and atti- 
tude stood before him. " Ne oldou — What has happened ?' 
said the P^sha, upon seeing the man, and not till then recol- 
lecting that he held a Frank in custody. '^ As I am your slave," 
said the jailor, " I have things to say."-^" Speak on," said 
the Pasha.^ — " A$Iam your slave," returned the jailor, stroking 
his beard down at the same time, " the Frank is gone."— • 
" How !" exclaimed the Pasha : " whither i^ he gone ?"— 
" What do I know, sir ! he is gone." — " How did he go ?" 
asked th^ gr^at man, pondering deeply. '^He opened tlie 
door and ran away," sajd the jailor. "PeA: ayi-^vevj 
well," said the chief, with much complacency ; upon which 
quietly slapping his hands, to call his attendants, he ^aid to bi$ 
principal chokhadar, in as composed a manner a3. if he was 
about ordering his dinner, '^ Here, give this nian one hundred 
strokes on the soles of his feet." The poor wretch began to 
cry out ^^Aman^amanl — pity 1 pity 1" — rNothipg would do; 
he found that his prognostics were true ; and, bendipg himself 
to the decrees of fate, calmly took oiF hi^ ^qcks and slippers, 
spread himself out on his back, put his feet into the noos^, 
received blpws-^got up, stole away to his pipe? mended the 
prison-door, and continued to perform his functions, mutteriQg 
to himself " Alla-h has been raer<riful ! well it wa§ ^P WQPSe." 



AYE8HA. I5t 

The PiBLSkhAi hemtig s<$iit ikiforniatioti of whtit had tnken 
p\BLtf^ to iht Miifti, fb«it iih^Utit pe^soMg^^ m hour befoi^ 
the noon-day prayer, made hi^ app^ai^ance ; attd ^ft^r a Bhori 
conferekiee, they determined to si^nd for Suleiman Aga^ and 
whoever dde tti^gfai be concerned ^ in order to $ee wbdt ttiight 
be^t b^ jone on the occiiston. The A^hole party being 
<;6QVened in thie Pli^ha^i^ rootn, y^t^ seated in sol^ttiti compos- 
sure upon hi^ ijid^figts, smoking long pipe^. Upon investigatini^ 
th^ causes 6( Odtnond^s escape, th^ dt'Cnm^tanoe df hi^ hltvin^ 
kid^ that of Hlisdan by his attack Upon the thre6 horsemen^ 
!M t6 th^ dis<^6?(^ry that ht and hi:) sei'vant had been ob^rved 
to i^^ue tt^jt the A^M^nian dy^r'i^ ^duH-yard^ armed and 
mounted^ An order \^s iirtmediAtely dent for the appearance 
of the nnfoiKunkte Bd^, who, with blanched eheekg and 
trembling frame, soon stood b^f^^e th^ ^s^iiiiblidd chiefs. As 
soon ad he appeared, every one presient seein^d an^iouB i6 
Bkhkie hiin With sonie appt*opriate epithet. '< Kuipek Offlu — 
son 6f a dog f Skid bne. '' Hog of an infidel !" said another. 
" ^oAc^At^^diing^monger !" elclaimed a third. " Where is 
the infidd Frknk?" enquired the Mufti ; " speak, or jehanum 
Will be your fate I" The poor Armenian could not op6n his 
lips fi^m ^xt^d of fear. ** Speak— corte, let us see," said 
the I^anhft in his slowest manner. ** Where Is he gone ?'^ 
enqtiii'ed Suleiman. " Where are hife goods ?" inquired the 
Mnfti. At this question Bogos took courage, and immediately 
gnv6 stich information as he possessed of the different commo- 
dities which Osniond had left behind him itt the way of lug^ 
gage. Thfci^e wks A {)ortmanteaU containing Clothes, there WttS 
a d^essing^ase, then a niedicine chest, books, drawing mato'- 
riate, charts, itnathemsltickl instruttienls-^in short, every sort Of 
thing which English travellers cdirry about for comfi3t*tj cleanli^- 
ness, and acquiring information. 

Bogos^ aceompaniH by an officer and guards, wak strkight^ 
Wdy despatched to his house to bring from it every thing Which 
belonged to OsMond and his servants; and ere the Assembled 
di^nUkHes had had tithe to enjoy mnch more of their beloved 
coffee and litres, the Arknenian again stood before them. The 
ettd of the kpartment Was heaped up with the diflferent aHiele^ 
wliioh bdl been found, and curiosity having been greatly eii- 
eited by Ihe eilhibiykm whic^ had been made of them as ihey 



158 AYE8HA. 

were paraded along the street, great was the rush of those whc 
wished to obtain a sight of their contents when they should be 
brought to light before the Pasha. 

First, the contents of the portmanteau were exhibited. It 
principally contained Osmond^s clothes. In succession were 
displayed, waistcoats, neckcloths, shirts, drawers, and stockings, 
which drew forth the astonishment of all present, for they 
wondered what one man could possibly want with so many 
things, the uses of most of which were to them incomprehen- 
sible. They admired the glittering beauties of a splendid 
uniform-jacket, which its owner carried about to wear on ap- 
pearing at courts and in the presence of exalted personages; 
but when they came to inspect a pair of leather pantaloons, 
the ingenuity of the most learned amongst them could not 
devise for what purpose they could possibly be used. For, 
let it be known, that a Turk's trowsers, when extended, look 
like the largest of sacks used by millers, with a hole at each 
corner for the insertion of the legs, and, when drawn together 
and tied in front, generally extend from the hips to the ankles. 
Will it then be thought extraordinary that the comprehension 
of the present company was at fault as to the pantaloons? They 
were turned about in all directions, inside and out, before and 
behind. The Mufti submitted that they might perhaps be an 
article of dress, and he called upon a bearded chokhadar, who 
stood by wrapped in doubt and astonishment, to try them on. 
The view which the Mufti took of them was, that they were to 
be worn as a head-dress, and accordingly, that part which 
tailors call the seat, was fitted over the turban of the chok- 
hadar, whilst the legs fell in serpent-like folds down the grave 
man's back and shoulders, making him look like Hercules with 
the lion's skin thrown over his head. 

" Barikallah — praise be to Allah !" said the Mufti, " I have 
found it; perhaps this is the dress of an English Pasha of two 
tails 1" " Aferiii — well done !" cried all the adherents of the 
iaw. But the Pasha was of another opinion ; he viewed the 
pantaloons in a totally different light, inspecting them with the 
€ye of one who thought upon the good things of which he was 
fond. ^'For what eke can this be used," exclaimed the chief, 
his dull eye brightening up as he spoke — ^'what else, but for 
wine? Tbi$ is perhaps the skin of some European animal 



AYESHA- 159 

Franks drink wine^ and they i^rry dieir wine abont in 3kins» 
as our own infidels do. Is it not so?'' said he, addrei^ng 
himself to Bogos the Armenian. ''So it is/* answered the 
dyer, ''it is even as your hi^ness has commanded.'' — "Well 
then, this skin has contained wine,'' contiaoed the Pasha, 
pleased with the discovery, "and, by the blessing of Allah 1 
it shall serve us again." — "Here," said he to one of his ser- 
vants, " here, take this, let the Saka sew up the hoi^, and 
let it he well filled ; instead of wine it shall hold water." 
And true enough, in a few days after, the pantaloons were seen 
parading the town on a water-carrier's back, doing the duty 
of mesheks. But it was secretly reported that, not long after, 
they were converted to the use for which the Pa$ha intended 
them, and actually were appointed for the conveyance of his 
highness's favourite wine. 

In the lid of the portmanteau was discovered a boot-jack, 
with a pair of steel boot-hooks. These articled put the inge- 
nuity of the Turks to a still greater test. How could they 
possibly devise that so complicated a piece of machinery could, 
by any stretch of imagination, have any thing in common with 
a pair of boots, a part of dress which they pull off and on with 
as much ease as one inserts and reinserts a mop into a bucket? 
They thought it might have something to do with neci*omancy, 
then with astrology, but at length it struck them that the whole 
machine must be one for the purposes of torture ; — what more 
convenient than the hinges for squeezing the thumb, or crack- 
ing the fmger joints, — what better adapted than the boot-hooks 
for scooping out eyes ? Such they decided it to be, and, in 
order to confirm the conclusion beyond a doubt, the Pasha 
ordered his favourite scribe to insert his linger between the 
hinges of the boot-jack, which having done with repugnance, 
he was rewarded for his complaisance by as efficacious a pinch 
as he could wish, whilst peals of laughter went round at his 
expense. The instrument was theii made over to the chief 
executioner, with orders to keep it in readiness upon the first 
occasion. 

The various contents of the dressing-case were next brought 
under examination. Every one was on the look-out for some- 
thing agreeable^ to the palate, the moment they saw the nume- 
rous bottles with which it was studded. One tasted eau-de- 



100 AtESHA. * 

cologne^ aDOthdt' lavifenit»i^WMfer, both ^v^hich th&f thought 
might ^P teight ik>l be Ft*afik lUxaried in the way of cordials. 
But who ^ti dedlM*ibe th^ face tl^hieh WAd tnade by the Pasha 
hitnself wh^tt^ atlraot^ by the brilliancy Of the colduk*, he tossed 
off to fai$ oiwh dridblttg th<d gt'eat^t^ pan of a bottle of tincture 
of myrrh! The Mufti wai^ a mati whd tt^Vei' laughed, bttt even 
he^ otl s^c^rtg the eohtoHion^ of his colleague, (iould hot sup- 
press his merHment; whilst th^ metilab arOund were obliged 
to look lotin, their fe^ rehiiudiiig th^ni of the countenance 
they ought to kee{y^ if they hoped to keep themselves free from 
the stick. 

WhiUt ih^ wAb taking plabe, the Imam of the mosque, 
who$# mortified looks belied hi^ loVe Of good things, quietly 
iibst^acted from the ca^e a ^ilver-moutited box, which having 
opened, he there discovered a paste-like substance, the smell 
of which be thought was too inviting to resist; he therefore 
iflserted therem the end of his for^fmg^r. And, i^(^oopiti^ out d^ 
much as it could carry^ stl^aightway opened wide his motith 
And received it ivith a smack. Sooii Was he visited by repent^ 
akice t'-^he would have rOared with nausea had he not beeii 
afraid of exposing himself— h^ sputtered — he spat. ** What 
has happened P" dAid otie with A grin. '^ ^aA:^-^see !" roared 
the Pasha, who was delighted to have found a fellow-sufferet' 
— *« Biik-^s^el th^ Imam i^ siiJk.^' Hife nature of the sub- 
stance which he had gulped sooti discovered itself by the white 
foam which WAs seen to issue from his mouth : then other feel- 
ings pervaded the assenibly 9 they Apprehended a fit, they feared 
madness— in shott^ such was the state to whieh the utttdi^- 
tunate priest was rediiOed^ thAt he Was obliged to tiiake a t^apicl 
escape from the assembly^ etefy One mAking WAy for him, as 
one who is not to be touched; The reader needs tiOt be ih- 
formed that he had ilwAllowed a lat*ge dose of Naples soAp. 

Many were the misti&es which oeciiri^d besides those above- 
mentioned, and which k would pethapi^ be tedious Or trifling tO 
enumerate. They ]^ttdered deeply over every article ; they 
turned the books upside down, they spilt the mercury from the 
artificial horizon, broke the thermometers^ displaced the baro- 
meter, scattered the mathematical iuBtrumebti^ about, so that 
they never could be re-inserted in the case^ A small ivory 
box attracted their attention : it was SO prettily turned, sO 



ATESHA. 16} 

"ti^it, and so ornamental, that, like chMren quarrelling for a 
toy, each of them longed to possess it. At length it was ceded 
to the Mufti. This sapient personage had enjoyed the plea3ure 
of laughijig at others^ but as yet had not been laughed at himself. 
Twisting the box in all directions, at length he unscrewed it, 
much to his satisfaction, and seeing a small tube within, sur- 
rounded by a butidle of diminutive sticks, he concluded this 
must be the Frank's inkstand — the Uquid in the tube being the 
ink, the sticks the pens. He was not long in inserting one of 
the sticks into the tube ; he drew it out, and on a sudden in- 
stantaneous light burst forth. Who can describe the terror of 
tlie Turk? He threw the whole from him, as if he had dis- 
covered that he had been dandling the shaitan in person. 
*^ Ai Allah /" he exclaimed, with eyes starting from his head;, 
his mouth open, his hands clinging to the cushions, his whole 
body thrown back : — " Allah protect me I Allah, Allah, there is 
but one Allah T' he exclaimed in terror, looking at the little box 
and the little sticks, strewn on the ground before him, with an 
expression of fear that sufficiently spoke his apprehension that 
it contained some devilry which might burst out and over- 
whelm him with destruction. Nor were the surrounding Turks 
slow in catching his feelings ; they had seen the ignition, and 
had partaken of the shock. Every one drew back from the 
box and its contents, and made a circle round it: looking at it 
in silence, and waiting the result with terror, low ''Allah 
Allahsl" broke from the audience, and few were inclined to 
laugh. At length, seeing that it remained stationary, the ludi- 
crous situation of the Mufti began to draw attention, and as he 
was an object of general disUke, every one who could do so 
with safety, indulged in laughing at him. The grave Suleiman, 
who had seen more of Franks than the others, at length ven- 
tured to take up the box, though with great wariness ; he was 
entreated, in the name of the Prophet! to put it down again by 
the Pasha, who then ordered Bogos, the Armenian, to take up 
the whole machine, sticks and all, and at his peril instantly to 
go and throw it into the river ; swearing by the Koran, and by 
all the Imams, that if the devil ever appeared amongst them 
again, he would put not only him, but every Armenian and 
Christian in Kars, to death. 

There only now remained the medecine-chest to be exa^ 

11 



U2 ATE9HA. 

mined, but, seeing whal hadliappeiied, every one appeared hoi 
little anxious to pursue the investigation, fearfWI of some new 
disaster. However, when Bogos had explakied that it was to 
this the Frank bad recourse when he required medicine, al 
that moment every Turk present seemed impelled with a desire 
to take some ^ and, indeed, they would have proceeded to help 
themselves, had not the Mufti interposed, who, still with the 
fear of some satanic influence before bis eyes, entreated thea 
to refrain. But an expedient occurred to him which he im- 
mediately put into practice. He sent for as many Jews as couM 
be found upon the spur of the moment, and ordered th^a to 
appear before the Pasha. A few of these miserable outcasts 
Irved at Kars under the severest of tyrannies, and if ever any 
misery was to be inflkted, were sure to come in for the first 
share. Very soon after the order had been given, some half- 
a-dozen of them were collected, and marshalled in a row at 
the end of the room. The bottles were taken out separately 
from the chest, and a c^tain quantity, ad libitum^ of every 
medicine was administered to each of jthe Jews. They were 
then conducted into an outer room, wbere they sat in doleful 
mood, watching their approaching doom, like men condemned 
to some severe punishnaent, bewailing their misfortune, and 
in their hearte wishing for the destruction of their tyrai^ 
The effects produced upon each were as various as they were 
effectual : the Turks looked on in horror,, the Jews were ab- 
sorbed in disgust. ^' AUab^ Allah I'' was exclaimed by every 
looker on ; and by the time the whole ceremony had drawn to 
a close, they became att seriously convinced that their towD 
had been visited by the great Evil One in person : the medidne- 
chest was put on one side with caution, and everything which 
rdbited, directly or indirectly, to Osmond, was retreated with 
becomii^ suspicion. 

The whole circumstance of his apparition at Kars^ and his 
sudden departure, was duly weighed by the Pasha and bis col- 
leagues, as one of considerable importance. Those who did 
not believe that he was the devil, were fuUy persuaded thi^ 
he was soflMthing more thsm a mere man. The whole town 
had been thrown into confusion by him ; his history was fiiH 
of mystery He was called Osman, and stiU he was a Chris* 
tian ! He was a Frank, and stilt he spoke their language as if 



im yj^n A Tiirifet H« mme frovn the Notth/ Md yet b^ t^a^ 
hei^r Atsq^^tsitti with ttr^ fe^tijs and inilfrtiefd of fhe Estisl 
ih«ui dieir i)^ost leartied scribes t He eam^ nebociy kiieir wften, 
«&d (Ksappear^d nobody knew boir ! Thai h^ wadf leaded 
i|rit)i' the Evil Spifif was evident, sinee he was seen in company 
wiitb one of Un mosrt eel^fated worsUp]fH^^». The more fhe 
TiKrifts pondei^d over evi^ry cit^nnn^tanc^ of hJs appearance, 
ibfe nxore (hey shook thdr heads, and doubted whether all Was 
a9 it should be. 

Suleiman Aga was the chref 6f the doubters. He had seen 
the fascination which Osmond had Exercised ov^t' his daughti^ ;! 
afipd he even sftongty opitied that Zab^^V more tfaai^ oi^* 
nary violi^nce had been caused by his inHuenee. 'the mote 
pious Mussttlmans advised that a general purt^ation of the 
etty should take place. A rumonr of the massacre df iXt kt^ 
fldels wa» whispered about; but what was nrged ^ a ^epiff 
the ffa*st importance was, that an expedition ag^in^ all wine 
atnd wine-Wbbers should be proclaimed. This took place with- 
<mt delay; and ere the stm had set on that very d^y, not ^ 
wine-jar was to be found unbroken, nor itii contents nni$pil)ed, 
throughoirt the city. 

The Pasha, during all this confusion, was the only Man ti^hor 
^ not partake of the frenzy which seemed to h^rve'^etzed the 
inhabitants. He did not cease to d^ptoi^ the hm of Osmofod"; 
for, from the moment whes he last ordered hitti td^ pj^isob, he 
had hoped to secure him as hi» Pehlivntt %^, oi^ prineipal 
prize-f^hter; and, whether he dealt with the Ev9 One, or lief, 
it signified little to the Pasha, provided b^ eeuld possess a man 
who was powerful enough to throw evety other on his badk. 
fiesides, he was chimed to have it in his power to teMo the 
Mnf£ry and never before had he seen that worthy s<r sObdtaed, 
a» when Osmond stood over him with a pistol to hisr breast. 
The destruction: of the wine-jars he would ^t^Ilingly have pre- 
vented ; but what could he do against the priesthood ? He 
knew that, when once they were roused, nothing could with- 
stand their power, and therefore he found it advisable to appear 
to side with them, in order that hereafter they might grant him 
a more ample dispensation to crack bottles for his own gratifi- 
cation. 

When Suleiman Aga returned to his house after the occur- 

11* 



164 AYESH4. 

rences just described, he found his wife impelled by more vio> 
leuce than she had ever before exhibited. The departure of 
Osmond had deprived her of the hope which she had cherished 
of making him an instrument in her projected emancipation 
from Kars. She felt that her fetters were now riveted for 
ever. When would a Frank and a Greek, combined^ again 
appear at Kars, and in a manner so likely to be useful to her? 
She might live to threescore ere such an event happened again I 
In her rage she laid the whole defeat of her hopes on the 
shoulders of her husband; she upbraided him in no measured 
terms; she called him by every base epithet which her tongue 
could devise. The fine theme of injustice, cruelty, rapacious- 
ness, and inhospitaUty, which the treatment of Osmond had 
given her, she freely descanted upon. She called it per- 
secution; swore that it arose out of hatred to her who had 
once been a Christian ; and raved about the revenge she would 
take. She even accused Ayesha of having combined against 
her. When Suleiman was not present, she upbraided her with 
not having made use of her charms so to enslave the Frank, 
that he would rather have given up his religion than have 
abandoned her! She deplored her condition; nothing would 
satisfy her! .. 

Ayesha bore all with meekness; for her spirit was supported 
by the recollections of her last interview with her lover. This 
she kept fondly within the recesses of her heart, as the 
prisoner in a dungeon secretes the prohibited lamp from his 
gaoler. Hope was awakened by his last words ; they were 
to her as the words of promise to the despondent Christian 
on his death-bed. She knew that she could trust in him : he 
had assured her that he would return to her ; whatever migbl 
happen, she possessed that assurance : that was enough for 
her present happiness ; the rest lay in the hands of Providence, 
And here, for the present, our narrative must leave her. 



AVESHA. ' 166 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Tike further I went, and the closer I examined the remains of this vast ca- 
pital (Anni), the greater was mj admiration.— Kerr Porter's Travels, vol. i. 
p. 73. 

Osmond and his companions throughout the night enjoyed 
as deep a sleep as if they had reposed upon beds of down; 
and, ere the day dawned, they and their horses being tho- 
roughly refreshed, had leh their resting-place, and proceeded 
again upon their journey. They travelled at first in silence, 
and followed the steps of their guide without asking a ques- 
tion. Except the trampling of their horses' hoofs, and the 
smoke of their pipes, which, leaving a train behind, scented 
the morning air^ there were no indications of* their march. 

By the time Mustafa had finished his first pipe, he began to 
collect his wits, and then to reflect whither he and his master 
were going. In proportion as his imagination warmed, did 
his fears increase, as he contemplated the moment of meeting 
Cara Bey; and he almost came to the conclusion, that he was 
happier in prison at Kars, with a hope of flight before him, 
than he was now, at liberty and on horseback, bound, as he 
imagined, to certain destruction. He thought and smoked;, 
and smoked and thought, until his mind was perfectly bewil- 
dered in a maze of apprehension and uncertainty : at tunes 
he would resolve to slink behind and run away; but then, 
recollecting what a sorry figure he should cut were he to be 
caught, he determined to keep under the protection of his 
master, and abide by the consequences. At length, watching 
his opportunity, when he remarked that Hassan was at a 
sufficient distance ahead not to be overheard, he stole up 
gently to Osmond's side, and said, with a mysterious air and 
a half-supplicating look, '^ Do you know whither that fellow," 
pointing to their conductor, ** is taking you?" 



"Yes," said Osmond, '*we are going to visit Cara Bey — 
where else can we go P^' 

*^^mdn! Amdnl — ^pity, pity!" exclaimed Mustafa, looking 
pinched and wretched with the cold of the morning, and at 
the same time shaking his jacket. "Cara Bey is one devilt 
You don't know this man I He is worse than all men I He 
euts men's throats for pleasure I — a throat is the same to him 
as a melon, he cuts one with as much indifference as the other. 
Vi! vi! vi! You don't know Cara Bey — the Mufiti of Kars^ 
IS a man compared to him I Why do we go to him P Here 
are plenty of roads and an open country."^ 

Osmond turned round to take a survey of Mustafa's person 
ere he answered % and certainly, had he been inclined to laugh 
at amth^r's ix^sery, he might have so dooe m this instance* 
The poor fellow appeared to have withered up during the 
9ight to less than half the size whidi he was ere he slept-^ 
hfi hoked the jHcture of woe ; bis little &ce esdiibited a ogim- 
powd of various colours — his i^rigs of mu^ache fell ia a 
#maH Arejgk down ^^h oQnier of bis mouth, and bis laiig? 
e^TB |aH)tmded from bis head somewhat like the splashboards 
of a ^sarriage. He sat on his horset cfAd and iU at ease* 
OoeasicmaUy one might bear a vibration of his jaws, as his 
teeth beat mgalnst eiH^ other ; l^ld when be qpokef bis words 
eame oiMi b^twee^i a whine and a moan. 

Osmond smiled at his looks, and woidd have laughed 
outright, had not his proper feelings prevented him from 
jmepeasing the load of misery which evidently weighed dowa 
his companion* '^ Why, Mustafa!" be exclaimed with a cheer- 
iog voice, " one might almost think, to judge by your looks, 
that we were going to have oyr throats cut tpo P" 

" And so we shall," muttered the other between his teeth. 

" Whitha* dse can we go but to Cara Bey ?" continued Os- 
moad. ^^ After bsiymg been saved from destruction by Has- 
san, can we in b^nonr refuse to aeccmpany himP Ypu do mi 
think that he would cut our throats, do youP" 

^^ Allah bilir-^GQi knows I" said Mustafa; "be is one devil 
too." 

"Daril or no devils" said Osmond, " we vm»t follow hm-r^ 
what else can we do P" 
Mustafa thought lo hiiB»«li^ though he did RPt venture to ex- 



AYEBIlA. 167 

^ress it aloud, tiiat they were now tbree to two — that there 
was nothing to prevent them from taking the road they pleased, 
and that in Turkey no one much weighed the dootriue of right 
aoA wrong. However, be satisfied himself by merely shrug- 
ging up his shoulders and ex^claiming, ^^^llah kerim — God k 
merciful t" To this sentiment Osmond fully assented, for be 
too was not without his apprehensions as to what might be the 
result of this part of his adventufes^ He had heard so much 
of the lawless and savage nature of Gara Bey^s character and 
profession, and so many stories of his cruelty to prisoners, and 
of his treachery toward those who had confided in him, that 
he felt he was, in £sict, acting an imprudent part thus to place 
himself in his power. But ^then he reflected t^at he could 
be no object to any man's rapacity, poor and denuded as he 
was. The very horse which he bestrode did Qot belong to 
him, and his guide would soon inform the gang they were 
about to visit, that whatever property he had possessed had 
fallen into the hands of the Turks at Kars. Out, whatever 
might be his doubts or his apprehensions, he always returned 
to the obligations which Hassan's noble conduct bad imposed 
upon him ; and happen what might, he determined that no- 
thing should prevent him from evincing his gratitude for the 
services rendered to him, and that by trusting himself in this 
instance to his guidance. 

Stasso, in the meanwhile, had so well ingratiated himself 
with Hassan and his comrade, that he had engaged them in 
conversation upon a subject which he knew was likely to be a 
matter of great importance to his master as well as to himsell', 
namely, upon the conduct they ought to adopt in approaching 
CaraBey. At first they appeared shy in answering Stasso's 
questions, but» little by little, they allowed themselves to be 
more communicative. It was plain that they lived in the 
greatest awe of their chief — they hinted that nothing but per- 
fect submission to h^ ^<H)mmands could conciliate him^ — that 
he was of all men the most suspicious — that he scrupled at no 
means to gain his ends, and would by treachery, if he could not 
by open violence, get rid of any one who stood in his path. 
Hassan owaed that he never appeared before him without 
trembiing, and although be knew that he enjoyed more of his 
confi4ence than any other man^ still, that he was obliged to be 



l6^ AtESHA. 

wary and eircumspect in all he did or said. He described him 
as superstitious 4o the last decree, and that his faith in the 
power of talismans and amulets was unbounded — his arms 
groaned under the weight of amulets, each containing some- 
thing which he thought might preserve him from impending 
danger. He never stirred without consulting his priest, a most 
noted Yezidi, upon the result of any undertaking, and this in- 
dividual was scarcely ever out of his sight. He passed his 
time between pleasures of the grossest kind^ and preparing 
himself and his gaiigfornew attacks and new depredations* 
To those who behaved with bravery and devotedness, he was 
a Hberal master $ and this, with his -known ability and resources 
m ddnger, was the secret of his power of attaching his follow- 
ers to his person. He was brave himself, and so ardent an 
admirer of bravery in others, that an act of gallantry per- 
formed under his eyes was certain to ensure his^ respect and 
admiration. 

" How wiH he treat ray master?*' said Stasso. 

There was an evident hesitation in Hassan's manner in an- 
swering this question — he looked pei*plexed and in doubt ; at 
length, he had recourse to the only word which could redeem 
him from perplexity, and said, ^BakalumP 

This satisfied Stasso that every precaution should be taken on 
the part of his master, as well as of himself, to secure a prompt 
retreat from Gara Bey's power; and this to be done by stra- 
tagem, if it could not be effected by fair means. He therefore 
determined within himself to notice with most scrupulous atten- 
tion the whole face of the country which surrounded the chief- 
tain's residence; to mark the relative positions of prominent 
points of land; to observe the directions of roads; and, in short, 
to acquire every information which could be of use, should it 
be their lot to find themselves wanderers without a guide on 
the surface of the great tract of country which lay before them. 

They travelled prosperously onwards during the day, laying 
by at noon to give their horses rest. Ca^a Bey's castle, perched 
on a commanding eminence, was seen in the blue horizon, 
as the sun was about to set, and, in order to reach it, it was 
necessary to cross a chain of arid hills, on the further side of 
which flowed the Arpachai — a river which we have before 
named, and celebrated in this narrative for Osmond's feat in 



AYESHA. 169 

having the life of Hassan. The sun set gloriously, tinging €very 
height with his golden beams, enhancing the rnggedness of 
some, and slanting over the gentle declhrities of others ; to his 
dazzling light succeeded the subdued and soft light of the moon, 
which being at the full, rose wkli unclouded beauty, and gave a 
charm to the landscape, glancing in pls^ful $treaks over the 
rushing waters of the river, and throwing long slopes of the ad- 
jacent mountains into unbroken n^asfes of'shade. The five horse- 
men rode quietly onwards, enjoying their security, for they felt 
themselves now within the influence of Gura Bey^s power; and 
although he in fact owned no territory but that upon which his 
castle was built, yet still, such was the ierroir of his name, that 
none but the most fool-hardy would veuture to travel in hh 
neighbourhood, unless in such numbers as to defy his attacks- 
On a sudden, as they turned the abrupt angle of a defile, Os- 
mond's eye was arrested by the vision of what he supposed 
was an immense city. Walls, houses, towers, cupolas, and 
battlements,, arose before him in massive groups, exhibiting to 
his astonished mind, not the small and insignificant structures 
of a common Asiatic town, but the severe and well-defined 
masses of ancient times, such as one fond of classic illusions 
might imagine to have been the residence of Greeks or Ro- 
mans. Although some of its angles were glanced upon by the 
moon, its principail outlines were in deep' shade; the whole bear^ 
ing so dark, awful, and mysterious an appearance, that a poet 
might without much exaggeration have called it " The Spectre 
City.'' Osmond was struck with astonishment, and gave him- 
self up to contemplation : he could think of nothing but the sub- 
limity of the view before him, and did not at first trouble him- 
self to enquire its history: but without enquiry, he was certain 
that what he had so abruptly stumbled upon, could be nothing 
else than the famous remains of Anni, formerly one of the prin- 
cipal cities of Armenia. His companions scarcely noticed what 
so powerfully struck Osmond; for, in their ignorance, they 
passed unheeded any ruins or remains rendered interesting 
merely by recollections of the past. Hassan called them the 
remains of a Giaour city. Mustafa shuddered when he heard 
them called the ruins of Anni, for he knew them to be the 
faead-quarters of banditti, and had always shunned their ap- 
proach with as much care a^ his master now hailed their vici^^ 



170 AYESHA. 

nity with joy. Slasso eyed them with respect, for he recogaised 
the remains of churches among the towering groups, and oc- 
casionally distinguished the sign of the cross; but, when he 
was told that they had belonged to Armenians, his Greek pre- 
judices arose in his breast, and he did not deign to make his 
sign of the cross, which, had they belonged to his own nation, 
he would have done without intermission. 

It was not long before the travellers, having passed the first 
broken outskirts, began to wind through the desolate streets. 
There was not sufficient light to exhibit every detail of ruin, 
and an ignorant observer might have mistaken what he saw for 
a flourishing city, the inhabitants of which had suddenly been 
smitten by the plague, oi^ with one consent had abandoned theii* 
homes and fled. The silence which prevailed was fearful, and 
struck involuntary horror. House succeeded house in sad ar- 
ray, and not a sound was heard. A magnificent structure, 
looking like a royal p^^lace, lifted up its walls and towers, cut- 
ting the clear blue vaidt of heaven with its angular lines, and 
lighted up by the moon in its splendour. The travellers paced 
along at the foot of its walls; the only noise which broke the 
still air was that of the reverberating hoofs of their horses, 
heard in echoes throughout the long deserted courts. Osmond 
would have questioned Hassan, — but observed that he also was 
full of [thought, and rode on with caution as if he feared to 
meet with some unwelcome vision. He looked at Mustafa, — 
who seemed the personification of despair; if ever so awfiil a 
passion would condescend to put up with so diminutive a re- 
presentative. Stasso kept up bis spirits by every now and then 
exdaimimg, ^' Ti di(wolo r At length, very distsmt and in- 
distinct sounds, as if itQm the be^iting of a small drum, acoom- 
panied by ^ange screams or voices of men, either in pain or 
in frenzy, or in outrdgeou$ merriment, stple upon the ear, and 
broke the silent speH which seem^ed to have arrested every tongue. 

'^ What is that ?'' es^claimed Mustafa, as he pulled in bis 
bodrse's bridle and trembled from head to foot. 

«« What can it be P" answered Osmond, not a little startled 
by so strange a circumstance : '4f this were the land of elves 
and fairies, ooa might suppose this ws^ their capita)." 

*^ Hassan Agal" roared out JStasso, '^ tell nve, my soul! what 
has happened — what do we hear ?'" 



AYESHA. in 

Ha«san« 9fter a pause, leadiug his ^ole altention to the 
sounda, after having stopped his horse and again urged it for- 
ward, said, with a voice not the most encouraging, and with 
evident signs of perturbation, — *^ It is Cara Bey V^ 

Mustafa, on hearing these words, would have faUen from hi& 
horse, h^ i^ot his scared senses been restored to him by the 
firmness of his master's voice, who, overjoyed at having at 
length reached the object of their search, urged Hassan to 
push on, a^d introduce him into the presence of his redoubted 
chief. 

They made for die spot whence came the sounds, and after 
having wound for some time through a succession of skeleton- 
like streets, which appeared to be familiar to Hassan, all at 
once he stopped near a ruined archway, the entrance to some 
once large mansion, and desired them there to await his return. 
They did so, and instantly he and his companion disappeared ;. 
the steps of their horses gradually becoming ftiinter as they in- 
creased their distsnoe, until they entirely died away upon the 
ear. 

OsoK^nd dismounted, and seating himself upon the fragment 
of an architrave, the moonbeams darting full upon him, 
whilst his servants stood near him, he leaned his head upon 
hi^ hand, wearied with the day's journey, and gave himself up 
to reflection. 

The mysterious tone which Hassan had recently adopted, 
and his evident peiiurbation at the vicinity of Cara Bey, made 
him reflect that there must be something more in the charac- 
ter of tins man than he had imagined ; and that, if there were 
not danger to be encountered, at least there was a great degree 
of caution necessary to be preserved. Severed times a thought 
would cross his mind that even now he might be free, by avoid- 
ing the meeting with Cara Bey, and endeavouring to mske the 
Russian fr^tier, whidlibe knew could not be very far distant. 
But every time this thought arose, another would immediately 
^l^ose Us^l^ in which tjbe image of his Ayesha was presented 
to his mind in colours so vivid and fascinating that he could 
npt {ureyail upon himself to abandon scenes which might again 
afford him the pleasure of seeing her. He never ceased, either 
difBCtly or indirectly, to fix his thoughts upon her; — to leave^ 
bar for eve^r ^^eajred to him dmo^ ^ great a crime a3 to ab- 



172 AYESUA. 

jure his faith. He had so impressed himself with the certainty 
that she was not a child of Turkish parents, and that her his^ 
tory, if fully investigated, would disclose to him secrets which, 
if brought to light, would lead to the happiness, not only of 
himself, but of many others — that, every time he thought of 
escaping from his present situation and seeking the protection 
of others, he felt that he was doing her an injustice, that he 
was acting cruelly towards her, and that nothing but the most 
positive necessity should ever prevent him from devoting himr 
self to her happiness. 

Both Mustafa and Stasso had watched their master's looks 
with considerable anxiety ever since Hassan had left them, and 
thought that he betrayed symptoms of impatience at his ab- 
sence. The strange noises which they had heard, and which 
still at intervals struck their ear, had much shaken their 
nerves and had given reality to the thousand and one stories 
which they had heard of the life and character of the man they 
were about to visit. They sounded like the midnight orgies 
of some infernal being, and, as they occasionally became 
louder, might have been taken for a sort of flourish pre- 
paratory to the introduction of the demon of wickedness on 
the stage. 

Mustafa could no longer maintain silence, but, overcome by 
his increasing apprehensions, broadly entreated his master to 
take advantage of the favourable moment for escape. He 
pointed out the faciUties which the surrounding vastness of the 
ruined city afforded for concealment ; and asserted that, once 
having regained the plain, there could be no difficulty in eluding 
any search which might be made for them. " Besides," said 
he, whilst he furbished up a momentary bit of courage, ^^ are 
there not three of us? Mashallahl there is you ; then there is 
me ; and here is Stasso. — Cara Bey, indeed! I laugh at his 
mother! Be you but safe, and we do not care a para for him.'* 
At that moment he thought he heard the distant tread of a 
horse, when his valour died away, and he again became silent^ 
through apprehension. 

Stasso, too, urged every argument to induce his master to 
escape. '^ Effendi !" said he, ''who knows what this devil may 
be? We hear everywhere that he is the greatest wretch ever 
known ; that nothing stands in the way of his humour. That 



AYESHA. 173 

Hassan there, even he, told me just now, shuddering as he 
spoke, that he spares neither man, woman, nor child, in the 
pursuit of his villany ; and that you, Effendi, when you appear 
before him, must be very cautious not to displease him : that a 
word, either one way or the other, may excite his wrath, and 
lead to mischief. Let me speak to you now, G my master ! 
there is still time: I have noted every inch of the way — I 
know the direction of all the mountains. The Peak of Aligez is 
not very far distant; and one can never mistake the position of 
Agridagh (Ararat). Before many hours have elapsed we 
could be within the territory of Persia, and then, may the devil 
take Cara Bey ! What say you, Effendi ? Shall I get the horses? 
A word from you, and we are off.'' 

These were words of temptation to Osmond, and suited the 
humour into which Hassan's delay had thrown his mind. So 
long as he was in action, and his thoughts bent upon one object, 
so long had he refrained from reflecting upon the dangers and 
difficulties which he was likely to encounter; but this pause 
had opened the gate for the intrusion of doubts and fears. The 
impulse in favour of Ayesha began to weaken as the delay in- 
creased : he reflected that he might aid her in some more 
effectual manner, by not submitting himself to Cara Bey's power : 
he thought that he might be at greater liberty to reward Hassan, 
were he to place himself in a more independent position than 
he was now likely to be in. Hassan himself, by this delay, 
perhaps wished to afford him an opportunity of escaping : he 
conceived that it might not be looked upon as a breach of 
confidence were he to do so : in short, arguments for taking 
this step now flowed so fast, that he was on the point of ceding 
to them. He rose from his seat; Stasso had brought his 
horse close to him ; Mustafa was already mounted, and Osmond 
was actually about to put his foot into the stirrup with the 
determination of departure, when horse's footsteps were heard 
approaching with such speed that there could no longer be any 
illusion. Mustafa's tremot^s came on again ; Stasso said '< Ti 
dmvolo /" within his teeth ; and Osmond seated himself in his 
saddle, ready to await the result. At length Hassan appeared : 
he came in haste, and apparently full of care. All his words 
bespoke haste. '' Come, cornel" said be, '' the Aga wants you. 
Do. not wait I have seen him ; he wants you." 



i74 AYESHA. 

" Hassan/' said Osmond with dignityi '' am 1 Wi^eome? If 
not, I will not approach your chief. Yon have been my 
friend, and I well know how to show you my gratitude; but if 
1 am not welcome to Cara Bey, I do not proceed.^ 

^* Come, come, my Aga!" exclaimed Hassan, with evident 
signs of perturbation : '* the Bey, it is true, is somewhat hasty; 
he is a bit of fire; he is a quick man, and likes to be obeyed in 
an instant : it is on that account I am anxious th^t we sfaovM 
not delay. But, Inshallah 1 you will receive welcome ! Re k 
not the man to turn away from those who seek his skirt. Bis- 
millah ! Come on, in the name of Allah T' 

Upon this Osmond, lending himself to the impatience of his 
guide, and slowly turning his horse's head in the proper direc- 
tion, followed his steps, accompanied by his two attendants. 
They had not proceeded far before they caught glimpses here 
and there of men's heads darkly peeping from behind the ruins, 
and occasionally groups of horses, with indications of troops on 
a march, were seen. These objects increased as they advam^ 
ed, and it was evident that some predatory excurskm was on 
foot. Men in the picturesque Kurdish costume, some on th«d 
watch, armed from head to foot, wielding the characterisfvcbm^ 
of that people — others asleep in recumbent attitades — others, 
again, seated round fires, were now plainly seen, and bespoke 
the vicinity of their chief. A more striking moonlight scene 
could not well be imagined : overhanging turrets^ broken b^ 
tlements, lengthened walls, arose on all sides« P^ts o( the 
fragments, overgrown with wild vegetation, were fighted up 
by the pale gleaming of the moon, whilst the deepest lAade 
concealed the remainder, and presented a se^es of oullhies 
which became mysterious firom being undefined. The wbote 
was diversified by the shadowy forms of men, and horses and 
other catde, producing a picture to which the pen or the 
pencil would find it difficult to do justice. Osmond would 
willingly have pamed to enjoy it at his leisure, but he was 
impelled onwards by Us guide, "vdiose protection gave him 
aecurity among the lawless ga»g through which he was about 
to pass, and who probably otherwise woutd Hot have faiied to 
make him their prey. At length they reached the frotttof a 
large building, evidently the remains of a Christiatt church. 
Built in the form of a cross, one of its sicks, in the centre of 



AYESHA. Hi 

wkioh was the principal entrance, was terminated by a lofty 
pediment, and opened upon the square in which the building 
wi« situated. A triangular steeple rose from the summit of 
the roof, and presented to the eye a form of architecture so 
like a European place of worship, that Osmond could scarcely 
helieve that be was far away from the blessings of b» own 
Christian country, and in the midst of ruthless barbarians. 
The whole square was full of armed men, evidently ready at 
a moment's notice to obey the call of their chief, who was now 
close at hand. Presently Hassan, with a look of agitation, 
easting his eyes behind him, and looking at Osmond, said, '' In 
the name of Allah ! let bs dismount ; the chief is here.'' Upon 
which Osmond dismmmted, and giving his horse in charge to 
one of the standers by, followed Hassan, accompanied by 
Mustafa and Stasso, and together they entered the small 
court by which the church was enclosed. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Thou elTish-mark'd, abortive, rooting hog ! 
Thon that wast seal'd in thy nativity 
The slave of Nature and the son of HeH ! 

Richard III. 

Tbe great gate of the diurch, being imenclosed by doors, 
presented to the sight of Osmond, as he approached it, an im* 
mense glare of torchlight, which fell up(m the ruined and dila- 
pidated ornaments of its interior, as well as upon a large crowd 
of variously-dressed people. The scene was as strange as it 
was impressive. In front was the ancient altar, backed by a 
recess of highly-wrought fretwork in stoAev in the c^itre of 
which stood cons{^uous the sacred emblem of the cross; the 
high ceiling, supported by heavy pillars with grotesque ca- 
pitals, received the rays of the- brilUaht %ht, and disclosed 
many details of sculpture which would be interesting to the 



178 AYESHA. 

<' After a pause, turning to Hassan, Cara Bey said, '* A Frank 
you say he is, is it so?" 
. " Yes," said Hasiaan, ** so it is." 

'' What is his name ?" said the chief. 

'' Osman^^ answered Hassan, giving it the true Turkish ex- 
pression. 

'* OsfnanP^ exclaimed the other; '* why then he must be a 
Mussttlman, how is that P" 

<^ Otmdn r repeated Hassan, " so he calls himself." 

^^ Does he talk Turkish P" enquired Cara Bey, with much 
animation. 

'' He does," answered the other. Then addressing himself 
at once to Osmmid in a loud tone, Cara Bey exclaimed : 

^ How is this P you a Frank, and called Osman ? this can- 
not bel" Osmond endeavoured to explain the difference be- 
tween his own name and the Turkish Osman, but in so doing, 
eiqpressed himself with idioms so truly characteristic of the 
language, and so ISce a native^ that Cara Bey, on hearing him, 
remained perfecdy astonished, and, what is more, confirmed 
in hia suspicions that he was not what he professed himsetf 
to be. 

'VNo Frank talks Turkish as this man," muttel*ed Cara Bey 
to himself, although loud enough to be heard. *^ B'ak — see f 
sdid he, addressti^ hinaself to Hassan : '* if there is any treach- 
ery inithbf I look to you— your head shall pay for it. ^n^- 
nac^inme^^have you understood me P" 

Upon whidi Osmond answered boldly : '< If you suspect us, 
hidus depart We come to you for protection; we have been 
basely treailed by the Turks, who, but for your officer, would 
have put us to death. All we require is to return to our own 
eouttlriesi ^Send us to your neighbours, the Moscoves; or, if 
you iriorject to that, to your other neighbours, the Persians. 
We dd not wish to rdnain with you, if you think us traitors." 

" To my neighbours the Moscoves !" cried Cara Bey^ taunt- 
iiigly ; " weli^ very well-^Masballah I so you think me an ass! 
Sa you would have mv; send one who has been a ispy ih niy 
ctoipv to my bitterest enemy !-^0r to my neighbours the Per- 
siaHfll better jstilL Th^ fouJ redrcapsl Who do not allow a 
year t6 pass without endQRVouring to destroy me and my castle. 
Perhaps they have paid you for commg. Thanks to Allah I 



I- . 



AYBSOU. 17d 

Gara Bey is not come to that pitch of stupidity yet. Is it not 
so?^' said he, turning round to his priest; *' is Cara Bey all at 
once become a fool of that magnitude P" 

The dmrk man uttered a few sounds which were unintel- 
ligible, but which evidently marked his ohsequiousnesii, atid 
then remained as fixed and immoveable as ever. 

" What then can I propose?" said Osmond. **Try me: 
all I can say iSf that I am no Mussuhnan, I am an En^^ishman : 
I come to you for protection ; if you do not choose to grant it 
to me, Sen ektiar der — ydu are the master !" 

Upon this Cara Bey, knitting his sullen brows mo^e than 
usual, remained silent for some minutes, and then muttered 
to himself, '* Try you !" after which, turning to his oracle,' he 
enquired, *' shall I try himP" To which the dark man ifi an- 
swer said, " Try him." 

" Well," said Cara Bey, " there is no harm done, I will try 
yon. If you are a Frank, you must be acquainted M^th the 
manners of Franks, and, if of Franks, of Muscovites^ See I 
this very morning I am about to attack a neighbouring tiUnge 
which belongs to the Russians and is garrisoned by iheit troops. 
You shall prove to me there whether you be my friend or my 
enemy. If my friend, you can help me; if my enemy, Bakl 
by this beard I I swear, were you to take refuge under the 
throne, or under the grandfather of the throne of the king;' or 
of the father of the king of the Franks, I, I, who am Cara Bey; 
I would find you out I More I say not — only of this be assnred, 
that my eyes, the eyes of Cara Bey," (upon which h» gUi*ed 
with more than usual fierceness) *' shall be upon you ; from 
them you cannot escape, and by them you will be judged. 
Have you understood me ?" 

^^ I have understood you," answered Osmond boldly, '* and 
I agree to the trial." 

" So be it," said Cara Bey : ** and here, if you be a Frank, 
let me see you drink oflf this cup of wine." 

Upon which a small basin full of wine was brought to Mm, 
which he would not willingly have touched, but, ^obdidepbig 
the exigency of the moment, drank oflf. 

^^Aferin ! — well done I" came from the monster^ who deemed 
drinking wine one of the tests of being a Obrbtian, and who, 

12* 



180 AYBSHA. 

eonsequently, laughed at the scruples of Mahomedans on thaf 

head. 

Cara Bey then cast a look upon Stasso aad Mustafa. Per- 
ceiving that the latter was a Turk, he fixed his eyes fiercely 
upon him, aad enquired, *' Who may you be ?'' 

Mustafa, who had already shrunk to half his original size 
from fear, and apprehending that some test of bravery would 
also be required of him, stanunered out a few unconnected 
words in a tone so supplitmt, that Cara Bey was more excited 
to merriment than to anger by the sorry figure which he cut. 

^ So they caU you a man in Turkey^'' said the ruffian chief, 
" do they?" 

<' What can I do?" said Mustafa; *' I am a Tatar, and, if 
you please, a man,'' taking up a little more courage as he 

spoke. 

^'Mashallahl — a man!— hah T roared out the chief in an 
offensive laugh. " Such men as you are good to keep women 
in order* My harem is in want of one such. What say you 
— are you ready ?" 

Upon this he laughed outright, and was answered by the 
obsequious chuckle of his surrounding attendants, whilst poor 
Mustafa's face flushed crimson with a rage which he was forced 

to suppress. 

*^ And who are you P" exclaimed the chief, looking at Stasso. 
^^ You indeed are a man. Mashallah I we are in want of such 
arms and shoulders as you possess." 

*' I am Milord Osmond's servant," said Stasso, nothing 
abashed. 

*' Both these men are attached to me," said Osmond ; ** they 
have travelled with me from Constantinople through all parts 
of Asia, and I can answer for their good conduct." 

" Very well," said Cara Bey ; " very well. Bakalum ! — ^we 
shall seel" 

He then called for a cup of vidne, which he drank off ; and 
after that, assuming a tone dT protection, which made Osmond 
shudder •^ With indignation, he called him to sit by hiqa, and in so 
doing, ordered his music to strike up, and his dancers to recom- 
m9iice their f^ats. 
,■ M soon .as; Osmond was seated, Cara Bey, under cover of 



AYESHA. 18t 

the music (for even he respected Asiatic prejudices sufficiently 
not to talk openly dT women), began to question him concerning 
his adventures at Kars, and particularly with reference to the 
daughter o( Suleiman Aga. The reputation of her charms 
seemed to be well known to him ; he dwelt much upon what he 
had heard of her excellence, and talked of her with a freedom 
and a licence which fully developed the wickedness of his na- 
ture. Feelings of horror rose in Osmond's breast, in a manner 
which he could with difficulty suppress, upon hearing his odious 
remarks : his colour came and went ; he could scarcely find 
words to answer the questions put to him, which mainly tended 
to ascertain the precise spot of her dwelling, and the best 
manner of invading it. A host of new ideas came across his * 
mind when he found that the monster^s intention was neither 
more nor less than to invade the city and to seize upon Ayesha 
for himself. As he sat on the odious cushions, his ears stunned 
by the din of the infernal music, his eyes offended by the coarse- 
ness and barbarism of the dances, and seated side by side with 
one who was a devil in all his characteristics, though he might 
not really be one in person, he felt a disgust and a rage which 
almost deprived him of his senses, and left him in a state of 
stupefaction. *< And all this abomination too," said he to him- 
self, '' in what has once been a Christian church !'* 

Such an accumulation of horrors might have deprived any 
other but one of Osmond's sound mind, of alt power of action ; 
but making an effort upon himself, he determined to dissemble 
his real feelings, in the hope of being able to devise some mode 
of warding off from his mistress the impending blow. On a 
sudden he felt an energy and a resolution spring up within 
him to protect the innocent maiden to the utmost extent of his 
abilities and strength, even should it cost him his life ; but fear- 
ing lest, at this particular moment, his disgust might betray 
him into some act of imprudence, he did not refrain from ap^. 
pearing to enter into the spirit of the scene before him, and 
even to drink of the wine that was repeatedly offered to him, 
more than he ever before had ventured to do. The result was 
ibat he lulled Cara Bey's suspicions, and found himself at li- 
heviy to reflect upon his situation, and upon the line of action 
he ought to adopt. 

fiy this time it was nearly midnight, when the chieftain, 



188 AYESHA. 

turning to Hassan, ordered him to take charge of Osmond and 
his servants, to see them provided with food and other neces- 
saries, and, particularly, that a good horse should be provided 
for him in the ensuing attack upon the Russians. He then dis- 
missed his dancers, musicians, and attendants, and ordered 
every (me to be in readiness on horseback two hours before 
the break of day; and^ forthwith rolling himself up in his fur 
cloak, he fell asleep upon the spot on which he had passed the 
evenings 

When left to himself, Osmond for some time attempted ia 
vain to unravel the compUcated knot of difficulties with which 
he was encompassed. He found himself in the hands of one 
whom he was in honour compelled not to betray, although^ 
were he to do so, it was evident he would be the means of 
ridding the world of one of the greatest criminals that en- 
cumbered its surface. He had, moreover, in some measure^ 
bound himself to further his views ; for, in self-*preservatioD, 
he was about lending himself to an attack which might lead 
to bloodshed. He feli that it would be in vain to attempt flight; 
—besides, if he did, he must give up all chtitice of endeavour- 
ing to protect his Ayesha, who, from what he had heard from 
Cara Bey, and from what he had already seen of his character, 
would inevitably fall into his hands. The more he thought 
upon the line of conduct he ought to pursue, the less was he 
able to see his way before him. Of course, he felt that, un- 
der Providence, much must be left to the chapter of accidents, 
and to his own promptitude of decision at the moment of ac- 
tion ; and as he pondered on what might happen, his heart was 
refreshed by the hope that all his present miseries would work 
out for him a futurity of happiness, and would, perhaps, be 
the means, not only of delivering Ayesha from her Turkish 
bondage altogether, but of uniting her to him for ever, and of 
placing her in that situation of life to which his warm imagina- 
tion assured him she was entitled. Happen what might, he 
determined in the present case to kept aloof from the fight, and 
not to interfere, except to save the life of a fellow-creature, and 
to prevent the effusion of blood. Full of such-like thoughts, 
it is not surprising, that when the signal was heard for the gang 
(for we will not honour it by any other name) to prepare 
themselves and their horses to march, Osmond rose totally im- 



AYBSHA. 18S 

refreshed by sleep. For the first tune dijtrii^ bis traveb he 
felt really oppressed and unhappy : his sqpirit of advimiure had 
never carried him so far as to contaminate the possibility of 
his ever becoming leagued with robbers, assassins, and free- 
booters ; and here he was o^e among those '' whose hand was 
against every one, and every one's band against diem/' He 
endeavoured to cheer himself by a feeling of cooscipus necti* 
tude, and by the hope that spme lucky opport|i^;% would soon 
mtervene, which would enable hiin with bonOAir to elear him-r 
selffrom his present entanglement. But^^sfuriioundi^dAshewasoii 
all sides by ferocious men bent upon deedd ol blood and rapise, 
his heart sank within him ; nor would he, perfiapSf have been 
relieved from this state of despondency, ^d he not sought eomn 
fort,^ where true comfort is oi|ly to be acquired^. at the foot of 
the thcone of grace. A flood of tears came to bis relief^ as he 
fervently and earnestly prayed tp 6pd for pardon and protec* 
tion; and like a drooping plant which acquires fre^ Ufa and 
vigour from a refreshing shower, so, afiter this eiereise* did 
his mind regain its energy, and his heart strength and peaee, 
conscious of being under the protection of that Almighty power 
which sees all and directs all for the benefit of his creatures. 

The troop was not long in collecting. From different parts 
of the surrounding ruins, horsemen, by three and four at a 
time, were seen to issue, and to make for the place of rendez- 
vous,— the square in front, of the cbiefiain^s quarters. Every- 
thing was done in silence. The picturesque forms of the men^ 
in their wild costume, with lances resting on. the shoulder,^^ 
were discerned gliding through the darkness, passing and re^ 
passing among the ruins, like evil spirits on the moveybent upon 
mischief. 

Osmond was called upon by Hassa^i to attend bi3 chief, who, 
the foremost of the band^ was already mounted, awaiting 
die gathering together of his adherents* Cara Bey diowed 
himself to be as vigorous and intelligent in action, ml h» wa^ 
indolent and sensual in repose. His «ye was everywhere.,; ite 
distinguished the active by his approbatipii,, and cj^surfd tjteei 
tardy. His own interest led him to ih^ right path la/^eQuringi 
the devotedness of his followers : he was liberaltpthem^ though 
unrelenting in his rapacity to acquire Uie means of that libe-^: 
rality. He talked to all with familiarity; |>ut whenever he> 



184 AYESHA. 

fmioid it necessary to be severe, the Mow was' struck at once, 
and the result of tkls Vigour of decision tended to secure his 
power and establish his authority. 

The whole troop was assembled when Osmond joined it: 
it consisted of abdut one hundred men, who were not mar- 
shalled in regular order, but compressed into one compact mass. 
Cara Bey but slightly noticed Osmond as he approached to 
greet him, and, satisfied that he was properly guarded by se- 
veral confidential servants whom he had placed around him, 
he occupied himself in givmg requisite orders, and taking 
every precaution to ensure his success. 

The Russians, whose increasing pOwer in Georgia, and to the 
south of the Caucasus, had brought them in contact with the 
frontiers of Turkey, possessed an advanced post, almost touch- 
ing the base of the abrupt hill upon which the castle of Cara 
Bey was situated. They had frequently attempted to dislodge 
him, but without success; and he, in return, never lost an op- 
portunity of annoying them, sometimes attacking their military 
stations una\^ares, and running off with prisoners; at others, 
making a feint upon one point, whilst he plundered another. 
On the present occasion, he was informed that the small de- 
tachment which occupied the post in his neighbourhood, had 
been recently changed; and hoping to take advantage of the 
supposed inexperience of the new commander, he determined 
to attack it-^o destroy it, if possible, or, at all events, to carry 
away as many prisoners as the fortune of war might throw 
into his hands. He collected his men in the ruins of Anni, in 
order to cloak his operations; and now he expected that he 
should be able to come upon, the enemy unawares, and achieve 
an easy conquest. 

At length, some two hours before break of day, the troop 
began its march. they defiled through the ruins in silence 
and with the caution of freebooters; the only voice heard was 
Aal'Of the chief — ^^shritt, loud, and querulous, which every now 
and then would sound in echoes among the projecting walls and 
high towei^, and, instead of cheering, infuse a cold creeping of 
horror in the hearts of those who heard it. Mustafa felt it 
vibrate through every nerve, and he accompanied it, whenever 
it fell upon his ear, with suitable execrations at its oWner — 
execrations, however, which he carefully concealed at the bot- 



AYESHA. 185 

torn of his throat. Stasso did his best to assume the Turk both 
in look and manner, although, in his heart, he would have been 
happy to accompany his master on any other expedition than 
the present. Osmond rode onwards absorbed in thought, 
watching ever and anon the approach of day, — that day, 
thought he, which might perhaps seal his fate in this world. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

lis leyerent line trappe cacbee sons des nattes, et me forcerent de descendrd 
a Vaide de la corde dans nn paits dont je ne pus alors entrevoir le fond. 

Voyage de Jaubert en Armeviey §fc, p. 42. 

As the day began to l»*eak, objects, which had hitherto been 
obscured by darkness, were gradually developed. On the one 
side, the Tepeh dive^ or the Devil's mountain, a high rocky, 
and apparently inaccessible height, reared its head in myste- 
rious and shadowy grandeur, unadorned by trees or vegetation 
of any kind, and crowned by ramparts of broken and irregular 
outline. This was the castie and residence of Cara Bey. Oh 
the other side, towards the east, the country was intersected by 
small volcanic-looking hills, equally bare of vegetation, present- 
ing a succession of dreary wastes and unappropriated land, and 
apparently of no use to man but as forming an excellent fron- 
tier-boundary between two inland states. 

These hills, varying in size and form, gradually increased 
into mountains, and at length seemed lost in the great chain 
which swept all round the horizon, rearing its principal height 
in the two cones of Aligez, and arrested in its progress to the 
south by the intervention of the fertile and magnificent plain of 
Erivan, and its opposite mountains of Ararat. Nothing was yet 
seen of the point upon which Cara Bey was directing his force. 
The men marched in silence, every now and then casting their 
eyes forward, anxious to discover what they were about to 



186 AYESHA. 

attack; whilst their chief, confident in hiinselfi rode on as if he 
were perfectly aware of his position. Osmond kept close in 
his rear, and fmding that he was narrowly watched, refrained 
from speaking, although he willingly would have held com- 
munication with Mustafa and Stasso. Hassan^ busily em- 
ployed in keeping the men together,^was seen sometimes a-head 
on the look-out, at other times speaking to the chief, and again 
in the rear, giving orders, and holding out encouragement. 

By this time the dawn had given way to the broad glare of 
day ; the East was making preparations to receive the sun, and 
the crags of the robber's castle began to be brought out in 
strong relief, and to show their rugged and inaccessible strength. 
After having passed an angular projection of volcanic ground, 
on a sudden the whole party came in sight of a ravine, on the 
opposite side of which might be discerned the low and ill-de- 
fined houses of a village. This was the advanced post of the 
Russians on this part of the Turkish frontier, and the point 
which it was Cara Bey's object to attack and seize. 

In order to take every advantage of the deep shade with 
which this side of the ravine was still overspread, the chief, in 
descending, put his troop into rapid motion, hoping to reach his 
destination unobserved, and thus to take the garrison by sur- 
prise. But, before he reached the bottom in order to ford a 
small stream which flowed through it, he was enraged by hearr 
ing a long shrill cry from the sentinel on guard, accompanied 
by a shot, which so effectually rou$ed the little garrison, that, 
before the invaders could reach the opposite side, they had the 
mortification to behold a well-formed line of infantry, their arms 
clashing, and their bayonets glittering in the morning light, 
ready to receive them. Without a moment's delay, Cara Bey 
ordered a general charge; and every man was about giving 
full impetus to his horse, whilst he drew his sabre from its scab- 
bard, when a discharge from the whole line at once stopped 
their progress, and apparently defeated his purpose. There W 
stopd^foiled and enraged ! His eyes glared with fury ; he would 
have laid the blame upon every one but himself : be looked 
towards Osmond with a suspicious and frenzied look ; then he 
cast his eyes upon Mustafa, then upon Stasso. He had not 
discovered that which was really the case — ^that when the in- 
vading troop parsed the crest of the ravine, they.had cut the 



AYESHA. 187 

clear sky with their moving line, and consequently were plainly 
seen by the sentinel ; he chose rather to believe that there W4s 
treachery in the wind. All his evil passions were immediately 
alive. He said nothing at the moment, but was evidently col- 
lecting his wits in order to determine what course he ought to 
pursue. He was not a man to retreat without striking some 
blow. He looked around to discover what might be done, and 
immediately determined to attempt an attack by spreading his 
horsemen on all sides of the opposing line. 

This movement was soon observed by the Russians, who, 
advancing into a more open space, formed themselves into a 
hollow square, and there awaited the attack. Cara Bey had 
seen this manoeuvre performed upon a former occasion, and 
therefore knew how hopeless his attempts would be to make 
any impression upon them. Again he remained perfectly per- 
plexed. His anger now broke out with fury ; he turned to Os- 
mond, and, with the most taunting expressions, enquired from 
him what the Franks intended by this position of their forces, 
and hinted that, but for the unlucky presence of strangers, it 
might have been otherwise. He dien turned to his wo-be- 
gone looking priest, who rode at his side, and with fury in his 
aspect asked him what he meant by leading him to undertake 
so disastrous an expedition. 

Just at this juncture, an officer, accompanied by several 
ptl^ers, was seen to issue from the ranks of the Russians, and to 
take up a position on an adjacent mound, in order .to acquire a 
clearer view of the enemy; and this was done evidently by way 
of bravado, as well as to show his contempt of the invading 
force. He was a small slim youth, tightly compressed in the 
waist, accordii^ to the Russian fashion, wearing a large cocked^ 
hat with feathers, whilst he held in his hand a small sword for 
his only defence ; the others were inferior officers, who wore 
small cloth-caps. As they pame in view, presenting as they did 
so fair a mark, every horseman who bore a rifle, instantly 
slipped it from the sling, and commenced a desultory fire upon 
them. But, although the balls fell thick about them, they va- 
liantly kept their ground, and, regardless of danger, did not 
appear at all disposed to retire from their position. 

Cara Bey instantly saw how easy it would be to make them 
prisoners, and without loss of time ordered a detachment of 



188 AYESHA. 

some of his chosen men to make a circuit in order to cut them 
off from the main body. Then turning to Osmond, he said, 
" Now, Sir Friank, let me see what you can do, — let me see 
whether you be a true man or not : go, my eyes are upon you.'" 
Osmond would willingly have kept aloof from the fray, but 
feeling that he might, perhaps, be instrumental in saving life, 
and preventing the effusion of blood, and aware, moreover, in 
how critical a situation he was himself placed, he at once joined 
the party. Mounted upon a Kurdish horse of great power and 
speed, he altogether looked as complete an Asiatic as his com- 
panions; but he was aware of being strictly watched, and al- 
though the thought might have flashed across his mind that he 
now had an opportunity of escaping, yet he instantly rejected 
the temptation when he reflected that, by so doing, not only 
would he deliver up his two followers to certain destruction, 
but also be making a sacrifice of his honour, although it was 
only to a barbarian, who had none. 

The ground happened to be so broken that the detached 
party found no difficulty in putting their chieftain^s scheme into 
execution. Gradually gliding behind the condensed troop, they 
dropped into a small ravine, which led by a succession of pro- 
jecting banks, emanating from the mound upon which the offi- 
cers had taken post ; then, carefully concealing themselves, they 
made a long circuit, until they came close upon the Russians; 
when, rushing at once to the spot which intervened between 
the troops and their officers, they succeeded in making the 
attack just as the latter were retreating into the hollow square. 
All secured their retreat excepting the principal officer^ the 
youth before-mentioned ; who, whether from pride or contempt 
of his enemy, chose to betray no haste in his motions, and 
walked almost leisurely towards his company. Afire had open- 
ed from one side of the square upon the advancing horsemen, 
which had the effect of stopping their career; three of the 
bravest, however, would not allow their ardour to be checked, 
1)ut made at once for the young officer, with the intention of 
putting him to death. Sword in hand, they flew at him. • Per- 
treiving his fate, and that he was cut off from his companions, 
he stood to defend himself; he parried one man's thrust with 
success, another was about cutting him down, whien Osmond, 
who had followed the three, drove his horse between the com- 



AYESHA. 189 

batants, received the blow that was intended for the officer on 
his own swoi*d, and then throwing it, by the sling, on his wrist, 
thrust forward his hand, seized the youth by the collar, and 
with that grasp which the great strength of his arm enabled him 
to accomplish, carried him off, half-dragging, half-running, to 
Cara Bey, and did not stop until he had reached his very stir- 
rup. During this occurrence, which was performed with 
breathless rapidity, the young Russian roared out to his troops 
to fire. Their astonishment at what had taken place was such 
that they lost all presence of mind, for they neither heard nor 
heeded his command; and it was only when perceiving their 
officer thus carried away, that it occurred to them to fire: had 
they done so at first, probably they would have annihilated 
Osmond, officer, and all ; but they fired too late to produce any 
effect, and nobody was hurt. 

Osmond's feat had been so instantaneous, and executed with 
so niueh skill and bravery, that Cara Bey and his men could 
scarx^ly beUeye their senses when they saw him appear officer 
in hand. 

" Aferin! aferin! Frangi! — Well done, Frank!" broke 
out from the mouths of those who had witnessed the scene. 
Cara Bey, in particular, appeared charmed ; he extolled Os- 
mond's bravery ; called him " GardaM— brother !" all his sus- 
picions appeared from that moment to have vanished, and he 
took him into especial favour. Much time, however, could 
not be taken up in admiration; for the Russians, finding that 
their officer was now a prisoner, made a movement in advance, 
in the hope of releasing him; but Cara Bey, satisfied with what 
had been done, and foreseeing that such a prize might further 
his. views, ordered a rapid retreat to his castle. 

Tying the unfortunateprisoner's hands behind his back, and 
blindfolding his ey^s, they mounted him behind a trooper, and 
carried him off at so quick a pace, that it was impossible for 
the soldiers to overtake him. During this operation, which 
was. conducted under the direction of Hassan, Osmond stood 
near^to see that he was treated with as little roughness as pos- 
sible. The youth bore his misfortune with the fortitude of a 
hero;. and ahhoiigh. Osmond's heart smote him when he saw 
the horrors of the situation in which he had been the means oi 
placing him, still he was consoled by the reflection that he had 



190 AYESHA. 

also b^en the means of saving him from certain death. The 
barbarians would have drnnk his blood, so incensed were they 
at the failure of their enterprise; for they had anticipated booty 
of all sorts, and licentious revelry for several days; but Os- 
mond had interested Hassan in his behalf, and he, at.this dan- 
gerous crisis, protected him. 

Osmond perceived at once that the prisoner was a welK 
born youth; his manners were remarkably good, and his whole 
appearance prepossessing. He would have given the world 
to* have talked to him — to have comforted him with hope of 
deliverance, to have consoled him by the assurance that he had 
a friend and protector at hand; but so fearful was he of com- 
mitting himself and giving rise to suspicions, that he refrained, 
although he was determined at the first fitting opportunity to 
open himself to him. 

The whole party hastened onwards to the castle. There 
were two roads ; the one which led to the principal entrance 
was long and of no very difficult ascent — the other was shorter^ 
a secret path, of the most rugged nature, and only taken upon 
particular occasions. When they had reached the spot where 
the two roads parted, Cara Bey collected a small detachment, 
the command of which he took to himself, in order to conduct 
the prisoner by the shortest road, whibt he ordered Hassan to 
take charge of the main body. 

At the same time he directed Osmond add his servants to 
follow the prisoner, giving some directions to Hassan, which 
were inaudible to the rest of the party. They commenced the 
ascent on horseback, but it soon became too difficult for the 
footing of their steeds, and they were obliged to dismount and 
lead them. The horse upon which the young officer was 
mounted was forced up the steep path in spite of every impe- 
diment, for the bandage was not allowed to be taken from his 
eyes. Osmond, who occasionally walked at his side, watched 
the countenance of the prisoner, who appeared absorbed in the 
contemplation of the misfortune which had overtaken him. A 
tear trickled down his cheek. This spoke volumes; he was, 
perhaps, wrapped up in the recollection of some tender parent 
or some dear friend, lost to him^ as he felt, for ever; or he 
might be deploring his rashness in having thus foolishly ba^ 
zarded his liberty, and perhaps his life, whilst he had forgotten 



AYESHA. 191 

his duty as an officer ; or he might be regretting the loss of his 
prospects in his profession, and contemplating the horrors of 
imprisonment in the hands of a ruthless barbarian. Osmond 
could no longer withstand the feeling of pity which sprang in 
his heart at this sight. He had observed that the youth could 
not explain himself, and did not understand one word of the 
Turkish language ; his exclamations and whatever he attempted 
to say being in Russian: but, from his appearance, he pre- 
sumed that he must talk French; and, overlooking every other 
consideration, he said to him in a low voice, as he walked by 
his side, '^ Do not be disheartened ; you have a friend here who 
will watch over your safety." 

An electric shock could not have acted more violently than 
these words upon the frame of the young officer. ^' Speak 
again, whoever you are I'' he exclaimed in very good French ; 
" in the name of Heaven, tell me who you are I" 

*' Hush !" said Osmond ; " say no more — we are watched. 
Again I say, do not despair — all will be well I" 

Cara Bey, whose ears were open to every sound, as his 
thoughts were awake to every emergency, heard the Russian's 
voice, and immediately exclaimed, '^ What does the dog say?" 

Osmond answered, '' As you would obtain mercy, show 
mercy to your prisoner." 

^' Mercy I mercy, indeed I" shouted the other in savage 
exultation ; '< Do you see that eagle P" said he, as he pointed 
to one perched on the summit of a conspicuous rock — *' does 
he show mercy ? 6ara Bey learns how to war from the eagle. 
Look up to yonder castle ; — we do not keep that as a house of 
pleasure for such dogs as this! Where did you learn the trade 
of a soldier ?" 

" The trade of a soldier," replied Osmond, " does not prevent 
me from having the feelings of a man. In my country, when 
we go to war, it is with states, and not with individuals." 

" Oh !" exclaimed Cara Bey, " you are one of those mad 
Franks who esteem yourselves wiser than other people ; wait 
till you reach yon walls, and you will learn other things." 

This conversation took place during the labours of a severe 
ascent, in broken words, spoken between the heavings of the 
breath caused by violent exertion. 

Mustafa and Stasso followed close in the rear of Osmond, 



192 AYESHA. 

and lent a greedy ear to all that passed ; the former trembled 
at the prospect of being immured within the castle ; whilst the 
latter took the most attentive survey of every turn of the path, 
of every rock and stone, of the diriection of surrounding objects, 
and particularly of the exact position of the Russian post, in 
the hope of one day being able to profit by it. 

At length the whole party reached the summit of the moun- 
tain, and touched the very base of the castle walls. In turning 
back to survey the path which they had taken, it was evident 
that none but those who were thoroughly practised, could ever 
find their way up, or discover the small gate, which was 
secreted within a projection : through this they [now made 
their entrance. As soon as the gate was closed, and carefully 
locked and bolted, Cara Bey ordered the bandage to be taken 
from the eyes of his prisoner, who was then led forward, 
through a long narrow passage, into a room of sufficiently large 
dimensions. Uis first impulse was to look around and discover, 
if possible, the person who had spoken to him ; but seeing 
none but Asiatics, for all traces of the European were lost in 
Osmond's complete disguise, he began to fancy that the words 
which he had heard addressed to him in French, were only the 
work of his imagination. He discovered in Osmond the man 
who had saved his life and made him prisoner, and therefore 
eyed him with peculiar interest. He would have addressed 
himself to the chief; but, instead of being allowed an oppor- 
tunity of making a remonstrance, to his surprise and indigna- 
tion he was rudely seized upon by two ruffians, who, putting 
a rope round his breast, and under his arms, forcibly ui^ed 
him towards a trap-door, which was concealed by mattingi 
and, notwithstanding his struggles, violently obUged him to 
de3cend into a deep well, to the bottom of which, by the help 
of the rope, they gradually lowered him. At the sight of this 
indignity, Osmond turned round to remonstrate with CaraBef) 
but, to his surprise, he was gone ; and, what was still more 
extraordinary, the door, which evidently led into the other part 
of the castle, was closed upon him by the two ruffians as they 
left the room, and thus he found that, with Mustafa and Stasso, 
he actually remained a prisoner also. 

The person who received the first burst of his indignation, 
the appointed jailor, was an old Turk, of a placid and benign 



AYESHA. 103 

aspeel, whose looks of sympdthjf spdke hintito be an uq willing 
witness to such in£Mny« ^^ How i&thas, Q flsan P" excliiiiied 
Osmond : ^^ am I also yonr prii^oner ? is'not your B^y already 
sufficiently a tyrant aad a traitor, Ifaat he must add this act to 
his baribarity P Tbe poorest Aarab wItt receive his goest '^ih 
hospitaliity, ^aiid, lAfaei^b ladea with f (dd^ wovld scorn to nob 
Uoii 4tt long as he is under his roof. 1 «anie to yew* master 
laarpiK>teetion; he pretends to grant it^ bat leheeis sne lout of 
mylfterty. Speak! are you a party cosiecmed in this aot lof 
ivendbery?"^ 

^ Ne. apalmtn^yr-whaL can I say P^^ said the old mail, ri^mg- 
ging up his Ahoulderik *'If you have nx>t known •ovrS^ 
before, ^ou know hitti nlM«(r. I am under aotherily V ( i^^i'^ve 
for you^ batMcimnot fael|» y^n;"^ 

'^Where is Uaasan hi4 tiaya ? 8iirel«f Itiere mu^ beitome 
mistoke,'"' said OsmcnML ' 

^< He is 'Osne big rogue (oo,^ saM Miustafa, in s^e measure 
ooasoled by fai^ master^ misfortune in finding fais |>redi^tions 
about to be railissed* '^ Did I not t^U yon, that you do not 
know thes^ leHows ? They al?«nowla«rgbfng at onr beards, and 
oaUing out, ' ^ t bat^--Bee wb^ elever fellows we are to 
trick this Frank F Ah, Wtry did yon ever eome here?- 

Stasso^s mge was not less ^kam >hiji master's ; kid first im- 
pulse was to endeavour ;to eseape, and be ti^^k to try the 
strength <rf'tfae doors, when he was stopped by^the good- 
natured expostulations ojf old MLahmond, who said, ^' My ^on, 
cense yonr ^^idea^onrs ; tbey wH) «vail nothing, th^%iU toly 
lead you yonder," pointing to the well ; ^^remtto wherif yen 
are, and be cotttont.^* 

Osmond could not bring himself to believe it *wAU reaHy in* 
tended that he should eofitmiie n prisoner, for, refai^rtng to tiie 
Tfbok of Haasan^s ooadnot, fbeaaL his edease to tbe time be 
delivened kim Mer toCaraBey^ he o^vld not diacover what> 
advantage eonld be obtained by keeping him in ootifinementi 
He was too poor tebeas ofcjeeiof pduader, and^ if<it3#ei^ m^ 
tended to enrvl bnn.ammig his failowem,. whemfiiro loeep^li^ 
a piianiier ? Mommwwi, k wai siiqiosaiMei to argue from ith« icon^ 
^■efe of jothran to /wiiat niigikt ike ithe ^fle^ of Cara' Bey, who 
waa evidently -a ««retGh awiayied % jcedonsy, enpriee, sni^cion^ 
mt' §ft^ nthei^ Kenlings Uulmofvn- to Osmood. lie oonnoted 



IM AYESHA. 

himsdr by the reflection that he had at least been the means dl 
saving a man's life ; and a small still voice within would fur- 
ther tell him, that to this incident, which now appeared so dis- 
astrous in his eyes, would be owing his emancipation firom all 
his miseries. Widi this feeling he approached the month of 
the well, and, with the permission of the ofd jailor, who lifted 
up the trap-door for the purpose, accosted the young Rtrssian. 
The words which he uttered fell in cheering accents upon the 
ears of the unfortunate youth, as the first indications of help act 
upon the feelings of a lost and benighted traveller; a thrill of 
transport ran through hisframe, and, with tears of gratitude in his 
eyes, hee&claimed^ '^For thelove of God$ tell me who you are?" 
. /^ I am a prisoner like yourself," answered Osmond, ^' though 
not so ill off as you : we are both in tlie hands of a villain ; but 
let us take courage, and trust to God for our deliverance.'* 

This opening lied to a free and frank communication between 
them, in which Osmond gave a full account of himself^ and of 
the manner in^hich he had fallen into his present predicament, 
which was followed on the part of the Russian by a narrative 
of his own history and adventures. Osmond thought it right to 
inform him that he was the man who had, in fact, deprived him 
of his liberty; but that, distressed as he was at the result of his 
feat, still he could not help congratulating himself upon it^ as he 
thereby had been the means of saving his life. And he added, 
that nothing should be left untried by him, were he to regain his 
own freedom, to endeavour to make up for the violence which 
he had been obliged to exercise, by exertions in his favour* 
However enraged the Russian might have been at the time to 
find himself carried off in so unceremonious a manner in the very 
face of his own troops, yet, when he found that he who had made 
him prisoner had also saved his life, he allowed his feelings 
of gratitude to predominate, and almost forgot what had passed, 
in the charm of hearing the voice of a friend when he was 
about to abandon himself to despair. He informed Osmond 
that he belonged to a noble family in his own country ; that his 
QjSmewaslvanovitch ; and that, owing to some juvenile indiscre- 
tion in ihis corps, he had been exiled for two years to this distant 
station. He described the hole in which he was now confined, 
as a sort of dry well or cistern cut into the rock, som^ thirty 
feet under ground, six feet long ^and five wide, receiving no 



AYESHA. 1^ 

Other light antl air than that which a narrow embrasure cut 
ioto the summit of the wall could admit. It contained neither 
bed nor seat* A little straw and a small earthen vessel placed 
in a corner, was all that he had found for his convenience ; and 
he added, by way of a hint of what his fate might be, that he 
had discovered a newly^ug grave. This Osmond found, upon 
inquiry from the old jailor, contained the remains of a Bey, 
who had recently been put to death by Cara Bey. 

^^ Allah I Allah I" exclaimed Mustafa, upon hearing this piece 
of information, his teeth chattering with fear and his face as- 
suming the colour of death, — " why did we ever leave Kars ? 
What ashes are fallen upon our heads 1 Better to have eaten 
stick among the Turks, than to be buried in a hole by these 
devil-worshippers." 

^^ Patience, my soul r quietly enjoined the benign jailor^ 
*^ Do we know what is good or bad for us P If it be yono 
destiny to be buried in a hole^ wherefore grieve P Say ^ Praisii^ 
be to Allah !' whatever may happen. I am a Mussulman as 
well as you ; and these grey hairs of mine" (touching his beard 
at the same time) '' have witnessed more misfortunes than ever 
your chin has seen; and still I say, ' Praise be to Allah 1' " 

'^ And so you may, if you choose, and welcome," retorted 
Mustafa ; '^ but will that make me a bit less a prisoner ? This 
man is an English beyzadeh — a lord's son ; what has he to 
do with your devil-worshippers P I am his servant, what 
have I to do with them P" Then taking up a plaintive tone, he 
entreated him, saying, '' Go, Mahmoud Aga, as you love your 
soul I go, tell your chief, that it is not the custom to make 
English beyzadehs, who are friends of his government and 
country, prisoners, and to treat them as enemies. As for the 
Moscoves, well, do what you Uke with them ; but with us the 
case is di£ferent." 

Long and various were the consultations between Osmond 
and Ivanovitch, between Mustafa and Stasso, and between them 
all and the old jailor, ere they made up their minds to pass the 
night in their present state of misery ; but there seemed to be 
no help for it. None but the most ordinary food was brought 
to them, and they slept upon the bare boards. The abject fear 
and awe in which every one stood of Cara Bey, prevented any 
appeal to him. No one dared venture to remonstrate after he 



iM AYE8HA. 

had once given an order; and, to all appearance, his resolves 
eoocerning Osmond and his servants were final. As for the 
unfortunate Ivanovitch, whether buried alive in the depth of 
the wdl, or buried a corpse in the bowels of the earth, to the 
inmates pf the castle it seemed to be one and the same thing, 
and no one cared or thought more about him. But, however 
much he was to be pitied, Osmond was in (act still more as 
object of compassion ; for, when left to himself, his mind was 
principally absorbed in contemplating the possibility of the 
threat which Cara Bey had uttered of seizing Ayesha. The 
more he dwelt upon that thought, the more he felt the utter 
misery and helplessness of his present situation. If the tyrant 
really meant to put his infernal scheme into execution, Os- 
mond^s only hope was that his services might be required, for 
then he might perhaps either frustrate the scheme altogether, 
or, if she were unfortunate enough to fail into the tyrant's 
Jiands, protect her, or, if he could not protect her, die in the 
attempt. When his imagination carried him on to the madden- 
ing thought of seeing one so fair and so innocent exposed to 
die rude insults of the monster, his senses almost forsook him, 
whilst his blood boiled with the fire of his indignation. He 
groaned with mental agony, — -all his own cares were lost in 
this one absorbing thought, and as sleep forsook his eyelids, so 
the miseries which he endured gradually wasted his strength, 
and produced a baneful e£fect upon his person. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Entre les sectes nombrenses qui se sont ^levees dans la M^sopotamie, il n'en 
est avovqe qui soit odiease a tonte* les aatres aHtant qae c^lle des Yezidis. 

Notice 8ur U^ Yezidis, pptr h Pere Maurice Garsoni. 

The Yezidies, or the worshippers of Satan, as they are fre^ 
quently eaUed, are one of the numerous sects which were 
formed in Mesopotamia, among the Mi^ssulmans, aft«r the 



AYE8HA. i97 

ideath of their Prophdt, and extended themselves more parti- 
eularly among that ancient people the Kurds. They eonstitute 
s curious chapter in the history of man. Their founder was 
Sheikh Yezid, the declared enemy of the family of Aii. The 
4octrine they profess is a mixture of Masidieism, MahomtedaB* 
ism, and the religion of the ancient Persians. It is presenred 
by oral tradiikm, reading and writing not being allowed amm^ 
thein. 

By the true believers they are looked upon as accursed ; 
their name is synonymous with Mai^pfaemers, barbarians, and 
men of blood. Owing to the want of written records, it is very 
dfficult to procure any accurate mfortaation concerninfg them, 
m they preserve great secrecy ifn matters of religion. The 
general ]^epOrt is, that the first principle of the Yezidias is to 
insure die friendship of the Dev3, asid to defend^ his inierei^ 
by the sword. Th^y never nhfeniion his name, and even adopt 
all sorts of circmnlociJition rather than phojionnce any word o^ 
sonnd which expresses it. Whoever approaches their habi- 
tartion mrUst be careful not to pronounce the word 9hmtan and 
laknet-^-AeyA and accursed, for fear of being iIl-treaited,^or evcitt 
(mt to death. The evil spirit has no precise name in their 
language. They designate him as the Sheikh Mazen, or the 
great chief. They admit of the prophets and the saints re- 
vered by Christians, and respect the monasteries beai^ni^ tfaehr 
names, situated within their territories. They believe that sJl 
such holy personages, when they lived on thfe earth, were 
more or less distinguished aecordnig as the Devil was pleased 
to notice them. In a word, they afiirm that it i^ Clod who 
otdains, but that he delivers over th« exe<^ion of his orders 
to the DeviL In the morning, as soen as the sun appears, 
they fiiH* ott tkeir k«ees, their feet teing naked, with ^S^t faeei^ 
towards that Inminary^ and worsli4|» him, touching the ground 
with their foreheads; and this they do in all secrecy. l*)bey 
keep no» faste and say no prayers, and, to justify this omissionv 
they assert ibat their Skeikh Yezid has' m his own person made 
svfBcieiit alx>nement until the end of the world, that he received 
a positive assurance of this in the revelations made to him', and 
{hat dkerefore it is prohibited to them to learn to read and 
Urite. Neverlhel^s, every chief of a trH>e, and all large 
villages, pay a Mahomedan scribe to read any lelters which 



19S AYESIfA. 

may be received from Turks and men fn autborRy. WbaC^ 
ever regards tbeir own immediate concerns is always performed 
by word of mouthy conveyed by messengers of tbeir own sect. 

Without prayers, witbout fasts, without rites,, they have no 
rdigious festivals, except one, on the 10th of August, when 
they assemble in great numbers in the neighbourhood of 
Sheikh Adi. At that time many Yezidies come from the most 
distant points; the festival lasts all that day and the night 
following; and during their passage to the place of congrega- 
tion, they do not scruple to rob and plunder. Married women 
go in numbers to the surrounding villages; and on that night, 
it is said, after having eaten and drunk their fill, the lights are 
extinguished, and nothing more is said until the morning. 
They eat everything without dismmination, except lettuce and 
pumpkins; they only bake barley bread. They use indis- 
criminately the same form of oaths as Turks, Christians, and 
Jews, but their gre^t oath is ^ By the standard of Yezid F' 

The Yezidies recognise for the chief of their religion, the 
Sheikh who governs the tribe, to whom is confined the care 
of the tomb of Adi, the restorer of their sect. This tomb is 
in the jurisdiction of the governor ofAmadiah. The chief of 
this tribe must always be chosen from among the descendants 
of Yezid. The respect which is paid him by his adherents is 
such, that they are charmed if they can obtain one of his old 
shirts as a winding-sheet ; they think that they shall be well 
off in the next world with such an appendage : some zealots 
will even give forty piastres for such a relic-~^a remnant suf- 
fices, if they cannot procure a whole shirt. When he wishes 
to confer a peculiar favour, he sends an old shirt as a present 
The Yezidies convey to him secretly a portion of their robbery 
and plunder,, by way of indemnification for the hospitality be 
exercises, towards the individuals of his awn sect. 

The chief of the Yezidies always keeps near him another 
personage, who is called Kotchek^ and without whose advice 
he does not venture to do anything.. This man is looked upon 
as the oracle of the chief, because he is said to enjoy the pri^ 
vilege of being the immediate recipient of the DeviUs com-^ 
munications. When any Yezidi is in doubt whether be should 
engage in an important affair or not, hq seeks the advice of 
t\ie Kotchek) which,, however, is not givea to him. without ai 



AYESHA. 109 

consideration* Before the Kotehek affords his advice, ia order 
to give the utmost weight to his answer^ he extends himself 
at full-length on the ground, and covering himself over, he 
either sleeps, or pretends to sleep, afiber which he communi- 
cates what has been revealed to him, and the decision is made. 
Sometimes, he takes a long while to consider. 

The following fact will serve to show the influence which 
such a personage possesses. Many years ago, the women of 
the Yezidies, like those of the Arabs, in order to save soap, 
wore dark blue chemises, dyed with indigo. One morning, 
when it was least expected, the Kotchek appeared before the 
chief of his sect, and announced, that it had been revealed to 
him during the preceding night, that blue was a colour which 
l^rought ill-luck, and was held in abhorrence by the D^viJ. 
Nothing more was necessary to cause express messengers to 
be sent to the various tribes with an order, that blue was for 
the future an unpermitted colour, that all clothes of that colour 
were to be destroyed, and that white, for the future, was to 
be adopted. This order has been adhered to with such great 
exactitude, that if at this day a Yezidi, living with a Turk 
or a Christian, was to find upon bis bed a blue coverlet, he 
would sleep in his owa white clothes, and perish with cold, 
rather than use it. 

The Yezidies, as. a race, are one of the most cruel and 
sanguinary that are known in Asia; for it is generally reported 
of them, that 'm war, particularly in their petty differences with 
the Turks, wheuever they make prisoners, they give no quarter, 
but put every one to death without discrimination. At the 
same time» they are the greatest moral dastards and cowards, 
because, according as their interest may impel them, they do 
not hesitate to call themselves. Mahomedans„ Christians, or 
Jews, as may best suit their purpose at the moment. They 
pretend to hold in great veneration the Koran, the Gospel, 
the books of Moses, and the. Psalms; and although they 
aiay be convicted of being Yezidies, yet they swear through 
thick and thin that they are not, and, for the tin(ie being, 
abjure their real faith* 

This sketch of the extraordinary race may give the reader 
^ome idea of the wretches into whose hands Osmond had fallen. 
Cara Bey deserved the reputation which he 'bad acquired, of 



20a AYE8HA. 

bemg a Yezidi of the moBt silBg ubiary chaFMter. He was kh 
lerated by the Graad Sifpiior^ as were others of his wot, becoi^et 
accor^Qg lo the OfNOiioiis of MabiNKiechm doctors^ expoundera 
of the law, every maa is coBsidered a tme brtiever who will 
n^ike a profession of the fundamental doctrines of Islam, name- 
ly, '' That there ]» n<i^«rther God than God, and that Mahomed 
is the Privet of Qod^T although he fails in the practice of all 
the other precepts c^ the Koism. Cara Bey made no Afficnhy 
in makiag this profesaion, «id^ wiien in presence of Mahome- 
dans, iya kee(Hng up the sembfamce of being one of them ; but, 
at the same tune» he made no scruple in patting them to death, 
whenever he could do so with impunity ; and indeed, aecording 
to the prindples of his own creed, be beUeved that in so dotog 
he performed an aetkin which was full of merit in the eyes of 
his great Sheikh-^that is, the DeviL 

It was said that Gara Bey, b^re he acquired his present 
eminence, had been e&ecastleorer in the service of the governor 
el Ahmadjah*; and' that, in eonsefsenoe of the number of 
Turkish heads wUch he had cut off, he was held in propor* 
tionably great veneration by his own sectaries, who, when they 
approached him, were wont to kiss his hands, sanctified, sa 
they esteemed them to be, by the Mood of Turks. But tlie 
secret of his security in power and the possession of his 
stronghold, was* said to be the protection of the Capidan Pasha 
at the Porte, whieh be had purchased at a great price, an^ which 
be eontianed to enjoy by pouring mto the confers of that great 
officer an annnal Mbute in gold to some coasidetable amount. 
Thus protected,, he bade defiance to the efforts of tlie P^ha of 
Kars, or any other of the Turkisbteigbbouring kKftlanlhorHies, 
against him, and eontinned, almost uncontrolled, to be the terror 
of the traveller,, and ol! caravans, as well as of the country 
roundabout. 

m» jcastle was: one of those 8lru<ltctres frequen% seen ia 
Armenia, crowtiing the siunm^ of ^t^ached hillil, apparently 
of the saute date and architecture as the city of Anni; and wilt^ 
evidently adopted by the Turks, in their first inroads from the 
East, as a frontier fortress. Its outer walls were intersected 
at intervals by square tmrrets, indented with embrasures. The 
building coaisisled of a eiturt, entered by massive gates, which 
led into suites of rooms, lower and nj^er : the lower were ap- 



AYESHA. 90t 

propristtted to atlates asd stables, the upper to tfae habitation 
of the ehoeC Ott a detached rode, communicating by a narrow 
wooden bridge io the naain buildiDg, stood a square fort or 
keep, which formed the prison in which Osmond and the youi^^ 
Russian were confined. The whole was strong by its position,. 
weU ec^leukted to resist any attack that m^ht be made upon 
it by Asiatic troops, but not proof against artillery. 

Cara Bey^s own apartment was situated in such a manner 
as to eonaonand a view of the adjacent country, extending^ 
towards the plain of Erivian, watered by the Arpachai, and 
terminated by the magnificent momitains, of whidi the great 
cone of Ararat, with its minor summit, formed the principal 
lealitres. Here, seated on his silken cushions, and his win- 
dows open to every breeze, did he pass a great portion of his 
time when he was not abroad as a freebooter, telescope itt 
hayod, scrutinizing objecte &r and near ; bis eye principally 
fixed upon a tract of the high caravan road from Persia into 
Turkey. From this room into his harem, which eoiii^ted of 
a low set of apairtmenis, the small windows of which looked 
imniediatety upon the walls of the prison, there was an im- 
morale access by meand of a narrow and intricate passage. 
Here lived, in a state of miserable bondage, several unfor- 
tnnate woiaen, who were kept, Kke puppets, in a box, for the 
sole purpose of administering to his pleasures. One among 
them w^ dj^nified with the title of "Kadun,'' and bore a cer- 
ism preeminence over the rest, who were calkd her slaves : 
but hers was but a poor superiority, deprived as she was, in 
common with the others, of the advantages of air, liberty, and 
converse with her fellow-creatures. Cara Bey's licentiousness 
knew no bounds. Frequently had he undertaken predatory 
excursions for the sole purpose of seizing upon some unfor- 
tunate maiden, whose reputation for beauty had excited his. 
evil passions,, attacked tfae village in which she lived, and car- 
ried her forcibly away from her parents, perhaps amid the 
ruins of their habitation, and after the horrors of murder and 
pillage committed by his sanguinary gang. 

The constitnt suspicion in which he lived of those around: 
him, was the cause of hi^ determination to place Osmond and 
his serva^ in confinement. He was too w^ aware of the 
state of things at Constantinople, of the power exercised bj 



202 AYBSHA. 

European ambassadors in the protecticuti of tbe subjects of their 
country, and of the investigations likely to be set on foot in case 
of their loss or abduction, not to feel that, were it known that he 
had been the means of destroying an Englishman, and one of 
consequence, as in the present instance, not all the protection 
which the Capidan Pasha could afford him, nor all the money 
which he might expend, could eventually secure him from 
molestation. His ulterior object, therefore, was not Os- 
mond's destruction ; and he adopted the half-measure, between 
plunging him into Ivanovitch's well, and leaving him full li- 
berty to range the castle at large, — that of simple confine- 
ment in a room. 

This arrangement, however satisfactory it might be to him- 
self, was not at all so to Hassan, his kiaya ; who, really at- 
tached to Osmond from gratitude and from admiration of hi» 
high qualities, deplored in his heart the treatment which he 
had met with. The constant fear in which he lived of his 
ferocious master, prevented him from speaking his mind boldly; 
but it was evident, from his dull and downcast looks, from 
the loss of his energetic manner, and from the few words 
which he spoke when addressed, that the situation of his friend 
and deliverer, a situation in which he had been the means of 
placing him, was a subject which weighed him down with 
sorrow. 

"iVe oldmL^ pezevenk? — What has happened, fellow?" 
exclaimed Cara Bey to him, the day after they returned from 
their last expedition. ''Are you become an owl, or a camel, 
or, what is worse, a Turkish dog, that you go moping about as 
if the day of judgment were at hand? What ails thee, 
man?" 

" Bir chey yok! — There is nothing!" answered the other, 
stroking his great mustaches down as he spoke, sighing the 
while, and looking like a condemned malefactor. 

" Nothing! say you? Then wherefore so Mef siz—so spi- 
ritless? Look! you know Cara Bey! He is not apt to take 
bad jokes. By the standard of Yezid! I swear, and, what is 
more, by this whisker!'' touching the tip of his own as he 
spoke, '' if you do not put off this piece of fool's play, and go 
about your duties like a good servant, I will make your soul 
jump out of that carcase of yours ! Have you heard me ?'^ 



AYESHA. 203 

*' You are the master to do as you please, " said the other, 
doggedly. 

" Speak then T said Cara Bey : " speak ; let us see. Are 
you not clothed sumptuously P Are you not fed well ? Have 
you not the choicest horses in my stable at your command ? 
Next to myself, have you not more authority than any other 
in the castle ? For what then can you wish P If you want 
my musnud too, and my seals," added he, mockingly, " Bismil- 
lah I here, Sir Bey, come hither, sit, eat, drink, kill, rob, riot ; 
what more can you want ?" 

** What does my lord say ?" answered Hassan, with less 
sullenness and more confidence. *' I am a poor man, and his 
slave. Praises be to Allah I I have everything at command 
from your bounty. You have done everything for me except 
one." 

" Ne var — What is that?" said Cara Bey, his countenance 
taking that look which may be called the true satanic — a scowl 
on the brow and a smile on the lip. " What do you want ?" 

'^ You have not done me justice," said Hassan meekly; '' I 
want justice." 

'^ Justice !" exclaimed the other, breaking into a fiendish 
laugh. '' Mashallah 1 how long have you become a moUah ? 
You shall be made mufti of this castle, and with a great green 
caouk on your head, as large as Aligez yonder, you shall for 
the future dispense justice from the bench, instead of taking 
your pleasure on the saddle. Justice, eh I" 

'^ You are the master," said the other, '^ but, in truth, my 
soul is sick — our honour is gone I" 

" Man I are you run mad?" exclaimed Cara Bey in asto- 
nishment; *' first you want justice, then your honour is gone: 
what words are these? Do I care for justice? Do I pine for 
my honour? If I do not, wherefore should you? — ^you, who 
only shine by reflection ! Go, go, you are run mad." 

*' If such be the case, then," said Hassan, with great appa- 
rent feeling, ^^ alloW me to lay down my place of kiaya, and 
to return to that of one of your guard. My arms, my legs are 
broken ; I can do nothing more than desire death, which I will 
seek on the first opportunity. " 

At these words Cara Bey answered nothing, but appeared 
for a moment in deep thought, although it was evident that 



204 AYESHA. 

passion and that ofthe direst nature, was working in bis breast. 
At last he said, " What do you require? Speak ! I coramafid 
you." 

The Frank whom you have confined," said Hasiuni boldly, 
^' has saved my life twiee. I brought him to you upoa the 
faith of receiving your protection f you have broken that &ith. 
I ask you to release him, and this head of mine ausiwers for Ihs 
conduct." 

At these words the whole demon broke forth ni the person 
of Cara Bey. The obliquity as well as the brittiancy of his 
eyes ccmibiiied, became borrible to beh<^ ;; his white Hvid 
countenance was streaked with blue; his black hair exhibited 
a tendency to distension : he clenched his hands ; ke half-rose 
from his seat : his throat seemed too small for the utterance of 
his words. At length they came out, streaming with blasphe- 
my and vidence, as die first black volume of smoke issues from 
the chimney of a furnace before the coal has ignited I ^^ Dogl 
rogue! fll-bom! asses' colt I" first camefrorii his Hpa*, Aen, 
*' ril sell your mother. Shall I not do what I please* with my 
own prisoners, and in my own castle P Shall I look to you for 
Station ? I>og! FlI destroy your father — - a dog is tcra good 
for your parent." All this poured forth in such rapid succes- 
/siott that there was no interval between one gracbttdn of abuse 
and another; until hoarseness overtook him, when he at lengdi 
roared out for the inilicters of bis cruelty to appear, and iflh 
mediately ordered the too £siithful Hasssm to reeeive an untold 
bastinado on the soles of his feci. It wiki^ with diffioalty that 
he restrained himself from ordering instant death, but the 
services of die offender were too wellknowv and too valuable 
to him to be thus lost, and 9^-interest stepped iii to attarjr the 
violettce of his mad fnry. The poor creature suffered without 
a groan, and was aH leo^th earrkd away ib a state of total in- 
sensibility; bis feet were beaten into a shapeless mass; tl^ pain 
which he had undergene had akftost caused his eyes? to s^rt 
from \m head, whilst his parched moHdi became black with 
darkened Mood. 

The fiend who had thus treated his faitUWI servant, would 
probably have made his vengeance fall upon the b€^4 of Os- 
mond as well, but he was luckily brought to bis n^c^e sober 
senses by the reflection thatJie had deprived himisetf of Hassan^ 



▲YESHA. 205 

services when they would be of emiaeni use in a certain expe- 
diHon which he had planned, and which he was anxious to put 
into execution without loss of time. This was tlie scheme which 
he had hinted to Osmond at their first interview — namely, that 
of bearing away Ayesha by fioree, and adopting her as the fu- 
ture queen of his harem. Sudi were the repeated accounts 
which had come to his ears of her extraordinary beauty and 
merit, and so much had his curiosity been raised after all that 
had taken place at Kars between her and Osmond, that his 
only thought was how he could obtain posseaiion of her. 
This he turned over in his mind in every possible manner, view* 
ing it in every light, and mad to undertake it, although he saw 
it fraught with difficulty. With Hassan's activity, bravery, and 
sagacity, he felt that he should be certain of sucees^; but now 
that he had deprived himself of these helps for some time, he 
was almost on the point of knocking his head against the waU for 
having allowed his passion thus to overcome his better reason. 
But, in order to ease his mind of its present embarrassed state in 
regard to the expedition which he had in view, he sent for his 
Kotchek, or priest, the doleful-looking person whom we have 
before noticed, and ordered him to acquire some certain infor- 
mation whether the projeet which he contemplated, and which 
he explained to him, would meet with success or not. CaraBey, 
who had in some measure arrogated to himself the dignity of 
being the head ci the Yezidies, chose to adopt the privilege be- 
longing to their real head, of keeping a Kotchek; and thus he 
felt his mind steded against the iniquity of his horrid achieve* 
ments, flattering himself that the responsibility lay at the door 
of the priest who sanctioned them. 

The Kotchek, upon hearing the magnitude of the scheme, 
shook his head as if to say that it would be too difficult to ac- 
complish; but as soon as he perceived the rising impatience of 
his chief, he began to fear that, if he refiised his sanction^ it 
might be the worse for him. Straightway he proceeded to busi- 
ness.-^ He first covered himsdf over with a large bladi cloak, 
and his head with a dark shawl; he then ensc(mced himsdf in 
the corner of a qui^ room, where he extended his person at 
full-length on the floor. No one was permitted to disturb him 
on paun of punishment. Thete he lay, apparently torpid, wait* 
ipg for a revelation from the Devil; but so long did he remain 



SOe AYESHA. 

in this state, that Cara Bey would every now and then steal 
into the room where he lay, and give him a monitory kick by 
way of hastening his operations. At length he arose, and with 
many hypocritical manifestations of having received a full and 
true communication, announced to his vivacious master that he 
might proceed in fuU surety of being successful, provided he 
crossed the threshold of his castle with his left leg foremost; 
and provided that he, the priest, received certain measures of 
rice, and of butter, and a good fat lamb, on the very day of the 
return of the expedition. Moreover, he warned him, as he 
valued his life, not to omit putting on, next to his skin, the old 
shirt which had lately been sent him from the great Sheikh of 
theu* tribe; and particularly not to wear it inside out, for much 
of his safety depended upon that. 

Cara Bey announced himself well pleased with his priest's 
decision, and assured him, that not only would he bestow upon 
him the desired donation of rice and lamb, but that, on the day 
after his return, he would give a plentiful feast of pillau to his 
whole establishment and garrison. 

Having said this, he immediately turned his mind to planning 
the expedition ; and first, he thought it necessary to obtain from 
Hassan, who was better acquainted with the localities than any 
other man in the garrison, every information as to the best time 
and mode of attack. He did not cease upbraiding himself with 
want of foresight in having thus deprived himself of his services at 
a moment when they were most wanted, but still cherished the hope 
that, with proper remedies, he might sufficiently patch up his la- 
cerated feet to enable him to be of the party. He proceeded to 
visit the poor man, who lay in agony, groaning with the pain of 
his wounds, and restless with feverish excitement. As he ap- 
proached his bed, he assumed a voice of great interest and con- 
dolence, assuring him of his sorrow at seeing him in this state, 
and of his desire to ensure his recovery. He recommended that 
he should be removed into bis own harem, where the women 
should take charge of him and watch over his recovery; and as 
a warrant of his good intentions, immediately ordered the change 
to be made. By the help of two men, under the direction of 
their chief in person, he was conducted from his own dark lodging 
into a small closet immediately at the entrance of the women's 
apartments, where he was deposited on a soft bed, propped up 



AYESHA. 207 

^th pillows^ and treated with the same comforts which the 
Bey himself would have commanded. 

Hassan allowed all this to be done for him, and received the 
attentions of his chief with every appearance of thankfulness; 
but his heart was not moved. He had been most cruelly treat- 
ed : his fidelity was overlooked, and his services unheeded; he 
felt that he had been treated like the commonest menial. He 
had determined never to forgive this conduct. Although a 
nouffauder and a robber, yet his nature was full of gratitude, 
and having once received benefits, he never forgot them : but 
he was also revengeful; and being full of intelligence and re- 
sources, his hatred became dangerous. That feeling now was 
predominant in his breast, and Cara Bey was its object. The 
only relief which he -enjoyed as he lay writhing on his bed of 
pain, was the contemplation of future revenge. He was uni- 
versally beloved by the garrison, and was looked up to with 
great respect, on account of his sagacity and presence of mind 
in all emergencies of danger; indeed, Cara Bey's success and 
elevation were principally attributed to him : whatever, there- 
fore, he proposed, was executed with zeal; and it had often 
been thought that, had his ambition prompted him to set up for 
himself, he might with ease have deposed his master and taken 
his place. 

Cara Bey having taken merit to himself for conferring the 
distinction of his care and attention upon Hassan, with fawning 
duplicity called him his friend and adviser, informed him of his 
scheme, and of his intention of immediately putting it into exe- 
cution. " But," my friend," said he, " you are the only man 
among us who can guide us in this adventure ; let me hope that 
you will be able to go also : we shall have plenty of plunder : 
yon owe a grudge to those cows of Turks; it will be a good time 
to pay it off." 

Hassan, who knew that his only chance of revenge was pre- 
sent dissimulation, appeared to enter into his views, and said 
that, if he were only able to sit on his saddle, he would go ; 
and there was no doubt that he could lead to the very house in 
which the maiden lived with her father and mother. '< But," 
said he, " only look at my feet; they are totally useless ! Be- 
sides, I am wasting away with such a burning heat all over my 
body, that I should die ere I got to Kars." 



SOtt AYESHA. 

Gara Bey appeared to be in great dktress at his mffering. 
He ordered the bandages to be taken off his feet ; Mid then, 
indeed, he was convinced that, unless a miracle were per- 
formed, it would be impossible for him to stir for some time. 
^ What is to be done P" said he. 

'^ Let Mariam be caHed." 

Upon which he ordered one of his women slaves, of tiutt 
name, who enjoyed his confidence, and who acted as his coek, 
to be sent to hi^i* It must be said, that this individual Marian 
was one of the same mountain village in the Kurdistam as Has- 
san himself; had known Hm from childhood; and, if k must 
be avowed, a certain ten^ease existe^ between them, though, 
on account of the severe restraint under which they botk lived, 
it had never been expressed. 

As soon as she appeared in the si^k man^s room, with a v^ 
thrown loosely over her head and face. Gam Bey ordered her 
io approach. '' Here, woman," said he, '^ look al this. You are 
a Aa&66^, a doctor, Ikoow: you can cure «ores and bruises. 
Here, you must do your best io oure Hassan Bey's Ceet.^' And 
throwing her a piece of gold, he added, *^ Attd here^ take this; 
another shall be given as soon as he can walk.^ 

The tender-hearted Mariam, vt^ben she discovered the laoe^ 
rated limbs^ and moreover to whom they belonged, uttered a 
shriek, and began to bewail herself, pintil she was brought to 
her senses by her less sensitive master, who ordened her to 
cease her lamentations, and to bring her sa|v9S and ointmeals. 
He then left the wounded man, with a prowse of r^iiiniing 
tohimi^gain in the evening, whilst Mariam commenced her 
operations. 

We will not say what passed between them, but the sequel 
will ^w how importaptto the fiijtnFe welfare of Osmosd wai 
their meeting, the result of which it is not necessary at preseot 
to we&tion. 



AYESHA. 209 



^CHAPTER XX. 



Thonghls black, hands apt, drugs fit, sbd time agreeing; 

Confederate Season. 

Hamlet. 



Cara Bey returned, as he had promised, te the groaning 
Hassan. His feet had been dressed, and he avowed that they 
felt relieved ; but his fever still raged. It was of that he most 
€omplained ; and he insisted ttmt, if something were not done 
for him, he must unavoidably die. 

Cara Bey was more than ever anxious to avail himself of his 
lieutenant's services ; but was at a loss how to proceed. There 
was no one at hand who knew how to treat a fever. '' What 
is to be done ?'' said he to Hassan : '^ Will you take a talisman 
from the Kotchek? or shall I send for the Karabash, or holy 
man, who lives at the foot of Aligez ?'' 

Hassan shook his head in apparent despair, and showed his 
parched tongue, and put up his hands to his aching temples. 
'^ There is only one thing to be done," said he : ''all Franks 
have a knowledge of medicine: send me the Frank whom you 
keep in confinement ; it is possible he may do me good. He 
has already saved my life twice ; he may, perhaps, save it a 
third timer' 

. Cara Bey at this request looked confused, if such an evil 
countenance could be so deranged ; but he hesitated not an in- 
stant to adopt the sick man's request. Unwilling to face Os- 
mond after the treachery of which he had been guilty, the das- 
tardly chief slipped out of the sick room, whilst he ordered the 
Frank to he sent for. The thorough rascal will ever be afraid 
to face the honest man, whatever may be his power : as, it is 
said, an enraged bull will shrink from the eye of man. Thus 
it was in this instance. 

Osmond and his companions had, in the meanwhile, pajsised 

14 



2\6 AYBSHA. 

their time ia anticipation of some communication from ther 
infamous and perfidious host. They were served, through 
the medium of oldMahmoud, with provisions sufficiently coarse 
and scanty ; and, such as they were, they managed to convey 
a portion of them to the wretched Ivanovitch, who was only al- 
lowed a melancholy pittance of bread, water, and perhaps a 
little sour milk. He was young and full of hope; and his spirits, 
through the help of Osmond's cheering conversation, were 
wonderfully supported. The principal check which they occa- 
sionally received was, when he protested that, through the 
walls of his prison, he heard the moans and lamentations of 
some imprisoned wretches, still more ill-treated, perhaps, than 
Mtttself, \^ho ^vidfetttly weri litigeriiig irwsy a hopeless exis- 
i&ti^e \ti sttttt^ ^[djadebt duiD]geon^ Gaxfadnd, who folly believed 
the fa6tr atid wa^ ^teit corivinced that he heard' the same noises, 
que^tibned' Mahltto^d tfpoh the giib|ecft, wht) admost as much 
as avowed that the prisons of the cai^tle^ whi^b were situated 
in Vatrioti^ iiiibtfe!»f a«ie»» part^ ef it, w^re filled with dcspotod- 
in^ prisoners', itterch«liffc^, tfaveHerSy a*d even inhabitants of 
tillages, \Vha, ib^ at^l^kd tLp(m Cd^ravan^, afnd invasions of inlis- 
Bited placed, bad* been seized mi ittimared by Cara Bey and 
his adVenturdtid ^aiig. 

They were now for tke seeodd tiftie stbout to witness die 
setting sun from A dmkll ^itidow dituate^ i^early opposite those 
of the Har^ni^ YtbtA M^ Winidow a idighe view of the £stmit 
country, bouncted by the i^edtet^n riiountaiiis^ was obtained, and, 
hy a Kafppy acci(fei!rf, the ^ty spot itt which the sun made hi^ 
exit t<ra^ dtotihgufehaib'te. They were catstiftg their eyefs in 
mdsltiehot^ mood at this sm^ll pbrtioii of the beavftiei^ of Miwrtr 
and Osmond was speculating in his mind upon the chance tliM 
wafe teft him 6f 6Ve^ Austin engoying theth With that libertjr of 
heart atid person whi^h wafs-td him owe of the principal sources 
of happiness, wbeii a step W£ti^ he^fd proceeding to Wftfds the 
docfr, aind a coinmaikt id Mahmoiud to opefi. 

tKs was m Sbor^er d<)fhe,^«h&tf one df Garaf ftey'A dervaate^ 
^tite^*, dM (^dUrti the Frknk -^ Osman, sis he called fchfi— 
(5 follb^ hiftt. Osmond itfihiediately a^ked " Wherefore f 
Stasso, fearing irioi*e tre^ehcry, said that, if his master ^ettt, 
he would go also. Mustafa looked as if he had been condernd^d 
to tttsktarit death, aiid stirred not. There ^as a b^itafionr 



and the servant ajitpeared imc«rtain wlni U> ^,.wbeB^ reeel- 
lading the ot^ct of his message, he said, '' llassan Aga is siek ; 
you must try to cure him. The Bey has ordered it so ; follow 
me you must. BismiUah !^^ 

Osmond was too hafipy to have an opportunity to see some- 
thing more of the castle than the four walls in which he had 
been confined, to hesitate aay longer so follow the servant. 
Besides, be was more' than ever anxious to see Hassan, from 
whom he made no doubt be could extract some information 
^concerning his future fate, and the intentions of Cara Bey 
towards him. He, consequently, desired Stasso to remain 
where he was, and informed the servant that he was ready to 
follow him. 

When he entered Hassan's room, he could scarcely recognise, 
in the pallid cheek and sunken eye of the iaoe before hka, the 
once animated countenance of his travelling eompaniom and 
deliverer from prison. *' Hassan, my friend T said Osmond, 
*' what has happened P What evil eye has stricken you ? 
Who has thrown you into thk state P^' 

The poor man could not find words to answer, for be, too, 
was struck at Osmond's altered looks ; all be did was to uii' 
cover his feet and point to them. He could not have spoken 
more eloquently bad he used Uie most p^Uhetic forms of speech. 
Osmond understood at a glance the whdie truth, and bis blood 
ran cold widi h(H*rot as he reflected upon &e more than sa- 
tanie wickedness whieb could have inAided such j^nishm^nt 
upon such a man. 

At length Hassan found i^tretagtb to say, '^ My feel will soon 
get weH ; but, alas I my fever I I bulii— I ean find no relief ! I 
kave settt to you ; perhaps you, ib yotir goodness, will tell me 
wfaart to do%" 

Osmond took up the sick man's hand, Wkidi was indeed 
n^corebing with fever, and, feeling h^ dirobbing piilse, 
mournfully shook his head. '* Chok chey ! — it is much !" 
96t^ be, with an expf^esi^ion of gresU: sympalhy lA^ his tone 
and manner ; '^ I can do no&ing, aias ! You know I lost 
every&ing at Kiirs : iuid I my medii^ines here, with iIIbm; 
help of God, 1 might cure you; but noln^^ whittier ean I.tarn 
weP^ • ' ■ 

HaslKin's couritenanee feH asfhe hearildiese words; ; thejnt 

14* 



S19 AYBSHA. 

was a look of despondency in Osmond's face that unmanned 
him, and he ahnost felt as if death were about to overtake 
him. 

*^ But stay I'* exclaimed Osmond, struck by a sudden thought, 
and at the same instant thrusting his hand into a side-pocket 
of his Tatar's coat, '^ let us see ; perhaps— they may still be 
here ; I used to carry some always about me. No — I fear-^ 
I have none. Still I think I ought to have some ^'' then in- 
serting his hand still deeper, he cried out, '^ Yes, yes! thanks to 
God ! I have. Here are two powders left^ by the blessing of 
Heaven, I may save you yetT' Upon thiS) he drew forth two 
papers containing the well-known fever-powders, which during 
his travels he had always been in the habit of carrying about 
his person, whilst a thrill of joy ran through his frame and 
communicated itself to the sick man. 

" ShuMer Allah /" exclaimed Osmond. 

" ShuMer Allah /" repeated Hassan, in response \ such 
faith did he put in Osmond's knowledge and sagacity. 

Had any one of his own countrymen produced two such mi- 
niature papers before the eyes of Hassan, and assured him that 
they contained medicines which would effect his cure, he would 
have laughed him to scorn ; but Osmond's word was enough : 
he believed at once everything he said, and although he might 
imagine it was through the agency of a charm, or a talisman, 
that he was about to receive relief, still he believed in the 
efficacy of the medicine, because it was administered by 
Osmond. 

Osmond saw that Hassan wished to speak to him without a 
witness, and therefore devised a pretext for getting rid of the 
servant, who had remained in the room. *' Brother," said he 
to him, ^' run in haste, get me some hot water ; see that it be 
boiling — do you hear ?" 

'^ Upon my head be it I" said the other, unwittingly, and left 
the room. 

The instant he had disappeared, Hassan rose from his bed, 
and with astonishing alacrity and strength, making an effort 
upon himself, seized Osmond's hand, and exclaimed with 
animation, '^My lord, my master, you have saved my life 
twice! You will, please God! save it a third time. But hear 
me— let me save your's. Cara Bey is a murderer — a demon! 



AYESHA. 21S 

lAsien to tkese words ; for God's sake listen, ^and hearken to 
my advice! On the evening of his return from this expedi- 
tion to Kars, a large dish of pillau (rice) will be served up to 
you and your companions. Eat not a grain of it^it will be 
poisoned — Do yoii hear? — but thrust your hand under the 
rice, — at the bottom of the dish you will find a key; that key 
unlocks the postern-gate leading from your prison to the face 
of the mountain. The moment you have opened it, — ^fly, fly, 
in God's name ! You will have the whole night before you ; 
for, trusting to the effects of the poison, the vUlain will not go 
near you till the morrow : he will then expect to see you dead. 
He has done so before— I know the monster I I know him — 
villain! coward! traitor! Thank God, I have said it!'' Upon 
which, the poor fellow sank down so exhausted, that he almost 
fainted in Osmond's arms. 

Osmond was deeply affected by this mark of attachment : he 
felt that he had greatly wronged the suffering man by suspect- 
ing him of being a party concerned in the treachery of hi^ 
master and he also felt himself relieved from the necessity of 
liolding any measures, of faijth towards Cara Bey, who would 
thus barbarously have put him to death. With this prospect 
of emancipation before him, his mind naturally turned towards 
Providence with feelings of gratitude ; — haying made up his 
nund to the worst consequeo/ces, he felt cheered by thisunexr 
pected prospect of relief.. 

Elated by such an accession of new hopes, he remained for 
awhile absorbed in thought, until he found the sick man whom 
he was supporting, revive. As soon as he could speak, Osmond 
anxiously enquired what he meant by the expedition to Kars, 
although he tpo well suspected the mischiefs which ijt fore- 
boded. 

'^ He has determined to cariry off Suleiman's daughtqr^" said 
Hassan. 

"Ah! I thought as much," said Osmond, scarcely able to 
draw breath as he spoke. "Tell me — ^can I go with him? 
Tell hipi I know the house — I know how to procure aa admit- 
tance!" 

^^ The ruffian is too wary, too jealous; I dojubt whether he 
Vill allow you to go." 

** I must, I must go !" said Osmond, with passion and despair 



«*4 AvemA. 

m kis keapt. ^^' My friend iHassaB, ead^mwn^ ie pei'siiadeMffl 
that the expeAiKioDeaimot take plaoe wUhont me. ¥011 know 
all tliat has h^qppened; Ihe mftidet must not tMitiio his band^f 

** Ah!" said Hasficm detefuBy^, *^! see you are'Rot yet ft% 
aware into whose power you hkve faiHen ; -tf you^tbhik it pos- 
sible to deceive him where a vroman is eoueeraed, you are 
mistaken. Besides, the only elmtiee of leading 1dm is 4iy con- 
tradiction ^ pervetseftess is his first eharacteristic, — reeoHect 
that: we must be very cautiotis.^* • 

'*What, then, is to be done to satve bferP" said Ostnond 

^Save yonrseW answered Hassan, wfed ^as a true Mos- 
suknan in bis ideas of women. *^What is a woman, nfler aH? 
4bei»e are many women in the worM ; but you baive -only oae 
soul — save that." 

Osmond perceived all the kindness of Hassai^'s feedings 
towards bimj and, impefled by bis desire to protect Aycsba, 
and 4iis fear tbat ^s grateM bfti4)ariaB would bimself be M 
into danger, entreated him, whilst <be planned thesa^^ 
effbers, to thtnb of his own, afftd not expose bifosetf to Cara 
Be5^% vengeance. 

«'Fear not,^ said Hassan ; "'fear wot for me: we know^ow 
i.o settle our ^wn quarrels, fjet It «ot be said that tJie straBger 
iiais been entrapped ^6 meet bis 4ea1ib by my meafirs. i am a 
match for^the traitor; he shall feel iftiat ^tbe worm whick 
Tie now spurns under his feet^ ean t»rn upon bim. Save 
yourself'— ^save those w^ho are HTfthyoa — and leave tJbc rest to 

mer 

By this time the sei'vant returned v^tb the hot water, wben 
Osmond, baving administered one of the powders, gave ^ 
rections about preserving warmth, described bow theywoitW 
act, and desired that be might be called again atfter the lapse 
of a certain length of time. He then left the room and returned 
to bis |)pison. 

"Cara Bey bad watched with impatience ^r the termina^on 
erf Osmond's visit. As soon as be ^eard fliat it was fn?er,'li€ 
returned to the sick room, and anxiously enquired what had 
been its Tesuk ; when 'Hassan described tbe tatismanic powder 
which he had just taken, prognosticated Ms effects, and in- 
formed him tbat %e^bopcNl soon to fce weH. ©ara Bey shook 



bis heail, ittoredulous x)f its virtues, md M^ would liave sje(^t 
{or a KaEabash, .or wise ^aii, who, be iiflSri^ied, by Uyijog h^ 
hands Upon iiis neck and shoyldans,iWiQuld do,i2)or^ for tup[i 
Ihi^n any iFranli, ior father iof Franks, ibehe ^o,lie ^ghL 

la .due Aime ilhe m^kui^ )bfigaa tp i^voflk M^ ^Q^ned ^f(iect. 
hs \!ial6nt and.reficesbing aotioa upon 4be pores ^o« pr/ocured 
such re^ef that the fevcM:* idipappe^^rf^ \}h^ Pf^^&c^ f^pd with it 
laiuib .of die genei^ infirmity xx>mpl^ed ^ by ^he p^tio^. 
His wx>unded fieet, I0O, pai^Ojpkof iih^gao0x^<?Qt,/orh!i^4i^)^r 
having abated, the wounds bore a mO(!e h/ealthy ^pear^pioe. 
In diart,.be iuuiQuoeed himadf couvi^soye^ X3^a yBey was 
tlie first to cry out ' a jnira^Ie ! ' BdUeving i\i§i <be pps^es^^d JP 
Osmond a .physician who could cure all iil^, ^e ipp^teiQpl^t^d 
ihe securing him for ^ever in bis servicie, and tbus, sirt^^ed joi^^li 
hisfiiest Qn que side, :and bis doctor on tbaoth^r, ^t ifr^^ 
confidence in ihe>pro6eoution.of his nelaffiov^.d^^f^^ ,Vh\i ^^ 
his most pressing objeet. was .the iformation of the leji^pe^itlc^.to 
Kars ; and, netwithstaadiQg the certainty ^t the inigl)t spcxn 
a^aki 'Cnjoy the^^rvices .of his (lieutenant, fio great w^^ ;hjs ;in[i~ 
patience, that he could scarcely .pcevail ,upoa;bims^ 40 ^v^it 
the^ew day s. necessary iCor ithe ce-estabiisibinent of h^ strength. 

Mis principal object now was to^&oevtain the<dAStrih^tipn,of 
the ipterior of Suleiman Aga^s.hou^, in ^vd^r tbfit he jmi^h^ 
etfeet the .$<^iziM:'ie j(^ Ayeaha with ibei legist po^ible djffiCA4((y. 
Of 'tbis'Kassaa wasjgnoraqt: he coidd. point out^hich w^s (,he 
house, but ^ould do ^no .mare. >He was aware, rhowev^r, %af- 
both Lord Osmond and Stasso knew ia passage into it Abrpi^gh 
the Armefiifin'^ terrace ; and of.thisibe ipfocmed.his.Qbi^f) who 
no sooner heard the important faot than lie ikrtemiiAe^ to.$i^e 
a«d qiiestion /them. 

tfassan would iiave taken adv'Mitag^ of this opportunity tp 
urge the necessity of taking Osmond with hjmonilhe ex,pediti<^i, 
bad he not been afraid of too early awakening the tSuspicio#HS 4^ 
bis chief on thathead; he therefore said nothing for the :pl^e$^At 
to influencc'his inind,:h^ing that die would ^of his own iacopr4 
adopt his wishes. 

r 

Cara Bey having returned 'to his own'ix^om,.Drdevod(0$inond 
and his two attendants to he 'brought, before ihim; and having 
now an object. to gain in Ihe communications whiph he. wished 



216 AYE8HA. 

to draw from them, adopted the utmofit obsequiousnesd ui U$ 
behaviour to them, thereby exhibiting the whole baseness of 
his deceitful nature. As soon as they appeared, he invited Os- 
mond to be seated, enquired officiously after his health, and put 
into play every iawning art to make him forget his ill-treatment 

Osmond received his advances with the most repulsive 
coldness, and, without giving him leave to proceed, stopped his 
fulsome speeches by askings *' What he meant by detaining him 
a prisoner, who had sought his protection, and come to him 
on the faith of his officer's word P" 

" Ai guzum — my eyes 1" said the crafty wretch, with a 
hypocritical smile; *' what words are these ? We are rude 
men, untaught in the ways of the world* Yoa would not have 
me unmindful of my own security? This is a bad world, and 
there are wicked men in it You come to me, by your own 
account, a fugitive firomthe authorities of my own government. 
You are said to have disobeyed its laws ; you would have in- 
fringed one of it& sacred observances, and invaded the sanctity 
of our harems. Am I not to be upon my guard when men 
come to me under sfuch circumstances ?'' 

'^ You know,"^ said Osmond with indignation, *' this is an 
excuse and a base subterfuge. The authorities of Kars had as 
little right to detain my person as you have. I am an English- 
man ; if you insist upon keeping me a prisoner, my government 
will find means to overtake with its power those who insult me> 
1 demand of yon to set me free, and to allow me to return to 
my own country. Wherefore do you detain me ?" 

**Be not so hasty," my friend, said Cara Bey: "every 
thing will be right in time. We are not men to harm 
the stranger, or to close the gate upon those who seek our 
skirt. Yavash^ yavash—dowly^ slow. You have this castle 
for your residence ; no one will harm you here. Wq have 
need of your assistance. Mashallah! -n-pr^ise be to Allah! 
you are a man of wisdom and of resource. You have received 
protection from us. You must give us your advice in return. 
Have you understood me ?" 

" If by protection you mean shutting me up, between four 
walls, and keeping me in durance vile like a criminal — like one 
of the many poor wretches whom you detain in your dungeons. 



AYE8HA. Sn 

let me tell you &ttl I do Bot undeirsUBd you. Set sde free, 
and then you may talk to me as a friend. Until then, I must 
treat you as my enemy.^' 

*' So be it," said Cara Bey with assumed frankness ; ^* you 
shall be free, and you are at liberty to return whence you 
came. I will myself conduct you back to Kars ; to the Russians 
you cannot go-^they are my enemies ; to the Persians still 
less — they drink my blood. We will return to Kars together. 
Will that suit you P" he enquired with a most sarcastic smile. 
*^ You are aware," said Osmond, *^ that, if I return to Kars„ 
my life is in danger. What words are these ?" 

^* Do you know the house of Suleiman Aga at Kars ?" said^ 
Cara Bey, putting on a look of indifference. 
" I do. What then P" 
'* And you have seen his daughter P"^ 
"I have. What more?" 
" Could you conduct me there ?" 

^' Wherefore do you ask P If hy this question you mean ta 
ask me to be a party to sever an innocent maiden from hei^ 
home, I tell you at once tlhiat I will not. I would protect her 
with my life from insult and danger ; but I will never lend 
myself to make her wretched." 

'^ You will not P" said Cara Bey, putting off the obsequious- 
ness of his smile, and assuming his own ferociousness of as- 
pect ** Bakalum — We shall see.1 Mashallah ! you are a 
wonderful man. You come into our country, seduce our 
women, invade our harems, and then, forsooth, set yourself up 
as a saint I Am I a fool, or you a rogue — which P" 

To these words Osmond would have answered with all the 
warmth of indignation ; but, as he felt that the existence of 
others as well as his own might depend upon his conduct, he 
did his best to smother his wrath, and remained silent. He 
hoped, however, from the manner in which he had received 
Cara Bey^s intimations concerning his projected scheme, that 
sheer perverseness would lead him to require his attendance. 
And so far he was not mistaken : for at that moment the tyrant 
bad determined to take advantage of his services. After a pause, 
Cara Bey continued the conversation by endeavouring to draw 
from Osmond every particular concerning his acquaintance 



1!18 A¥BSHA. 

\vith Ayesba ; but in ^fkislie met wtlh little 8iioeei|s. rFindiag 
himself foiled, he gradnaity gave vent io the diota^es of im 
coarse mind, and said things so abhorrent to ithe^ears ofji^over, 
that Osmond's patience was exhausted, and Jie ^htbited, by 
the violence and impetuQsvty of his answers, ^how much in faot 
his affections were engaged. Tt^is oircumBtaiiee oonfirmfid ia 
Cara Bey's mind 4he suspicion ^hich be lifMl ent«i!(aiiied>ofitiie 
nature of their acquaintance, and made -hip doubt «i^ihedier h» 
should insist upon Osmond's Aoeofnpaaying hi^ or not. He 
reserved this subject for future eonsideratioa, ^md tn ihe mean- 
while ordered his prisoner baek into eonflnement. 

His doubts increased as he thought on 4iie 4»ubjeetj sand he 
therefore determined to have reeourse 4o bis fM^esjl. 9Dfais 
personage, jealous of his power over Cara £ey, had istVen 
alarm at the success which had attended Osmondls tieatmeDt 
of Hassan. It was rumoured all. through the castle /Ihat he 
had worked a miracle upon him. That ithe >siek <inan should 
have been i^stored^ health by met^ysw^lowing a diminu- 
tive powdei', was £(Uogedier so improbable, ihaA ev/ery one 
attributed the eure to the ageney of some power .more than 
btiman ; and this was touohing so elosety upon the prpvince.af 
the Kotchek,that he was immediately determined 'to oven&irow 
the ifffluence which >he foresaw «@smo»d might obtain. No 
sooner, therefore, was he ques^ned byiGara Bey, than, with 
a short reference to 4he power which >he pretended to worship, 
he j^avea dedded negative against 'Osmond'^ going. Tthifi 
decision ^had the effeot rOf settling Oara fiey's doubts, ^and be 
resolved forthwith ihat Esmond should not accompaiaky him, 
but remain where 'he was until 'his Teturn. ^till, be had not 
yet acquired the infermation soneeessavy to 'bis success .upon 
the inteHor of'Stileiman Aga's house ; ^tthen it ocourred ijo 
him that 6tasso, or'the Bosbnak, as he was called in tbe.casile, 
might furnish it just as well as his master. Accordingly <he 
ordered 4iim to appear, and.d^ interview was sucoessfuL; ibr 
in the answers whi<$h ^he received ^ohis questions, he()eaiiied 
everything which he could desire. 

The expedition was at length ^finally settled. Cava Bey, ac- 
companied by' Hassan, ^asso, and twenty ohosen ^en, woce 
to proceed to Kars, and to introduce themselves i»to the city 



AYE8UA. 249 

dttpieg'the ^^(Hirse of tbe^ay. "The «ehief 'was then to moke a 
survey of the premises, and at ahoat night-laU 4bey i^ere to 
pnoceed to work. IThe prize "betag onoe seized, ^le was td be 
coodueted to Che casrie 'with aH possible espadition; and to 
orowo the event, a general feast was to he given to^^a wiiole 
estahKshme&t the day afUr the Fetorn of the party. 

Osmond reliirned te bis ppisea in a state 0f mkid trply Je- 

piorable. AH iiis feaps, he foresaw, w^ere fo&w abopt to %e 

peaiised. l^Vben be was told :bow the <e»pedition liadbeen ar- 

eanged, anddiat^e was excluded ^om^it, bis 4eapt smote iiim 

with apprehension ; for what torture that was ever imagined 

could ^be greater than ^at i^hioh he was ih^w oadled upon to 

endure ? Here, under >his own eyes, had been planned, wi^ 

all the coolness of calctilatioa of tbe tmost consummate avt and 

viHany^ a (tragedy unpapalleled in the wickedness ^of man. A 

city was to^ be invaded; iblqod was to inflow; lives probabiy 

wetifld'be sacr'rfioed ; an innocent ni^iden was to be torn from her 

parents — M to gratify the lusts of one seUidh, remorseless 

monster; whilst he, her ardent admirer, was oondemned4o 

remain conscious of the pepetration of these outnages, and 

tinabte in any manner either to prevent them, or give ^UG- 

eour v^ere it might \>e in his power. The <agitation i<Hio 

which lie was thrown, as he contemplated all dhe (hovre^s 

with which the seizure must inevitably -be attended, 4hFew Mm 

into a state of mind bordermg upon ifreazy. AM itiie ^r^igioiis 

feeling whidh he oOuld command, aU ibis kdrbitUAl resignatiop 

to the^eorees of Providence, proved uotomiling an rcalnidng 4be 

transports of his rage. 'W^ieii . his hnagination presented ito tbim 

theifatrlorm of his beioved Ayesha straggling with >beraiiie 

ioppressor, whqn <he heard hw unavailing cities, and thought 

i|e could distinguish the exulting 'ai^ demonlibe accents >of 

liis voice, his band would dutch an imagiiiaKy dagger, and 

drive it headlong into the breast of the murdierous wretoh. 

^et stiH, when it came to the point-.*-iow h^ was to aotr^ 

what (Erections 'he was to give to ^his sei^ant as 'to ihe/coodiftot 

he was to pursue — he wasthrown intp greifter perf^exi^y ithan 

ever. 4fe would willingly Jiave said, ^Slay 4he >mo(istiir/-rT-afie 

your dagger, plant it straight into his heart — or, when you»draw 

your pistol, place it to his temple ere you drawjthe trigger ;rr,- 

but these awful injfinctions stuck in (his (Ihroat ei^e be gave them 



280 AYE8HA. 

utterance. The true man, the Christian, in fine, prevailed, and 
he relapsed into hopeless wretchedness. 

There was one precaution, however, which he felt he could 
take, — he could arm the feeble girl herself :— she, whose only 
weapon was the retiring modesty of her nature-^who could 
oppose no other resistance to the brutality of the man save the 
dignity of innocence-^she, he knew, would prove a dragon 
of intrepidity and resolution when it became necessary to de* 
fend her honour. Osmond driew from his girdle a small 
dagger, which is not unfrequently worn by Asiatics, and giving 
it to Stasso, said — 

'^ Seize the opportunity, when you can do it unperceived, to 
slip this into the hand of Ayesha, and tell her it comes from 
Osmond; she will understand you.'' 

With this solitary consolation he was obliged for the present 
to rest contented. He would again have had communication 
with Hassan, with a view of quickening the desire of reveng« 
which he knew existed in his breast ; but he checked bimselC 
He still could not forget that the decrees of Providence are in- 
scrutable; than in spite of man's short-sighted endeavours to 
dispose of events according to his own wishes and for his own 
purposes, there is an intelligence. beyond his reason which 
holds the scales of justice, and promotes his well-being, in 
spite of his puny efforts. 

Everything throughout the castle soon after wore the ap- 
pearance of preparation : the men were busied in looking to 
their arms, and in selecting the best horses ; the chiefs held 
consultations. It was ordered that all traces of the Yezidi 
costume should be avoided, and that every one should appear 
either as a Kurd or an Osmanli. Stasso was provided with a 
suitable horse; Hassan hobbled about as well as he was able, 
and showed, or pretended to show, the zeal which was usual 
to him whenever any expedition was on foot. No unnecessary 
persons were permitted to go; two or three led horses were 
the only supernumeraries allowed ; and the whole was cour 
ducted upon the principle of a secret marauding excursion* 
At length, when all was ready, and the fortunate moment arr 
rived for the chiefs putting his foot into the stirrup, Cara Bey, 
throwing uncommon seriousness and resolution into his ton^ 
and manner, stepped up to Stasso, and said — 



AY£SHA. 221 



. ^^ Now, open your eyes, man ! Recollect yourself; and 
recollect that, if you show the smallest symptom of treachery, 
your master dies : I say no more." 
Upon this the gang took its departure. 



CHAPTER XXi. 

(* Alley exclaimed, 'In the most holy name, Crolioore, where are yoa goings 
And where are yon dragging me ?'" 

Titles hy the O'Hara Family. 

During the events which we have recorded in the last five 
chapters, Ayesha passed her life in the seclusion of her father's 
harem, living fipon the recollections of Osmond. Whether 
she should ever see him again, was a question which she Was 
constantly asking herself. The last words which he had 
spoken to her were as strongly imprinted on her memory as 
the incisions of the diamond are on the crystal; his last look 
was as vividly present to her as the parting gleam of the sun 
is to the inhabitant of the Pole, who loses his cheering aspect 
until the next revolving season. Every evening, precisely at 
the same hour at which he had left her, would she proceed 
to the terrace, stand on the very spot where they had stood 
together, repeat, word for word, the conversations which had 
passed between them, and, looking over the parapet into the 
street, earnestly gaze at t)ie very place where, urging on his 
horse at full speed, he had turned round to give the last long, 
lingering look, which spoke his melancholy farewell. Then 
she would pass whole hours in looking at the ring which he 
had given her — inspecting the trinket which had so excited his 
astonishment — and giving way to a fond affection for the 
handkerchief which had called forth his ecstasy. She was 
constantly meditating upon every question which he had put 
to her concerning those objects. He had suggested doubts of 
her being the daughter of those whom she had ever been 



2*22 AYESHA. 

taught to caU her pareatS; A man of hi» wisd^iv aaA exeetteHcey 
she afrgued, couM aot havd said do mueh^ Hor have be^n so 
struck by what he had se^ii, without very ^od reasons. 
Then, if she were not the child of Suleiman a&d Zabettay whose 
could she possibly be P Although she sometimes fancied she 
had some recollection of another sort of people than those 
who now surrounded her, yet they were so faint that they 
amounted almost to nothing. The doubts which now existed 
in her mind about herself produced a restlessness, a desire 
to be more fully informed, which prevented her from applying 
her mind with effect to any rational occupation. Frequently 
would she endeavour to bring her father to speak upon her 
early life, and put questions to him which she hoped might 
lead to somie remark or description explanatory of her doubts; 
but he always was sure to waive the subject, and intrench 
himself behind his pipe and his habitual silence. She was more 
afraid of her mother, and, as there was but little mutual eon^ 
fidence between them, she seldom ventured to talk upon 
subjects which were not proposed by Zabetta ; but she often 
found her thoughts betraying to herself the little regard which 
she really felt for either of her supposed parents. Suleiman Aga 
was kind to her^ it is true, butit was the negative kindnessof an 
indolent passive nature, which would rather be well with all 
mankind than be at the trouble of being otherwise. He loved 
her perhaps better than most things— -perhaps better than 
any other living being, but then be loved his own dear ease 
better. She was so beautiful to look at, that no eyes which 
had human feehngs for associates, could see her without at 
least a pleasurable sensation of some sort or other — either of 
admiration, as a wander of God^s creation^ or of actual love. 
Her demeanour was of that modest and unpretending nature 
that none but a fiend could ever have the heart to do her 
harm; and her manners were so free from all affectation, 
so simple and affectionate, that to speak to her once was 
sufiicient in order to be her slave for ever : there was YAile 
credit, therefore, due to Suleiman for being kind to her, even 
supposing he was not her father; he could not help htn^f, 
— he must be either a man, and love her — or a fiend, which 
he was not, and find pleasure in 40iBg her ha^n. 

Zabetta, her nominal mother, on the other liadd, was of a 



AYBSHA. 223 

totally dififerent (BsfKXsitiOn from ber father. She loved Ayesha, 
but her lov^' Was' that of ^rotperty^ •f posses^ng » gem of great 
viahie, By th& be^t dfsposiJ of whicb she might raise her fortune 
and adtance- her viewi^ ilk life. Although she had not pBissed 
tlie age of vanity^ And was still proud of her own beauty, it 
li^ver ooeurred to her to be jealous of the charms of Ayesha ; 
for she >l^as too muck interested in their intrinsic value, that 
ii^, in ^h«t th^y ^ould bef likely to fetch in the market of human 
{lassions Mid desires, eve^ to feel j«ak>us of them. She had 
speculated greatly uj^on them when Osmond was her neigh- 
boar; dnd, had it not been for the intervention of the priest 
cm the nriniai^t^ she had fully calculated that they would have 
insured her emancipation from her present existence, a return 
totke joy^ of orvilizedlife, and perhaps the acquisition of digni- 
ties which her iibligiliation htfd whispered to her might be the 
portion of the mother of a royal sultana. But all this had 
vanished with Osmond^ and^ her mercenary calculating spirit 
having been disltppointed, she was reduced to return, with a 
proportionate increase of peevishness and ill-humour^ to her 
cM drone of d husband, and to the monotonous existence of 
a Turk's wife. She would occasionally revert to the past in 
lie^ conversation with Ayesha, for she entertained a sort of 
Kngerisg ho(^e that something might still be forthcoming from 
whit she hopfed was Osmond's ardent love for her daughter. 
On one oc<^k^on, having observed that Ayesha wore a ring 
which she had never before seen, she eagerly inquired where 
she had got it $ and Ayesha at once owned that it had been 
grreil to her by Osmond. 

" Tell me,*' said Zabetta, " do you think we shall ever see 
the' Frank again ? After all, he is a man, and not to be fright- 
ened away by that animal of a mufti." 

" What caln I say ?" said Ayesha," it is even as our fates may 
dispose ; in truth he is a man, and not easily to be prevented 
front doing that whidh is right : but who knows where he iS' 
iiow ?" 

" If he proves himself to be a lover who runs away at a first 
fright, there is that for him !" answered Zabetta : upon which 
she threw her five fingers into the air, as the utmost mark oC 
her contempt. 



i 



t24 AYESHA. 

^' Do not Bay so, my mother ; certain death awaited him if 
he stayed. You would not have had him killed ?" 

^' What do I know 1"^ said her mother; ^* a faithless lover is 
worthy of death, and even worse. When once he returns to 
his own red-faced women, who show their faces to every comer, 
will he ever more tjiink of ns P it is all asses' talk to suppose it" 
'* But he assured me,'* said Ayesha^ ^^ that I was like one of 
his countrywomen ; he started when he saw this locket.'' On 
this, she produced the locket with the engraved arms upon it, 
which she now always wore next to her heart. 

^^ What say you P" sidd Zabetta, with much animation and 
eagerness. " When did he ever see this ? why did you ever 
show it to him P" 

'^ I never knew thdt there could be any harm in his seeing 
it P" answered her daughter. '* He remarked it himself, seeing 
it upon my neck." 

'^ Give it to me, it is mine," said Zabetta ; '^ you must never 
wear it more : how could you be so inconsiderate as to show 
it to him ?" 

Ayesha delivered up this precious object of her lover's at- 
tention with tears in her eyes, but at the same time was awak- 
ened to the mysterious interest which it seemed to create in her 
mother, and felt determined to have some explanation on a 
subject which seemed to involve so much of her own fate. 
** Here it is," said she, " but if you love me, tell me its his- 
tory. I am sure it is connected with something of consequence, 
or else why should you be so anxious about keeping it secret, 
or why should he have shown so much curiosity about it, and 
said that it belonged to one of his own nation P" 

Zabetta manifested evident signs of confusion at Ayesha's 
questions. She took the locket from her, never returned it, 
and for some minutes after remained silent and in thought. 
Ayesha had never enjoyed so good an opportunity before for 
clearing up her doubts, and would not allow her mother to re- 
main silent. '* You shut up your heart from me," she observed. 
^' There must be some reason for this. I must tell you, too, 
that he said I could not be your daughter. Why did he say 
so ?" 

'' He is a madman, like all his countrymen," answered Za- 



AYESHA. t25 

betta, in a tone oFgraat peevishness, and evidently much dis- 
concerted ; ^^and you are mad to have paid attention to his lies. 
What say you? not my daughter! — then who are you ? whose 
daughter did he say you were? tell me that." This last ques- 
tion she put with evident marks of disquietude at the answer she 
might receive. 

^ He often looked into my face with the most inquiring look,^^ 
said Ayesha, ^^ as if he thought he could perceive a likeness to 
others whom he had before seen ; but he never hinted who he 
thought I could be, and never said who he thought I was.'' 

This answer, though far from satisfactory to the intriguing 
woman, still appeared to ease her of a load, which she ex- 
pressed by saying, ^' Go, child, go ! do not believe such non- 
sense. All men are flatterers, only they set about it in different 
ways : he thought to flatter you by saying that you looked 
hke one of his odious women." 

" Then I am your daughter," said Ayesha with affection, 
^^ and Suleiman Aga is my father? Prove good parents to 
me, and I will ever be your grateful child. Allah, Allah ! my 
senses have been bewildered by doubt, but they shall be so no 



more." 



Zabetta's heart (alas 1 she had none) could not be softened by 
this simple appeal to her feelings as a mother. She made up 
a little show of sympathy ; but it was poor, indeed, when com- 
pared to the sincerity of the lovely maiden who addressed her. 
They, however, quitted each other with different feelings from 
those which previously existed between them. Zabetta felt 
like a criminal : she never after could see Ayesha without the 
terror of detection coming over her; her manner towards 
Ayesha was involuntarily changed; she dreaded to see her in 
confidential conversation with Suleiman, lest he might en- 
lighten her mind; and although so hr away from all the 
scenes of her early life, still conscience— conscience was 
always setting watch over her, and would not allow her for a 
Hioment to hide herself frobn her own thoughts. On the 6ther 
hand, Ayesha, however willing she was to persuade herself 
that Suleiman and Zabetta were her real father and mother, 
still, from the sort of mysterious backwardness which they 
both showed in answering her questions, from 'her mother's 
conduct about the locket, and, more than all, from the re-' 

15 



8^ AYESUA. 

collected words of her lover, she could not preserve henetf 
from feeling a secret conviction that i^e did not in fact be- 
long to them. 

The day after the conversation above recorded, Ayesha, as 
usual, had taken up her station on the terrace ; and after havini; 
passed the evening in her wonted meditations, just before re*' 
turning to her chamber, she leaned over the parapet, and 
looked down into the street. Near the very spot where Os-* 
mond had turned round to give her his last farewell, she 
observed two men who seemed deeply intent in examining her 
Cather's house. Both were strangers in the city, and by their' 
dress might be Kurds, and none of the higher order ; at all 
events, they wore a suspicious look. One of them she had 
decidedly never seen before; the form of the other, tall and 
handsome, she recognised; but as her view of them was tran- 
sient — for she drew back the moment she became an object oi' 
their attention — the impression which they made upon her wa» 
but slight The circumstance, however, of two strangers ex*' 
amining her father's house, struck her as remarkable, and sbe 
dwelt upon it just long enough to divert her thoughts from their 
usual channel. She was about descending the terrace stepiy 
when, casting her eyes towards the mountains, she perceived 
the moon rising behind their rugged summits, shedding so soft 
and soothing a light over the surrounding landscape, and, as it 
were, inviting her to stay, that instead of returning to the 
house, she called to Nourzadeh to bring up a carpet and 
cushion, that she might At undisturbed in the enjoyment of her 
meditations. $he placed herself behind the projecting wall 
which formed the separation between Suleiman Aga's terraoe 
and the Armenian dyer's; and sometimes giving a vibration to 
the chords of her guitar, sometimes in a halfnueditative, hi^ 
dozing mood, she allowed her mind to rusk through every stage 
of her exii^ence, from her first childhood to the present mo- 
ment Nourzadeh sat in a distant corner, half asleq[>. Ayesha, 
with her eyes fixed on vacant space, all at once, to her surprise, 
perceived [jthe shadow of a head on the wall before her, which 
disi^eared as quickly as it had appeared. *' Who is there?'' 
she exelained^ half sinking with tremor and half inclined to 
qry out for aid. No dme answered. She thou^ it might per- 
haps be the Armenian himself, and therefore made no more 



ittqair^ $ bot, m a low Tokse to Ike blaeklsriivei^ mM^ ^< Did jm» < 
see Ihat^ Nout^adeh P" 

** N09 1 saw nothing T said the girl, staftitig (rim her sleep. 

The small tip of a shadow still played updd the walli whkh 
m^t be the fringe of a faead-drejis. Ayesha's fears increased s 
she arose^^she heard the step 6f her mother at the bottom of 
the terrace iStepSy and cried cfut to hef^ '^Mother! here! come 
up! I am sure there are mefn on tb^ neighbour's terrace! 
tfaie must not be." At this call, Zabetta, almost angry at the 
afrpeal, came efanffling up the steps, when, on a sudden^ IroiS 
behind the wall issued four men^ in the dress of Kurds, armed 
at ail points, and widiont litterinff a word seiied upon both: 
Ayesfaa and her mother. They gagged their mouths as well as 
they were able^ forced tbem across to the Mitraaee-^door of tbe 
Ajrmeiuan's terrace, and carried them straightway to the street-* 
entrance* They both niade every resistance in their power, 
Imt what was woman's strength when compared to the power 
«tf men of the most herculealL foims? Their cries, their 
sirtrggles, were of no avail ; they w^e instantly mounted upon 
two homes, and led aWay in rapid tnotioti thrOug}i the streets. 
It need not be said who weire th^ir assailants. 

The adventures of Cara Bey and his gaing, after their depar- 
ttrre, were briefly as follows. Tb^y had met with no impedi- 
ment in their journey to Kars. Hassian was still so weak, and 
so fiittle able to use his feet^ that it was thought most advisable 
ta leave him at some small distance, sufficiently near to be 
within call, with a reserve of ten men, in case an increase of 
force were necessary. Cara Bey, with Stasso^ entered the 
galee first, accompanied by two men, and, little by little, others^ 
slipped into the town, with orders to be in readiness at and 
about the house of the Armenian Bogos, whence the abduction 
was to be effected. Several of the most resolute were to t^e 
possession of the town- gate at the prescribed time, in order to 
allow of a free egress. Silence and caution were Strictly en*' 
jeiaed. Everything had hitherto promised success^ although 
many o( the town's-people, and particularly the guard stationed 
at the g^ie, remarked that imite strangiers than ordinary were 
seen entering tbe town during the day. 8titll no suspicion had 
been raised, and matters went ou as usilat. 

Cieira Bey and Stasso were the two whom Ay^ha bad seen 

15* 



2SB AYE8HA. 

from ih» panqpet of thie t^rraee. Stasso had several tiiBe» 
been tempted to betray the whole plot to the authorities, but, 
when he reooUected the parting threat of the chief, and the cer- 
tainty that it would be put into execution should he waver, his 
fidelity, riveted by his fears for his master's safety,, remained 
unmoved, and he plunged headlong into the whole scheme as 
if he really had been one of the assailants. When night had fairly 
set ih, by the means of his knowledge of the habits and ways !of 
the Armenian's home, he procured a quiet and easy entrance* 
The horses were in readiness, and a party of the most determined 
of the gang were at hand. Cara Bey was close in attendance with 
two others, whilst Stasso by himself stepped up to the door ami 
let fall one solitary rap of the iron knocker. ^' Who is that?'' 
said the well-known voice of Bogos from within. ^' It is V* 
" Who?" repeated the voice. " It is the Boshnak; don't you 
know me?'' l%on whidi the* rumbling of an opening bolt 
was hearidi Stasso. beckoned Cara Bey to approach. The 
door was opened with caution, but^ as soon as Bogos perceived 
his old friend, he uttered an exclamation of joy, and threw i^ 
wide open. Followed by Cara Bey and the two others, he 
immediately entered and closed the door after him. ^' Say not 
a word, or you are a dead man,^" said Cara Bey to the Arme- 
nian. " I am Cara Bey — do you hear P — if you stir imtil we 
leave your house, you shall surely die. Give us a light." Stasso 
then taking a lamp, immediately led the way up the well-known 
steps to the terrace, and there, followed by the robber chief 
and his ruffians, proceeded to act that part of the tragedy whidi 
we have already described, seizing the two unhappy women, 
whilst the terrified, half-fainting dyer remained in too great a 
state of fear and astonishment to be able to stir. 

A gathering of so many strange people around the Arme- 
nian's house' had^ however, ^attracted attention, and one who 
did not like ^their appearan^cehad run with the news to the 
Pasha. When Ay esha and her mother were seated On their 
horses, the cavalcade, headed by Stasso, and brought up inihe 
rear by Cara' Bey, was ordered to advance, and such was the 
commotion throughout the streets, that the shouts of. the fright- 
ened inhabitants were heard, and shots were fired by way of 
alarming the guards Its progress was uadhecked until it 
reached the city gate, and there ^tt was evident it would not be 



AY£SHA. S29 

allowed to pass without a struggle. The guards were over* 
powered in the first instance by Cara Bey^s men, who had open- 
ed the gate with violence; but the delay caused by the scuffle 
had enabled some of the Pasha's horse to come to their assist- 
ance ; upon whieh a conflict ensued : the flash of pistols, the 
gleaming of swords, occasional shots mingled with the hoarse 
cries of men and the screams of women,' all produced a eon- 
fusion so great that'it was difficult to distinguish the assaSants 
from the assailed. All: this . was^ confined/within the space of. a 
^teway, which beikig arched and covefed with d dome,.made 
the reverberations of the noise dbikbly lcmd')and terrific: Cara 
Bey took a conspicuous attitude, and, dealt about' him with all 
the recklessness of a gambler who had staked his all. Perceiv- 
ing fi*esh troops coming against him, he had just time enough 
to despatch one of his horsemen to ordei* Hassan's immediate 
advance with the reserve. Stasso's only desire was to save 
Ayesha and her mother* He. watched their motions with the 
jealousy of a friend and a countryman. Foreseeing that he never 
again should have so good an opportunity of speaking to Ayesha, 
he approached her, and as he placed in her hand the dagger 
which Osmond had charged him to give her, whispered, ^^ Os-^ 
mond Aga has sent you this; he says you will know how to 
use it. You are in Cara Bey's power : more I cannot say." 
The astonished maiden, from fear of her life, passed with 
rapid emotion into dread of the monster whose name she had 
heard. She now began to utter the most piteous cries, hoping 
that either death would come to her relief, or that the Pasha's 
troops would be victorious. But she was not destined to see 
her wishes accomplished; for as soon as the Turks saw the 
fi*esh troops arriving, headed by Hassan, they thought it most 
prudent to retire from the contest, and opened wide their gates 
in order to give the enemy a free esit,r-rupon the principle 
that it is better to bring a bad secretion to the surface of the 
body, than to suffer it to destroy the vitals. The strife did not 
end without loss of life. Two of the Pasha's men were killed^ 
several of the robbers were seriously wounded, and their chief 
himself did not remain. unhurt^ But heedless, atthe time, of 
his wound, which had been caused by a sabre cut in the arm, 
he only thought of retreat;.and, having once gained the open 
eountry, he allowed nothing to stop his progress until he 



reai^ed a plaoe of safety, out pf the posaUHlUy of being overtakes 
by the Pasha's troops. 

Ayesha and Zahetta had been pUoed under the charge of ii 
guard, who conducted them in silence, and with all the rcspeol 
due to women who were the property of their chief. Ayeshs 
had not recognised Stasso in the dark, but the repetition of 
Osmond's name, and the nature of his gift, had called fordi a 
train of thought in which she endeavoured to unravel the thread 
of the mystery with which she was surrounded. The feeling 
that Osmond must in some manner or other be nigh at hand, 
and that, if so, he was watching over her safety, gave her a 
momentary gleam of delight, and she abandoned herself to tke 
idea with rapture: but when she reflected into whose power 
she really had fallen, when she recalled to her mind the thoui- 
sand stories which she had heard of the Devil-worshippers' hr 
eenllousness and cruelty, her heart drooped, her courage &iled, 
and the most dire apprehensions of the fate preparing for her 
took possession of her faculties, and left her a prey to terror 
and grief. 

Zabetta,.onthe other hand, having got rid of the fears which 
during the fight she had entertained for her person, wh^ 
she found herself free from those objects of her aversion-^her 
husband and his dull city, began to hope that her wishes for 
emancipation were about to be realized ; and when she learned 
into whose hands she had fallen, instead of bemoaning her hard 
fate, she oongratidatdd herself upon having made so good an 
exdiange. Her intriguing, resUess, and unsteady character 
was much better calculated to flourish in the turmoil of a rob* 
bar's castle than in the peaceable somniferous walls of tke 
house of a Turkish e]der. Cara Bey's reputation had in her 
eyes ifnany charms. The revelry ^ith which he was said iQ 
he constantly surrounded, sounded agreeably in her ears. 
Within the precincts of Sulaman's dull bouse she had never 
heard the sound of nurth ^sH wore thegarb of mortificatiett: 
instead of gennflexioa, she would h^ve had dancing;: instead d 
siteice and holy invocation^ she would have been pleased with 
much talking, maeh intriguing, and with the> noise of 'matnii 
ments and the veieesof singers. The exchange which she 
was about to m^ke, she therefore fpresaw, would be all in her 
fevbur; and l^s^es^ sl|e felt her importsace^ by being the^ 



AYE8HA. 231 

owner of a daughter wiiose charms would ever command for 
them bodi a paramount influence over men. And her own 
aitractiotts, too, she flattered herself were not to be despised *^ 
she was of that age^. and of that substance, which she knew 
were better adapted to the taste of the man with whom she 
waa about to become acquainted, than the slight, graceful, and 
vanishing form of her daughter. With such consolatory re- 
flections, she was iar iGrom allowing her spirits to be depressed,^ 
and she journeyed onward full of hope of future enjoyment, 
and of schemes for future elevation. 

Cara Bey, in the meanwhile, little heeding either Ayesha 
or her mother, but giving his whole attention to his troops, 
thought only how he might best make good his retreat to some 
place of safety for the nighty Having at length reached a 
mountain village, where he knew he should be free from^ 
molestation, he called a halt, and, quartering his men upon 
the inhabitant^, took possession for himself of the zabit's 
(the chiefs) house, whilst he ordered the women's apart* 
ments to be cleared for his captive females. Ayesha dis- 
mounted from herhoit*se in such a state of feverbh and nervous 
agitation, that, instead of wearing the bloom of youth, her 
whole appearance rather betokened . the approach, of disso- 
lution. At that moment there was but little in her person to 
ILtlract attention; she met with no sympathy in hor sufferings, , 
and indeed where could such a feeling be found among barba- 
rians accustomed only to scenes of blood and unmoved by 
faces of woe? Zabetta, im the other band, was all animation; 
long had she been unconscious of such buoyancy of spirits;. 
and when Cara Bey at length made his appearance, she was 
ready to receive him wilh smiles and welcome, and with such 
demonstrations of pleasure that he thought he had never yet 
seen any one so highly to his taste. At first, he took her to 
be Suldman Aga's daughter herself, and was congratulating 
himself upon his prize, when Zabetta thought it right to 
mideeerve him. He cast his eyes upon the unfortunate 
Ayesha, whose haggard eye, wan cheek, and gHef-struck fea- 
tvres made him start with snrprise that she should ever have 
acquired the reputation which made the whole country ring 
fvith her charms, and cansed htm to turn from her with disgust, 
in orde# to occupy himseK e&diusively with, to his eyes, her 



%U AYE81U. 

more attractive mother. Zabetta exerted herself to please. 
When he talked of his wound, she immediately insisted upon 
inspecting it, prescribed for it, a^nd very soon, by her attentions 
and care, afforded him considerable relief* Her attentions 
were not thrown away v Cara Bey was quite enchanted with 
the mother, and totally unheeded the daughter; whilst Ayesha, 
putting up a mental prayer of resignation to the decrees of 
Heaven, thanked God for being thought worthy of neglect by 
the wretch into whose hands she had fallen. And thus passed 
away the first night of her captivity. 



CHAPTER XXlt 



'Tis time, 'tis tiv^e. 



Round about the cauldron go ; 
In the poiBO]i*d entrails throw. 

Macbeth, 

The next morning the whole cavalcade left the village at an 
early hour, and proceeded with sdl diUgencetoCara Bey's castle. 
Nothing worthy of remark occurred during its^ progress, except- 
ing that Zabetta, among the surrounding horsemen, had dis- 
covered her old acquaintance and countryman, and, perhaps, 
we may add, admirer, Stasso;^ who, although from motives of 
caution he carefully abstained from loojking towards the women, 
still could not occasionally refrain from observing their motions* 
It so happeaed that, during a short stoppage on account of 
some impediment on the road, they had approached sufficiently 
near for a look of recognition to pass between them. \ This 
look was remarked by Cara Bey. Jealousy of the direst nature 
instantly sprang into his heart, for an Asiatic, like a flint, 
strikes fire upon the least collision; and he resolved that, the 
moment they had reached his stronghold, Stasso should in- 
stantly return to his master ^d his prison. This feeling 
towards Stasso, by a natural train of thought, extended itself 



AYBSHA. 8U3 

to his master, of whom he now became doubly jealous. Ife 
dwelt upon the precautionary steps which he had taken pre^ 
Yiously to his departure with demonlike complacency ; for he 
thus hoped to secure himself from ail farther annoyance on 
his account. He exulted when he reflected upon what he 
esteemed a masterpiekse of deception, the having entrapped 
Osmond and his man into a prison, after haying extracted 
from both all the service which they conld give. 

Having got rid of his prisoners, his next step would be, so 
be determined, to despatch a messenger with large presents to 
his patron, the Gapidan Pasha, who he knew was both able 
and willing to shelter him from harm, in the complaints which 
doubtless would be made against him by the Pasha of Kars, 
and the authorities there, for his late attack upon their city. 
Having succeeded iti this, he felt that he should be secure and 
at liberty to take his pleasure in his castle. His harem stored 
with beauties greater than any which Circassia could afford, 
and his person surrounded hymen devoted to his service, hede- 
termined) before he engaged in any further schemes of robbery, 
to give himself up to joy and revelry. Of wine he had a store, 
provisions abounded in his kitchens, of dancers and musicians 
he could command the best, what more could he want ? A more 
finished monster of cruelty, lust, licentiousness, and wickedness 
of every kind, than this Asiatic, never had existed : but the 
security in which he indulged proved to be false, for he had 
not anticipated the copsequences of the punishment which he 
had inflicted upon Hassan. He improvidently supposed that, 
as all were submissive to his will, they were equally ready to 
forget his injurious treatment as soon as he was pleased again 
to notice them. He never calculated that the once faithful 
Hassan was now a mortal enemy seeking for revenge. What 
that revenge would be, Hassan had not yet determined, but he 
had sufficiently shown his inclination by the steps which he 
had taken for securing the escape of the preserver of his life. 
During the late expedition he had found no opportunity to 
gratify his revenge, and a fit occasion was still wanting to pour 
out the full measure of his wrath. 

When the return of the chief was perceived from the turret- 
tops of his castle, the gates were thrown open, and every pre- 
paration was made for his reception. The priest was in readi- 



ness to offer the proper congratulation upon the museeis of hit 
predictions, as well as to receive the oirder for his promised 
donation. Every man was at bis post, and the women of the 
harem were on the tiptoe of curiosity to see their new inmatei. 
At length the thi*ong of horses and horsemen passed through 
the arched gate and entered the court-yard. Ayesba and 
Zabetta were immediately taken to the harem. Gara Bey 
eyed all around him with the triumphant look of a conqueror. 
Every thing had succeeded to his heart's content, saving the 
wound which he had received, and of which he hoped soon to 
be cured. He enquired whether the rice, the lambs, and all 
the requisite necessaries had been accumulated, to ftimish the 
forthcoming feast with becoming plenty to his whole household; 
and he now extended the limits of his generosity by ordering 
appropriate presents in money to all thbse who had been 
sharers in the expedition. 

As soon as Zabetta entered Cara Bey's harem, the seat 
of her future existence, she immediately took upon heridf 
the airs and consequence of its mistress. She had at one 
glance seen enough of her new master to know that neitfa^ 
timidity, meekness, nor mildness of demeanour, was likely 
to secure influence over him ; and as she possessed all the 
contrary qualities in a high degree, she felt that it was in her 
power to bring under her subjection this terror of Kurds and 
Turks. The old stod^ in the harem were too happy at first 
to see anybody, or anything, which coul^d break the tedium of 
their existence ; they paid almost divine honours to their new 
guests ; nothing, in Uieir eyes, was good enough for them. 
They dwelt upon the words which fell from the lips of Zabetta 
as oracles ; and endeavoured to di^m away the melancholy of 
Ayesha, by deafening her ears with the sound of their tamba- 
rines, accompanied by their best songs. But as Zabetta's pre* 
tensions to superiority became more open, so those of the former 
chief of the harem began to awaken, and it was evident that, 
ere long, there would arise two factions ; and as a harem ii 
ever a hot4>ed of passion, it was also evident that snck factions 
would soon come to open hostilities. Ayesha would have kept 
lierself an object of disgust for ever, if possible, rather than 
have attracted the least notice of her oppressor ; but, as the 
fatiguea of her journey, and the first terrors ol her mind wore 



AYESUA. MS 

off, her iatal beauty would retuni, in spite of every effort to 
cooeeal it, and make her shudder as she gazed in the glass, 
lest she should be esteemed attractive by the monster. From 
all that she had seen and heard, she conjectured that Osniond 
must be a prisoner in the castle. Oh I to be so near him, and 
he debarred the possibility even of letting him know of her 
existence I So tantalizing a thought wrung her heart to its 
very core ; but she cherished the present which he had sent 
her, as the true beUever cherishes the book of his salvation. 
She secreted the dagger within the folds of her dress, and 
there it rested ever at hand, as a faithful friend, ready to pro- 
tect her; there she let it remain until the awful moment when, 
with a high resolve, she determined it should be called forth to 
fMN)tect her from the infamy to which she felt she was exposed. 

As soon as S^tasso had dismounted, his first impulse was to 
seek the society of his wretched master ; and Cara Bey was too 
happy to get rid of his presence to throw any obstacle in his 
way. Osmond had heard the commotion which had taken 
place in the castle, and had anticipated the return of his faith- 
ful servant, but with shuddering apprehension at the many mi- 
aeries which must inevitably follow in its train. 

When the door of his prison was thrown open, the eager 
Stasso rushed in ; but what were his feelings, upon looking at 
kis master, when he observed the sad alteration that had taken 
place in his features and person ! He started with dismay at 
his sunken eye, his hollow cheek, his restless motion, and his 
thin emaciated form. The effects of anxiety, watchfulness, and 
apprehension, had overpowered him ; and, notwithstanding 
Us constant effort to tranquillize his mind by submission to the 
decrees of Providence, still he so keenly felt the horrors of the 
position in which the unfortunate Ayesha was likely to be 
thrown, that his thoughts were perpetually distracted with fear 
for her safety. 

The first words he uttered when he saw Stasso were, '* Is 
Ayesha come ? is she safe P is she well ?** Stasso, still gazing 
nt his master with the most affectionate solicitude, answered 
avery enquiry, and then proceeded, in as few words as possible^ 
to give a narrative of the whole expedition. Osmond gave ear 
to htm with breathless attention, and, when his tale was over^ 
walked about the room in silenee for some time, as if revolving^ 



S3d AYESHA. 

some great scheme in his mind. At length breaking silence, 
the old jailor Mahmoud having left them, he said, '^ Stasso, I 
have resolved upon making a desperate effort to save the maiden. 
Listen to my words. I am sure that I can rely upon you — 
much will depend upon your zeal and activity. First, tell me, 
are you quite certain that you could find your way to the Rm- 
sian station which Cara Bey^attacked P" After a little thought, 
Stasso said, '^ I will forfeit my life if I do not I You may de<- 
pend upon me. I recollect every stone ; there is not a patk* 
that Stasso has trodden once that he cannot recollect.'' — 
'' Well then, my scheme is this," said Osmond : **• On the day 
when we receive our portion of the projected feast, if Has- 
san spoke the truth, we shall gain possession of the key which 
opens the postern of this our prison. You shall guide Captain 
Ivanovitch to the spot where his troops are. stationed. It is 
intended that we shall be left to ourselves during. the whole 
night: that night must be employed in leading. a detachment 
of his men hither; and then may God direct our efforts to 
free ourselves from this detestable tyrant I" Stasso heard him 
out with emotions scarcely to be described, and fell at his feet 
in a rapture of delight at the prospect which the scheme held 
out. He avowed his readiness to undertake his share of it 
with alacrity, and could foresee nothing but success. Osmond, 
trusting in Hassan's fidelity, would also willingly have unfolded 
to him the nature of his intentions, and asked Stasso whether 
he thought they might secure an interview with him, for thea 
they should ensure an accomplice in the enemy's camp ; but, 
from the excessive precautions taken by Cara Bey, Stasso 
feared that such an interview would be impossible, and 
therefore they determined to trust to their own efforts, hop- 
ing for his co-operation when the moment for action should 
arrive. 

Osmond, communicating with Ivanovitch in French,', anl 
with Stasso in Greek , had purposely refrained from^ making 
Mustafa a party concerned in his scheme ; for, througl^excess 
of fear, he most likely would have managed to mar its ope- 
rations. From the moment of his imprisonment, Mustafa 
seemed to have lost the use of every faculty but that of eating 
and drinking. He had consigned himself to his kisniet—his 
fate, as a mariner, in distress, consigns himself to |i floating 



AYESHA. 2S7 

spar when his ship is about to sink. He sat in a corner, and 
uttered nothing but now and then a hollow " Allah kerim !'* 
which would portrude from the recesses of his lungs, and give 
relief to his mind, as a moan may be said to quiet pain. 
Though he saw that sonliething of importance had taken place, 
still nothing but '^ Allah kerim !?' seemed in the least to interest 
him. He contemplated Osmond as a starknstaring madman, 
and would hold as little converse with him as he possibly could • 
Jooking upon hiniself as the wisest of created beings, because 
he had warned his master against Cara Bey ; for now he saw 
that all lins pi'^tetibns were fulfilled. He endeavoured to 
submit, in the spirit of a true Mahomedan, to the decrees of 
predestinatibh ; but he was too infirm of mind to practise so 
high a virtue: Whilst, on the one hand, he felt sure of being put 
to death ;. oi^the other, he would be concocting plans for riding 
post' 4o Constantinople on the very first opportunity, — like one 
on.a'switig,'who,' when flying upwards, looks into the sky, and 
when downwards, sees the earth ready to receive him. 

Cara Bey had Abstained from visiting his harem until he had 
arranged to his:satiifactbn the whole economy of his castle as 
it related to thedepafftnent.of the males. . He inspected their 
quarters ; gave attention to the wounded ; had an eye to his 
stables ; and saw that everything was in proper order for the 
approaching carousal. He ' then visited the women. Zabetta 
received him with the same^ appearance of welcome and satis^ 
faction which she had shown upon their first meeting ; and 
had already given such an air of comfort and freshness to the 
interior of the rooms allotted to the use of the females, that he 
found a great deal more attraction in this part of his establish- 
ment than he had evcjrdoAe before. He viewed her with de- 
light; was charmed with the brilliancy of her eyes; admired 
her person ; and spoke to her with more confidence and 
apparent cordiality than he had ever shown to womankind 
before. 

Ayesha still kept herself as secluded as possible. She 
carefully covered her face, and endeavoured to clothe her 
whole appearance with that sort of negligence of dress and 
carriage, which might make her least attractive. Cara Bey, 
however, anxious to obtain a fair survey of her face, with the 
rudene»» that belongs to a barbarian, forcibly drew back her 



SaS AY£SHA. 

veil ; and there he saw, for the first titne, what could not be 
eoncealed — that bewitchiDg harmony of features, that splendid 
contour of face and profile, and that whole artillery of eyes, 
brow, colour, and overshadowing hair, which make up the 
catalogue of beauty, and which must strike the monster its 
well as the man of refinement. ' Even his coarse nature was 
touched, not with desire, nor with love, but with a feeling to 
him before unknown— a sort of respect and lowliness of bear- 
ing : a proof how great is the power of a beautiful woman 
when she puts on the armour which Nature has provided for 
her, that of modesty, self-respect, and dignity. He did not 
intrude himself farther on this occasion, btit, as she thrtist 
forward her white and graceful hand to grasp her veil, the 
ring which Osmond had given her shone conspicuous on her 
finger. 

'^ What ring is that which your daughter wears P" said he 
to Zabetta, his jealousy catching fire at the sight. "No 
maiden ever wears a ring. Where did she get it P" 

Upon hearing these questions, Ayesba^s colour forscxdi her 
cheek, and she shrank within herself from apprehension. 
^ What do I know?" answered Zabetta, quite aware of the 
mischievons tendency of the enquiry : "I beUeve it was given 
to her by her father." 

"Let me see it,^' said Cara Bey; "it looks beautiful.'' 
Ayesha would rather have sunk intp the earth than have given 
it up ; but recollecting that the Yezidies do not know bow to 
read^ she obeyed the commands of her mother, took it from 
her finger, and delivered it to Cara Bey. Upon seeing letters 
engrsved upon it, he enquired what the writing meant; — 
both the women were silent. Suppoi^ng they too could not 
read, he without farther ceremony retained the ring, and, 
leaving them in haste, immediately sent for his Kotcbek^ who 
was his scribe as well as his priest. 

Having desired the Kotchek to decipher what was inscribed 
upon the ring, the solemn man, with great swening of impor- 
taittce, taking from a little greasy case a pair of old-fashioned 
iq^tades, mounted them upon his iM)se, and at first sight, 
withont hesitation, pronounced the word " Osman !" 

An electric shock could not have produced a greater effect 
than did the announcement of his name upon Cara Bey. 



AYE8HA. im 

^^Omu^ii!" he repeated aloud, aft he look back the ring, en- 
grossed with contending feelings — " Osman ! May his father 
attd mother be burnt! Ehi vah! — See what is fateT said 
he, as he nrottered to himself^ ^^ Ckok chey ! — This is much I 
Here have I given myself all this trouble, nearly losing my 
life, all to bring two lovers under one roof, and that roof 
Dsdne ! Wonderful ! But the son of a dog does not know Cara 
Bey yet r 

Upon which, rising up with much agility and haste, the 
enraged chief left the priest to draw his own conclusions 
from what he had seen, and, proceeding to the small room 
near the harem door, immediately sent for Mariam, the sTave 
who had attended Hassan in his sickness, and whom we have 
before described as cook to the harem. As soon as she entered, 
he ordered her with much mystery to close the door, and then 
said, " Mariam, I have words to say — draw near." The woman 
approached with fear and trembling -/ but although there was 
timidity in her demeanour, the reader of character might have 
discovered at the same time that she possessed great firmness 
and resolution. 

" Have you provided all the materials necessary for to-mor- 
row's ziqfet,^ or feast?" said he. 

*' I have, my Aga,'' replied Mariam. 

'' We must have great profusion of rice — there is to be 
pillau in every room, are you aware of that?" 
I am ; everything is ready at your service." 
Pepper, cinnamon, and other spices, are to abound. Make 
the pillau of the Lady Zabetta and her daughter very good — 
Do you hear ?" 

" I will— I will do my best." 

^ There must be Iamb, and kefteks^ and dolmahSy and ka- 
vprma^ and all sorts of sweets — all this for the harem, and 
for my dinner. Do you understand ?" 

^^ I do — I will do my best, with the blessing of Allah!" said 
Mariam, with meekness. 

^^ But now hear what I have to say," said her master. 
'^ There mnst be one large, rich, well-boiled, well-spiced 
pillau, for the prisoners in the adjoining keep." At these 
words Mariam put on a look of great anxiety, whilst hei* mas- 
ter threw bis featuree into the dogged cast of viflany apper- 






f4a AYESHA. 

taming to one who is bent upon the perpetration of some 
horrid crime. 

^' Now listen/' he continued to say : '* when you have made 
your pillau, which must be boiled in a vessel by itself, you must 
insert the whole of the powder contained in this paper.** 
Upon which he took a small parcel from his breast, and gave 
it to her; then looking well into her face, he said, *' Mind ye, 
it contains poison I" Mariam maintained a fixed and unal- 
tered countenance, for she anticipated the word that was about 
to be pronounced. " Recollect now, Mariam," he continued, 
^^ I depend upon you; if you fail, you know me. As soon as 
you have prepared the pillau, and before you* mix it, let me be 
called. I will not be trifled with. Now mind ye — have your 
eyes about you — a mistake will be your destruction, as per- 
haps it may injure me. To-morrow is the day — the next 
morning will tell me if you have been faithful to your trust : 
— ^if ypu have not — bex^re 1" 

Mariam received the paper from his hand without the vibra^ 
tion of a nerve. " Take care of it," said he; ^' I bought it 
fresh at Kars but the other day, it cannot fail of doing its 
work." 

" Bdshustun! — upon my head be it!" said Mariam; " it 
shall be as you have commanded." Upon whidi she left the 
room, but, having done so, she felt an oppression at heart, 
that nearly had induced a fainting-fit. She caught a glimpse 
of Hassan, as he was gliding by the door; for he, too, had been 
on the watch : they made one of tibose sisals of recognition 
which are the earnest of a mutual understanding, and, fearing 
the appearance of their ever suspicious master, both retired to 
their usual avocations < 

It must be here remarked that, on this day, Osmond and 
his companions were served with a much smaller allowance of 
provisions than on former occasions. When old Mahmoud 
the jailor entered their room in the morning, with a melancholy 
face, for he was in truth a kind-hearted man—" Here," said 
he, ^^ here is your pittaace ! As God is great, our master has 
forgotten us to-day; he has not sent us more than will feed 
one mouth, instead of four. But to-morrow is the feast, and 
we will then make up for to-day's starvation." . 

Osmond listened to these words with throbbing att^ottion. 



AYESHA. 941 

far he conU read in their meanii^ that Cara Bey's scheme was 
in fuU operatioli. *^ He starves us to-dtey/' said he to himself j 
^' in order that we may be ravenous to-morrow, and eat our 
way into the other worldT' He sighed as he exelidmed, 'MVlay 
the wretch be mistaken I Let m pray to €rod lor strength, 
and sliH all may be welk'^ His principal apprehension was, 
that Hassan might fail him, and that the seheme which he had 
do generously planned in sidoiess might be forgotten now thai 
he was restored to health. 

Every moment, as the time for action drew near, appeared 
an age. Ivanovitch was burning with impatience at the bottom 
of the well. Stasso gathered together what arms they could 
muster, and put them in proper order; Osmond inspected his 
carlouch-bos, and found several precious cartri^es still pre- 
served therein ; whilst Mustafa, who was entirdy ignorant of 
what was about to happen, allowed his imagination to run riot 
in pleasing anticipation of the quantity of rice which be would 
on the n&Lt day have it in his power to insinuate into his earn* 
estly expectant |aws. 

At length the day of festivity arrived — the day decisive of 
Osmond's fate. The whole castle felt its influence. Every 
one put on his be^ dothes, smo.ked his best pipe, and dothed 
his face with such smug looks as the barber could best create. 
In succession, all the individiials of the chieftain's g«mg paid 
their respeds to him, and made the speeches peculiar to Asia* 
ties on occamons of ceremony ; whilst be himself, tottering under 
the richest accumulation of shawls, embroidery, and furs, re- 
ceived their addresses with appropriate dignity. Hassan alone 
wore not the faoe of alacrity which the others did; his brow 
wa3 striped with wrinkles,, there waa a restlessness in all he did 
and said which d^oted bis solicitude. He felt that he had 
laid the foundation of a seheme which might or m%ht not suc^ 
eeed. Impelled by a strong desire of revenge, be hoped to 
haver an opportunity of gratifying it; but still he v^as not quite 
determined how to aet ArdenUy wtshidag to set Osmond free^ 
he was resolved to do so at all bayards, but ^eh he was aware 
that the key which vi^as to f^eocure his freedom was so^^ictly 
"V^ktched, that he doubted whMhar Mariam could take possess 
"Sion of it without its bdng massed. 

The labours of the kitchen throughout the castle began with 

16 



1242 AYESHA. 

the early dawn. The food preparing for the multittfde wa§ 
cooked in a separate place, distinct from the litchens of the 
harem, where Mariam alone presided. She had undertake^ 
her task with a heavy heart. The circumstance which most 
weighed with her was, how she could without being observed 
purloin the key, which was kept in the very chamber and closed 
to the place where Cara Bey was wont to sleep. Every one 
knew that the key was a key of importance, and none dared 
touch it for fear of punishment. Mariam had, however, fi*ee 
access to the room, for she occasionally swept it out ; and on 
that morning after her master had risen, she had ascertained 
the key to be in its usual place. Busied in her kitchen, already 
had she selected the vessel which was to contain the fatal food. 
The whole operation of cooking began, under the superin- 
tendence and amidst the apparent mirth of the ladies of the 
harem (Ayesha excepted), who did not cease going in and out 
at all moments, too happy to have anything to do which might 
draw them from the every-day sameness of their lives. Cara 
Bey himself occasionally looked in, and, casting a mysterious 
look at Mariam, made himself acquainted with every particular 
relating to the culinary preparations about to be attended with 
such awful results. Zabetta, too, who esteemed herself an 
excellent cook, did not fail to hover about Mariam, and obtrude 
her advice as she proceeded in her task. ^^More pepper here, 
less butter there — boil this longer, bake this less," and such like 
monitory phrases, came from her with all the officiousness of 
her nation, and all the volubility of her sex. 

At length the moment for serving up the important dish was 
at hand, Mariam left her kitchen for a minute, and, without 
being seen by any one, succeeded in securing the key, which 
she secreted about her person. Cara Bey did not fail to come 
at the time he had appointed, and, no one else being present, 
saw with his owo eyes the poison mixed with the rice. As he 
stood over tlie boiling cauldron, he might well have personified 
the demon of wickedness mixing up the ingredients of some 
magic spell. The next thing to be done was to transfer the 
contents to the large earthen bowl, in which it was to be car- 
ried to the prisoners; and this was the critical moment for ilh 
exertion of Mariam's ingenuity. She began deliberately with 
a large spoon to place it in the bowl, but when she had pro- 



AYESHA. US 

ceeded half way, she exclaimed, '' I hear the new Khanuin 
coming — she will insist upon tasting it/' Upon which Cara Bey 
thrust his head out of the door in order to prevent the intrusion 
of Zabetta, and at that moment the intrepid Mariam, drawing 
forth the key, thrust it so well under the accumulated rice, 
that no trace of it was to be seen when her master returned. 

Without a semblance of suspicion, he then inspected the 
mess with the same sort of apprehensive feeling that a conspi- 
rator might look upon a barrel of gunpowder to which he is 
about to lay the match preparatory to the conclusive act of his 
conspiracy. He felt, it is true, that he held the power of life 
and death in his hands — a power which he had many times 
before exercised to inflict death ; but on this occasion he was 
aware that his victims were no ordinary men, and that, sooner 
or later, he might be called to account for his treatment of 
them. Howeyer, resolutely blinding himself to all consequences, 
he sent for Mahmoud the jailor, and, apparently confiding 
to him the materials of good cheer instead of the instruments of 
destruction, ordered him forthwith to carry the smoking meal 
to his charges, with a recommendation to eat and be merry: 
he ordered him, moreover, to leave them to themselves during 
the whole night, in order that they might meet with no inter- 
ruption in their festivities. 

The old man carried off his burden with exultation. The 
murderer went his way exulting with a fiendish satisfaction at 
the success which had attended the secret that he would have 
kept; whilst the kind-hearted woman, the intended instrument 
of his cruelty, ceased from her labours only to anticipate the 
horrors which might be her fate were she ever detected. 
Trusting implicitly in the truth and judgment of Hassan, she had, 
at her interview with him in the sick room, communicated to 
him the murderous intention of CaraBey,«;which the monster 
had imparted to her by way of trying her firmness ; and had then 
been so impressed by his eloquence upon the wickedness of 
the transaction, that she promised to cooper^ite with him in en- 
deavouring to preserve the life of the man who had twice saved 
his, be the consequences what they might. They then formed 
the plan of secreting the key, and now was come the moment 
of trial to all parties. 

16 '^ 



••• ATE9UAv 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



Siward. — ^This way, my lord ,' tbe castle *n gently rendered. 

Maehefhi 



The dounds of revelry were already heard thronghotrt the 
castle, and had reached the ears of the unhappy prisoners. 
The sun^s last rays could just be perceived glancing over the 
small portion of the distant landscape which could be discerned 
from the prison window. Osmond was waiting with nervous 
impatience and excitement for the moment, which he was 
aware was now nigh at hand^ decisive of his own fate, of that 
of his mistress, and of his companions in wretchedness. Every 
noise startled him; the least approach to the door of his prison 
awakehed his attention. At length the well-known step of 
Mahwoud was heard. By the deliberation with which he 
moved, it was evident that something more than ordinary was 
forthcoming : the key turned in the lock, and, as the door 
opened, he appeared staggering under the burden of a lai^e 
dish of the prepared rice, smoking and invithig to the eye, 
followed by another man who bore a provision of br^d^ and 
moreover a copious jug of wine. 

*' Here, my children," cried out the old man, as his eyes 
sparkled with delight- — ^^here is food to make your hearts glad. 
This will make up for your scanty fare of yesterday. The Bey 
has also sent you wine. You have leave to invite the Musco- 
vite; let us therefore draw him up.*^ 

Upon which, setting down the food, he lowered the rope to 
Ivanoviteh, and, with the hel]p of Mustafa and Stasso, landed 
him upon the floor. 

"And now, my friends," said he, ^^ A0€t oHah — much 
pleasure attend you 1 I leave you for this whole night : I have 
orders not to return till to-morrow morning. Here, take this 
lamp, and so Allah esmarladek — God take you into his holy 
keeping. 



AYESHA. S45 

Thus talaiig his \eave^ and duly lookiag and boliing the 
door after him, he was no more seen for diat night. 

As aooa as they were left to themselves, half-starved as they 
all were, ravenous and ready to rush upon the food before 
them, Osmond with stern resolution stood forward, and with 
extended hands exclaimed — 

'' Let no 'One approach these things ^t his peril ; they are 
spread for our death — they are poisoned ! " 

A dead silence ensued, Mustafa could not and would not 
believe the words which he heard, and was already sidling 
towards the wine, such was its magnetic attraction, when Os* 
Hioad instantly seized upon the jug, and spilled the whote of its, 
contents iqpon the floor, saying — ^' Our safety depends upon 
our coolness. Mustafa, at your peril, I say, stand away. Trust 
in me, then all will be well.'^ 

The poor Turk, nearly mad with disappointment, and more 
than famished by excess of anticipation, could almost have slain 
his master, as he stood with his eyes intent upon the food, hi$ 
mouth open, and his hands clenched. Osmond was, however, 
too much taken up with th& crisis of his fate to heed him ; and 
of the others, who were acquainted with the secret, he was 
^re. 

^' Stasso,^' said he, '' put your hand into the rice, and search 
out the key." 

The faithful servant immediately did as he was commanded : 
fais first attempt was unsuccessful. '^ It is not here I" said he. 

Osmond's cheek became blanched ; his arms and hands fell 
powerless by his sid^. 

*^ Try again, my Stasso," said he, his voice failing him, and 
tears gushing into his eyes. 

This timeStasso made a desperate grasp, overthrowing the 
whole pile, and there, true enough, was th^ blessed instrument 
pf their deliverance. 

''Thanks to God!" escaped from the lips of the sentient 
Englishman. A silence ensued, as he poured forth a mental 
prayer. He stood Cor some minutes motionless, whan all at 
once, as if his prayer had been heard, the glow of energy 
beamed upon his features and actions, and he said, '' Now, my 
friends, to work ; a moment's delay may prove our destruction. 
Ivanovitch, are you prepared?" The youth in an ecstasy of 



846 AYESHA. 

joy sprang to bis deliverer, embraced him with tears pouring 
from his eyes, and said " Let us begone." — " Stasso," said Os- 
mond, '^ now have your eyes about you ; our safety depends 
upon you. Go; my blessing attends you!" Then leading on 
to the postern, which in another country, where prisons are 
better understood, would not have been so easy of access as it 
was here, he placed the key in the lock, which with a cheering 
though grating friction answered to his hand, and to their 
united joy they saw the open though precipitous rock before 
them. Stasso stood for some time taking a good surrey of the 
great tract of country encircled by the horizon; and, as there 
was still a sufficiency of twilight left to enable him to ascertain 
the direction of the Russian station, exclaimed : ^^ I know my 
way : trust to me. In four or five hours let us hope we shall 
be with you again. Let us go." 

Upon which, Stasso leading the way and Ivanovitch foHow- 
ing, they plunged down the steep side of the mountain, and dis- 
appeared. Osmond stood for soqie time wistfully gazing at the 
calm and soothing scene, so much at variance with the jarring 
passions, the loathsome vice, and the actual licentiousness of 
which the castle was the abode. His heart expanded at the un- 
restricted view of the extensive scene which met his eyes. Long 
regions of mountains rose one above the other in receding ranges, 
the first strong in outline and depth of shade, the more distant 
vanishing into vapour which '* blended the distant landscape 
with the sky." The pure atmosphere, brokea into light clouds 
everywhere began to glitter with stars, whilst the moon, in a 
graceful crescent |ust shed light enough to throw the imagina- 
tion into doubt and speculation. Far, far away, the ear occa- 
sionally distinguished the baying of a distant watch-dog hovering 
about some mountain-flock, the property of the wandering tribes 
so common in this region ; or perhaps would be struck by the 
tone of some drowsy bell denoting the step of the careful camel 
ranging over the scanty pasturage of the stony plain. 

Osmond^s feelings almost overpowered him, as he consi- 
dered what might be his future fate, and in how short a time 
it was likely to be decided. He might perhaps, he thought, 
once again be master of himself, free to roam at large over the 
beauteous surface of the world ; and he trembled with delight 
at the probability of possessing her for whom alone he livedo 



AYESHA. 247 

^njoytng the rapture of changing the whole fashion of her mind, 
pure and spotless as it was, from the gross errors of her present 
behef, to the truth of the consolatory and overpowering faith 
of the Christian. 

He would have stood where he was, perhaps, the night 
through, rapt in deep contemplation, had he not missed Mus- 
tafa from his side; and in consequence he rushed back into 
the prison, fearing lest the poor wretch, overtempted by tbo 
food, might have given way to his appetite, and thus found his 
death. In fact, his foreboding was true ; but an instant more, 
and he might not have been able to preserve him from self- 
destruction. Like some wolf, maddened with hunger, forcing its 
way into the baited trap which would lead to its death, so sat 
Mustafa opposite to the still smoking pillau, occasionally dally- 
ing with the dainty morsels which it contained, and enhancing 
the urgent demands of h^ lips by a preUminary negociation 
witjbi his nose. At length, giving way to the too violent tetiip^ 
tation, he really was about to insert a lai^e handful of rice, 
meat and all, into his mouth, when Osmond had just time to 
rush forward, give his rising arm a blow, and thus defeat his 
fatal intention. The disappointed man positively screamed with 
impotent rage. 

" In the name of AIlahT^ exclaimed his master, '* are you 
mad? Will you die? Are you notawareiyou are about to 
eat poison!" 

" How do I know ! how can you know !"^ roared Mustapha, 
like a child deprived of its cake, "whether it be poisoned or 
not ? You want to kill me ! You want to starve uie ! Why 
am I to starve, when here is food beforo me ?" 

" Am I again to tell you," said Osmond, *' that this is poison 
— poison, man! Do you hear me?" ^ 

Upon which he thought it right to relate the wliole stoi'j', 
from beginning to end, of the manner in which this fact had 
come to his knowledge ; and in. order to ^ttle the question by a 
stilt shorter argument, he took the dish into his liancls, and 
stalking out with it towards the oppn postern, threw rice, ilish 
and all to the Wii^ds^ and had the satisfaction of bearing it fall 
down the proeipitoui^ Yock. 

In the nleanwhiljB.die revels which were to crown the night 
had begun in Carai Bey's own apartments, ^bich, lying con- 



S48 AYESHA. 

tiguous to those of the harem, enabled the tkiet to allow his 
women to be spectators thereof. They did so throu^ the 
means of certain sinall windows which lo<Aed fro^ their 
apartment into that appropriated to the men. Ah*eady had his 
oieal been served, during which he drank more than a due 
portioti of his favourite wine. He bad invited Hassan to his 
board, together with the {uriest, and three or four of his prin- 
cipal officers. They, talked long and much of their different 
feats of prowess^ — of the caravans attacked, of the travelier 
slain, and of the villi^es invaded. The last expedition wtis 
pairticuJarly brought under discussion, a subject which natu- 
rally led to the object of it, and to the success by which it had 
been attendied. 

^^ By my head!" exclaimed Cara Bey, beginning to be flushed 
with wine, ^^ we have performed a marvellous feat— bnt the 
best of our destiny has been, that, instead of securing one bit 
of happiness, we have secured two. I donU know which is 
best, the mother or the dsu^hter. ^juib chey! — they are 
wonders both. Eh^pezevenk-^eh wretch, what do you say?" 
said he, addressing himself to an old rough marander, whose 
tanned hce was more like the seat of ^ well-worn saddle ihm 
the seat of intelligence — ^^ what do you say ?" 

'' AU I c^ say, my Aga," said the other, '' is, that there 
is npne other in the world like yon." Upon which he mastic 
cated with renewed vigour, and drank with fresh impulse. 

*^Hai hat! — true true !" exclaimed the iarrogant chief, "true 
--*Cara Bey is in truth somebody in the world. Of inen there 
are many, of somebodies few. Bah^ bahf^ bahr be continued, 
chuckling, and shaking his head at the sam^ time with delight 
and presumption, ^* they are wonderful creatures— these two 
women! but the older one, the (^Ider one-r-she isf a wondierl" 

(tessan heard all with heaviness of heart — hi|^ mind was, 
overflowing with a variety of amotions — h^ could sc4rcdy suf- 
ficiently command hieiself to appear pleased. He thought of 
the preserver of his life^-he was anticipiitijag the results when 
the discovery of his flighty which he expected, should tak^ 
place; for he had formed a plan of absconi^Ag that very night 
with Mariam, and seeking the Russian frontier, where he hoped 
to overtake Osmond, and therefore only longed for the moment 
^hen the festivities would break up, that he might be at liber-. 



AYESHA. 249 

ty to steid away. He watched with satkfactioii every progress 
sire cup of wine which flowed down the throat of the chief, for 
he hoped soon to Witness its ei&ets. He would have taken his 
departure, but he saw the tim^ was not yet oome for the 4an<- 
oers and th^ir deafening accompaniment of music being called, 
and it was necessary to see that part of the entertainment en- 
tered upon ere hid ventured to stir. 

The dance began -^ two youths, the down of whose chins 
had scarcely begun to sprout, with hair flowing behind their 
€»r8i arrayed in gorgeoua fancy-coloured dresses, like those of 
w^men rather than men, first stepped forward. They were 
4ice(Mf0mtd by a bufibon, an old Turk with a beard, who held 
a toDg candle in his hand, wearing a cap from which emanated 
a q«anlity of small tapers, '^ like quills upon the fretful porcur 
pine,'' which being occasionally lighted by stealth by some wag 
of the company, were intended to produce mii^th when other 
incentives failed. This constant attendant on sttch like scenes, 
probably a descendant from the fabulous satyrs pf old, weU 
per^nified, both in look and calling, one of those ancient 
worthies. When the dancers performed some feat, or threw 
themselves into some extravagant contortion, he mimicked or 
applauded them with «till viler action. 

The whole exhibitk>n was well suited to the gross taste of 
the audienoe; and step by step, from one feat to another, led 
on to d^plays of coarseness which none but Asiatics can enjoy. 
It was accompanied by music and »nging, if a concert made 
up of yells and discordant sounds may be so called, which 
seemed well adapted to excite the admiration and jollity of the 
roi^ men who formed the company, and who, seated round 
the room in solemn row, might every now and then be disco* 
vered through the smoke of their pipes, in the act of allowing 
tl|eir bearded faces to be cheated out of their habitual gravity. 

Renewed sets of performers succeeded each other — ^more 
wine was supplied — Car^ Bey drank deeper, and, as he roared 
with approbation, became more flushed. Hassan observed 
that the moment for slipping away tftiobserved had arrived. 
H6 arose and left the room, and soon after quitted the castle 
with his companion. 

Osmond, m the meanwhile, had passed the time in a state of 
feverish impatience and excitement, which, perhaps, may be^ 



1150 AYESHA. 

oonceived, thouj^h difficult to describe. His imagination was 
ccmjuring up a thousand fears regarding the dangers to iivhicb 
his mistress might be exposed from the brutality of her op- 
pressor. His ears were struck by the din of the music; he well 
knew what it meant, and to what horrors it led : he was fully 
aware of the excesses by which similar orgies were accom- 
panied ; and when Asiatics, breaking through their law, gave 
way to drunkenness, he knew that they then became in appe- 
tite lower than the brutes of the field. To think of the shrink- 
ing, timid, and lovely Ayesha, and then to dwell upon the gross, 
lawless, and unrestrained character of the monster in whose 
power she was, inflamed as he would be by wine and maddened 
by the licentiousness of the scene then in full action, produced 
fears and forebodings greater than his reason could well 
bear. 

Every fresh burst of mirth or applause, sounding like the re- 
velry of fiends, excited his renewed apprehensions. He 
walked to and fro in his prison, swelling with impotent and 
unavailing rage. He counted the minutes as they passed 
Every succeeding quarter, or half, or whole hour, as it re- 
volved on the dial of his watch, was recorded with more than 
the vigilance of the condemned wretch who is waiting for the 
last visit of his jailor to conduct him to the scaffold. 

Four anxious hours had now elapsed since Stasso and his 
companion had departed. Osmond took up his station at the 
postern, hoping that he migfit hear some indications of their 
return. He watched with all his senses on the stretch. Some- 
times the wind, sweeping over the mountain's side, brought 
with it, as he thought, the sounds of distant voices; at others, 
he fancied he heard the clank of arms ; and then, through the 
darkness, his too impatient sight was deluded into a certainty 
that he saw the forms of approaching men, — but in every in- 
stance he was deceived. Nothing was there but Night in all 
her majesty, Nature in her calm; and all that was now left to 
him was Hope, with her blessed anticipations. 

Returning to his prii^n, his ear was first struck with what 
he thought was the shriek of a woman — the blood forsook his 
heart, a cold tremor ran through his frame : he listened again 
^^all was silent save the eternal din of the hellish miisic. T!\u^ 
fear, this forerunner oEall his apprehensions, was sufficient to 



rivet him to the window, which was nearly touching, though 
Gift of sight of those of the women^s apartments. He listened 
with breathless attention, every now and then turning his head 
to the postern from which was to come his help. Another 
shrii^ struck his ear — this was no longer an illusion ; the cry 
was one of distress, of supplication: — he panted for breath, his 
heart beat audibly in his breast, he seized his sword, he prayed 
earnestly to God for pity and assistance. More cries were 
heard ; the music ceased : — his imagination was on fire ; his 
senses had almost left him; he was nearly sinking to the earth 
with the complication of his sufferings, when he thought he 
heard from without the clashing of a musket as if striking or 
trailing against a rock. He revived; his eyes almost started 
from his head as lie looked towiurds the door. Another louder 
shriek^ which roused his looks into frenzy, brought him to his 
senses. Again he listened ; he staggered towards the postern ; 
when all at once his fears were hushed, as he heard the noise 
of hasty footsteps resounding through the low arch, and im- 
mediately after saw the form of Ivanovitch rush into the room, 
followed by Stasso, panting and exhausted from excess of exer- 
tion. Their first impulse was to throw themselves into the 
arms of Osmond; they wept like children : Stasso embraced his 
master'iS knees, Ivanovitch wrung his hand with the most tender 
sympathy. Instantly after the room was filled with soldiers — 
European soldiers — armed from head to foot, as cm service; 

^^ Hush, hush!^^ said Osmond, with a thrill of exultation now 
running throughout his frame, and gratitude to his Almighty 
protector pouring through every fibre of his heart, but still 
ardently impatient to rush to the rescue of his Ayesha, whose 
voice he was quite certain he had identified with the shrieki^ 
which had struck his ear. " Are they loaded ?" was the first 
question which he asked the gallant young Russian. '* They 
are." — " Fix bayonets !" were the next words spoken, which 
Ivanovitch addressed to his men. The clang which followed 
this cotnmand threw a renewed impulse of resolution into every 
one's breast, excepting Mustafa's, whb now began to have his 
eyes opened to the result of the whole proceeding, and who, 
looking towards the deserted well, would willingly have become 
its tenant. '^ Let us draw our swords," cried Osmond^ *' and, 
in God's name, let us advance. No blood must be spilled, if 



S5g AYESHA. 

possible; mark that, Ivanovitch. I will go first And im>w 
down with the door/' Upon that a riisb was- made, agpainstitf 
and the butt-ead of the muskets went maniiiUy to work in «&• 
curing its fall. 

The first intimation which the jamates of the oa^ttle received 
of what was going on in the prison, was the noise firooeeduig 
from the blows inflicted on the door. Cara:Bey had by this time 
dr^nk to such excess that all the brutality of his nature was 
brought out in its utmost exuberance. His kfm» h^d been so 
saturated with constant excess in wine, that its power was mi- 
tigated; for he never was so far intoxicated as not to possess a 
sufficient glimmering of reason to give directioius i|i what tnigfat 
concern himself at the time. He had in vain looked ior Ayesha 
aoKuig the women who appeared at the window to witness the 
retels below; and although Zafoetta had secured to bet*self the 
principal share of his attentions, stiH he felt piqued at the pb* 
stinate seclusion of her dau^^ter. In the fulness of bi^ de* 
hatchery this feeling flashed across his mind ; bethought himself 
<p^traged: his passions were all abroad, be determned to exert 
bis power. lUsing from his seat at a time when thedap<^ 
and the noise were at their height, he darted through the door 
which led into the harem, and, goipg into the rppltt whi^rb 
Ayesha occupied, found her, as usual, seated in a cppnef) look- 
ing through a window which commanded a view of the sur^ 
rounding country, and endeavouring to avert her miod froBI 
the miseries of her present state of bondage^ by the contempla-. 
tion of the ni^t and itfi calm beauti^^. 

Cara Bey, addressing her in a tone full of insotenoe, would' 
at once have dragged her away and obliged her to be a par- 
taker of the night's revelry. She resisted at first wi^i inild- 
nesS) and endeavoured to soften his In^ntality by timid revoLimr 
strance; but he was iiiot in a huoionr to be trifled with: h^ 
sei^sed her by the band with violence^ aiid this was the cause <tf 
her first shriek. She then pretended to accede to his request, 
and joined the women in their seat at the window; but as soop 
as she became aware of the horror^ of the sc^e which she wap 
called upon to witness, she abruptly retired. Cata Bey agai^ 
went in pursuit of her, and his violence called forth izM>re cries* 
Having torn off her veil in the struggle, her whole beautiful 
(ace and bewitching form caught his eye, and fropi Qn0 aPt ^ 



AYfiSHA. «&$ 

violeBCie he was proceedidg to another, when the incligDMil 
maiden thought of the friendly dagger which lay in concealnMo€ 
at her side, and, as she invoked the name offa^r lover, placed 
her band upon its hilt, stilt unseen hy (^ara Bey, hewing, how- 
ever, that he would soM desist from urging his brutal suiti 

He was ia this stage of his depravity, when a messenger 
came rushing in, wkb mouth open and eyes searm], lo tell him 
of the noise which was heard at the pris<m-door. The exclt^ 
ad, half-drunken, hsJf-conscious chief, received this announee- 
ment by taking a pistol from his girdle and firing Ft off at the 
messenger; at the same time, breaking into a fien^sh laugh, 
he|exo)aitned, " Hat the poison works, does it! They want to 
frighten me before they die r 

These words catching the ears of Ayesha, at once awoke aH 
her fears, aild, as the fatal horror burst upon her J9tstontshed 
senses, she screamed out with all the frenzy of madness, 'the 
monster, who held her in his power, calmly looked at her as if 
he enjoyed her woe, hugging himself m the ingenuity with whteh 
he had got rid of a rival. She writhed with agony ; she fell at 
his feet, imploring his mercy for her Osmond;— her cries 
brought all the harem about her. The reason of her distress 
soon becoming known, a burst of horror against the mut*derer 
came from the assembled women. He became iurious, his pas- 
sions were uncontroltaMe ; the screams increased. Ayesha wsts 
now thrown into a staie, of which the next stage would have 
been hopeless madness. 

The monster having approached her, his demon-eyes glar- 
ing, his hand outstretched to seii:e, she had at length clutched 
and unsheathed her dagger-Hade-^the frenzy had risen to its 
<^is — when the harem-door Was dashed open with a sudden 
ctashy and Osmond, sword in haiid, riished in like a descending 
angel from heaven sent to pro tec^t the wretched. Quicker than 
lightning he perceived the sttuatibn of his mistress, and beheld 
her ruthless oppressor. He roared out with a voice of thunder^ 
** BEscreant, stay !^— I am here f* The wretch, in a bewilder- 
ment of every sense, immediately drew his second pistol, and 
with a trembling hand fired at Osmond without effect ; the next 
moment he was felled to the gr6und by the intrepid youth. 
And thus, from being one whose very name produced (error 



t54 AYESHA. ^ 

and apprehension, he became at once a lost and powei^»0 
man. 

But who can hope to describe the rapturous sc^ne which 
took place between the lovers 1 From the depths of almost ut- 
ter despair, they found themselveis at once raised to the summit 
of every joy — of every hope I Ayesha looked upon her deli- 
verer as a supernatural being : she would almost have sunk 
on her knees and worshipped him, so intense was the gratitude 
which beamed in her heart for having been saved from the 
wretch who had imprisoned her ! 

Osmond was never before so enthralled by the charms of 
his mistress. Her heroism, her humility, and her beauty, 
combined to endear her to him more than ever; and when 
he reflected that, in protecting her, he might perhaps be res- 
cuing from barbarism one who was born to all the advantages 
of civilization, the success which had crowned his enterprise 
made his heart doubly grateful. Zabetta was in a state of 
amazement : this sudden change in her fortunes deprived her 
for the moment of all power of thought and action, and for 
once her spirit of intrigue and her volubility were checked 
by the imposing presence of Osmond. 

The other women of the harem, who had acquired much 
experience in the ways of the robber, and had witnessed scenes 
of the same character as that which had- just passed before 
their eyes, saw in the conqueror only a new master, and at 
once prepared themselves to obey him, as before they had 
obeyed Cara Bey. They immediately busied themselves in 
endeavouring to make their services acceptable to Osmond ; 
who, on his side, never having anticipated this sudden acquisi- 
tion of so large a family of wives, shrank from their attentions 
with the same repugnance that a newly-arrived traveller eludes 
the proffered oflers of officious landlords; and being ever 
scupulous of shocking the prejudices and customs of the nation 
among whom he sojourned, he determined to observe and 
maintain the sanctity of the harem even in this lawless den 
of the mountain-robber. However much against his inclina- 
tion, therefore, for he willingly would have prolonged his inter- 
view with his beloved Ayesha, he withdrew from the women's 
apartments, and, placing a guard over them, retired to seek 
that rest which his exhausted frame so much required. 



AYE8HA. 25S 



Having given every requisite order for securing the person 
of Cara Bey, establishing a proper watch over his acHierents, 
as well as releasing from captivity aU those who might be 
coiffined within the walls of the castle, he retired to rest for the 
night. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



A mesure qqe ]e Calife allait en avant, on Ini preseniait toutes sortes d'objets 
pitoyables, des avengles, des demi-aveugles, des messieurs sans nez, des dames 
sans oreilles. 

Vathel. 



The capture of Cara Bey'9 castle had been effected without 
bloodshed, and with very little resistance. The sudden ap- 
pearance of the Russian soldiers had so taken the garrison by 
surprise, that although some few had gathered themselves 
together, and drawn their swords by way of resistance, yet, 
deprived as they were both of the orders of their chief and 
the cheering voice of his lieutenant, they soon grew disheart- 
ened ; and when they afterwards heard that Cara Bey was 
seized and a^ prisoner, they dispersed, and only studied how 
to secure their own safety. The confusion which ensued may 
perhaps be imagined. In a few minutes after the entry of the 
Russians, the assembled throng, which had before almost 
choked every avenue to the seat of revelry^ had disappeared. 
The dancers and musicians, sweeping before them the old 
buffoon, the Yezidi priest, the half-drunken guests, the richly- 
dressed attendants — all had sought safety in rapid flight, and, 
almost rolling one over the other in their descent from the 
upper apartments to the lower courts, only stopped when they 
found themselves without the walls of the castle. The few 
who thought of making resistance, seeing their hopeless situa- 
tion, also determined upon retreat; and thus, before the morn- 
ing broke on the following day, the scene which had so recently 
rung with revelry and swarmed with dmnkards, was silent 



<e56 AYESHA. 

and deserted. A dead stillness had taken the place of turbulent 
merriment, and the vermin had been dispersed without the 
necessity of smoke. 

Osmond, on retiring for the night, was much surprised that 
Hassan had not made his appearance. His first inquiry in 
the morning was for him, but to his still greater surprise, he 
was nowhere to be found. Anxious to have made him a par- 
taker of his success, to have received his advice upon many 
points relating to the castle, and, more than all, to have made 
him the medium of releasing the captives, he wa^ greatly dis- 
appointed at his absence, particularly as he could nowhere 
gain any intelligence whither he had fled.^ Old Mahmoud, the 
jailor, had therefore been commissioned to open the prison- 
gates ; and perhaps never had the course of any heroes adven- 
tures been cheered by so happy a moment as- was Osmond^s 
on this occasion. 

The flocking out of the prisoners from their cells presented 
a scene of stirring interest. Individuals of many of the coun- 
tries of Asia made their af^earan^ in rotation, mosf of them 
in diiferent stages of misery ; some naked and cripples, others 
mutilated ; some half famished ; many sick ^d dying ; all a 
living monument or the cruelty and rapacity of the ferocious 
man into whose hands they had fallen. 

From one' cell in the court was seen to issue an old Turk, 
nearly bent double with age, but whose eye denoted intellect, 
and whose firm step still announced strength — h%s first ques- 
tion upon seeing the light of heaven may perhaps bring to the 
recollection of some of our readers a personage with whom 
they have been before acquainted :—*^ What is the price of lamb- 
skins at Constantinople P^^ said the old Omar Aga to one who 
he thought mi^t have come from the capital. He bad been 
seized by Cara Bey's gang at the last attack of a cafavaa, and 
as he was not particubirly active to escape, he and his several 
loads of Bokhara lambi^ins had become, the prey of the spoiler. 

He had seated himself quietly with his back: against the waU, 
scarcely exhibiting any surprise at this sudden change^ ;. >s6 time 
a dSsciple of predestinarianism was he, for hereceiviad the 
good and the evils of life wkh almost the same spirit of un- 
concern, and sat there waiting to see what would happen uest 
And it was pleasant to observe the meeting which took place 



AYESHA. 257 

between him and a middle-aged man, a Persian, who, issuing 
from another cell, seemed overjoyed at seeing him, by the 
many and various manifestations of deUght which he made. 
He eyed the old man with pleasu^pe, inspected the whiteness of 
his beard, looked at it with the eye of a connoisseur, asked 
many questions, and evinced much genuine feeling on finding 
that they had regained their liberty. This was a certain tra- 
veller and adventurer, who, having served the Shah in various 
countries, had been despatched by his majesty to Constantino- 
ple to pitrchase for him an assortment of gold-spangled silks, 
satins, and brocades, for the dresses of the ladies of his seraglio. 
He had travelled as far as the Savanlu mountain with great 
success,where he had been stopped and plundered by Cara Bey, 
who would have been satisfied with the possession of his rich 
good#9 not thinking him either worth the killing or the keep- 
ing, had he not spoken loftily of the power of his Shah, of his 
own inviolability as his ambassador, and of other rights be- 
longing |o his person, about which Cara Bey knew but little 
and cared less, but which he thought might be as well sup- 
pressed in ode of his dungeons, until he should be more en- 
lightened upon the subject # 

Frovi a third place of confinement issued three Jews, who 
were travelling from Bagdad to Arzeroum, with the produce 
of the successful clippage of gold coin, which they intended to 
lay out in cogper to sell at the capital. Their riches were so 
easily secreted about their persons, that^ the robber had been 
foiled ; but he chose to keep them for the ransom which they 
might probably fetch. They had lived so well at free cost 
during the time their imprisonment lasted, that they rather 
rejoiced in its duration than otherwise, since the gain was 
thus all on their side. With them had been immured an 
Armenian bishop, whom Cara Bey had stolen as he strayed 
from the walls of the monastery of Etch Miazin, and who 
was conveying a certain portion of the holy oil manufac- 
tured by the patriarch to the monks at Van. Many others 
issued from different parts of the castle ; many who had been 
imprisoned from sheer wantonness and caprice ; many from 
the hope of ransom, and others again from policy. As soon 
as they were congregated, they were led by Mahmoud, insti- 
gated by Stasso (who was not willinj^ that his master should 

17 



258 AYESHA. 

Jose the credit of the benefits which he had conferred), 
to the foot of the stairs which led into the upper part of the 
castle; and when Osmond appeared before them as their 
deliverer, he had the satisfaction of receiving their united ex- 
pressions of thanks and gratitude, and hearing their prayers 
for his future happiness. But what was their joy and astonish- 
ment when he ordered the warehouse, in which all the accu- 
mulated spoils were preserved, to be throwii open, and every 
man to select his own, previously to a final departure I Omar 
Aga on this occasion breathed forth " Shukinr Allah ! — 
praises io God I" as he reclaimed his packs of lambskins. The 
Persian, in regaining possession of his spangled stufiB, felt 
that he had saved his heels from a bastinado, and that he 
might again hope to make his face white before his royal 
master. The Armenian bishop received back his oil ; the4ews 
alone carried away nothing, although they willingly would have 
appropriated to themselves certain unclaimed bales, and thus 
realized the best venture they had ever made, had not they 
been stopped by Mahmoud, who had an eye to them himself. 
Osmond ordered that beasts, of which many were found 
in the stables of the castle, should be provided for those who 
were in want of them; and every man, upon loadhg his 
goods, took his departure rejoicing. He ordered also that 
Cara Bey's women, who were natives of the Kurdistan, and 
whose homes were principally in the villages c^ the Deigh- 
bourhood, should be provided with every necessary and com- 
fort which the castle afibrded, and be conducted thitber in 
safety, giving to each such a share of the robber's wealth as he 
thought in justice she was entitled to. But still, after having 
made all these and other arrangements, he found himself much 
perplexed what to do with the castle itself and all it con- 
tained. He was anxious to leave it as soon as possible; and 
all things considered, like the sailor in nautical history, he was 
determined never to take a castle again as long as he lived. 
He was, however, much relieved when he heard that a large 
detachment of Russians was seen in full march towards the 
principal entrance, and soon after was charmed to hear Ivano- 
vitch inform him that it was commanded by a superior officer^ 
a major, "Who tad proceeded on this service the moment he 
had heat'd of the circui»stan<5es of bi5, Ivafiovitch's^ a^p^dition. 



AYESHA. ^9 

As soon as this officer appeared, Osmond iaunediately de* 
livered over to him the whole and entire possessiob of the 
castle; stating that he thought it justly due to those who had 
been the means of taking it, that they should have the dis- 
posal of it, begging at the same time protection for himself, 
Zabetta, Ayesha, and his and their attendants, and liberty to 
depart wheresoever they might choose to travd* 

This was freely and joyfuUy granted. The Russiaim treated 
Osmond with every ecmsideration, for they saw in him one 
who had opened to them an easy path to distinction; and by 
the capture of this rock and castle, they hoped that that ob** 
Ject of their ambition, a bit of ribbon and a cross, would socm 
be an appendage to their dress. 

But there was one olaject still left to be disposed o£, and that 
was Cara Bey himself. 

On the night of the seizure of Cai*a Bey, Osmond, having 
ordered him first to be bound hand and foot, had made him 
over to the custody of Mustafa, being qatte certain that he 
eould not be placed in more watchful hands. And indeed, '^ 
during the commotion and bewildering excitement of that tii^bt, 
any one could have given heed to the proceedings of that per- 
sonage, he would have found abundant amusement Never 
was the fable of the sick lion and the ass so thorou^y il'*- 
lustrated. 

When the ftrst rush otf the soldiers, headed by Osmond and 
Ivanovitch, took place after the breaking down of the prisons 
dopor, Mustafa, remaining behind, retired as £ar as he could 
from the scene of action, until he fonsd himself close to the 
open postern. There he fixed bimoBelf, with one foot on the 
threshold and the other on the rock, lending a most attentive 
esHT to every sound, and drawii^ caaduBrons as to the pro- 
bable resoH of the congest then going on,-'^eajdy either to 
ran away or to advance, ad it might best suit his safety^ At 
length, when he found that no one seekned disposed to refiornv 
he stole quietly on tiptoe to tibe room he had left Na t)ne 
wks there; silence reigned in the eastle. He proceeded ^m-* 
wards, warily, biif with more eotifi<ifence. He then fotind 
bknself atthe dooifof the harem. S(iiH he heard but liulie 
nbfse; women^s voices weare ail he could distinguish. He 

17* 



260 AYESHA. 

opened the door quietly, and there, the first thing which 
greeted his eyes was Cara Bey — that demon which had haunt- 
ed his thoughts, sleeping or waking — that one black spot in 
his apprehension — there he was, pinioned and a prisoner! 
Osmond was standing over him with a drawn sword, whilst 
Ivanovitch and Stasso were tying his hands behind his back 
and otherwise securing him. Mustafa's courage rose in a mo- 
ment at this sight — he became all at once several inches taller. 
" Ah, Mashallah !" he exclaimed, " we have done well ! we 
will not let that fellow escape again. Did not I tell you that 
you do not know these rascals? He would have killed us all, 
and poisoned us like rats if he could, but we were too much 
for him. — Ah, Mashallah !'' looking at the fallen wretch, who, 
in sullen and dogged mood, seemed to have been struck by 
sudden fatuity — " Ah, Mashallah !" said Mustafa to him, " I 
thought you were a man! Such a one I want for my harem 
Arise — will you go ?" 

This was the greatest torment which Cara Bey had hitherto 
endured. His eyes glared horribly, and his teeth gnashed 
with fftry. 

"You worship the devil, do you?" said Mustafa, giving his 
elbows an extra twist; " let us see; will he come to you ? No, 
no! rather say now, ^Lahnet besheitan! — curses on Satan T 
That is what you must say." 

Again the infuriated Cara Bey, taunted by thi^ insignificaDt 
portion of a man, would have torn him to pieces had it been in 
his power to do so ; but he was obliged to endure his misery 
until Osmond, having seen the wretch well secured, said to his 
Tatar, "Now, Mustafa, take that man under your care; if we 
fall again into his hands, it will be your fault." 

Mustafa lost no time in doing as he was ordered, and did not 
hesitate for a moment how to dispose of him. He led him im« 
mediately into the room in which he, his master, and Stasso, 
had been confined ; and, giving himself all the airs of the go- 
vernor of the castle, called with authority for old Mahmoud, 
and then, with his help, having passed a rope round the rody 
of Cara Bey, lowered him down into the well, from which Iva- 
novitch, his former victim, had so recently been drawn. Mus- 
tafa immediately took his seat at the very orifice of the well^ 



AYESHA. 901 

loaded his pistols, drew his yatagan, and there remained fixed, 
ready to annihilate his prisoner at the very first symptom of an 
attempt to escape. 

When Osmond had made over the castle to the Russian 
commanding officer, he wished to dispose of his prisooer in the 
same manner ; but he was not at first aware in what place 
Mustafa had deposited him. After some search, however, 
Mustafa was discovered in the position above described, like a 
<:at at the door of a mouse-trap, watching its every motion 
with undiminished attention. 

The moment Mustafa was called upon to give tqp the charge 
of his prisoner, all his fears returned as if he actually saw him 
loose before his eyes. Nothing could persuade him to. relin- 
quish the post, or the charge which he had undertaken, until 
his master came to an explanation with him. 

^' You would not let him loose upon us again alive^^V said 
Mustafa, " would you ?" 

"I will not kill him, certainly," said his master; " he has 
been deprived of all power of doing further mischief, and more 
punishment I cannot inflict upon him.'' 

"But recollect," said Mustafa, "if he be set free, he may 
turn robber again, and then his first object will be to twist my 
neck off. As you love your soul, my Aga, do not let us turn 
fools again, now that we have got on the right side of wisdom." 

"I must ever recollect," answered Osmond, 'Uhat, but fo.r 
his help, through his lieutenant and his men, and but for his 
horses, I might to this day have been in prison at, Kara. Al- 
though he would basely have taken my life, yet he was oncp 
partly accessory in saving it ; the death therefore which he so 
richly deserves shall never comp to him through my hands. I 
will deliver him over to those who have a greater right to hi^ 
person than I have ; let them deal with him as they choosey." 

"But they are asses too I" said Mustafa. "It is only o^ir 
Turks who know how to deal with such like fellows.. They 
seize their sword, spit in their hand, cry out ' yaWaA j;;^in the 
name of the Prophet V and then, with one back-handed slice, 
take off the head as clean as if they had cut a cucumber in 
twain." 

All this conversation took place at the orifice of the well 
during the time preparations were making to draw the miser- 



^i AYBSHA. 

able wretch from it. When he at length w^ landed, it would 
almost have melted the heart of those who were ignorant of 
his crimes, to witness the misery of his demeanour. The whole 
4«B0Q was still painted on his features; but, overcoming his 
fierceness, he was now become abject, iawning, and full of 
servility. SeeingOsmond before him, attended by the Russian 
major, he fell at his feet in a most imploring altitude, disgust- 
ing in any man, and douUy so in one who but the day before 
had swelled with arrogance, and had made his power subser- 
vient to every infamous purpose. 

^^ O my soul 1 my lord ! my pasha !" exclaimed the fallen man. 
^^ Oh, forgive, forgive me I I have been in fault : I have eaten 
fiiuch abomination. Here is mv head : strike : take all I have; 
but let me entreat <yf you not to deliver me up to the Moseo- 
vites. Do with me what you like: I w^ill take all from you. 
You are my father, — my mother; 1 have only you in this world 
as my sanctuary. Will you allow me to be dragged from it? 
Englishmen are men : they know how to forgive. (Mi, forgive 
your slave 1 I will beoome your servant for the rest of my 
life; but oh, do not — -do not give me over to mine ene- 
mies.'* 

' To all diese nauseous supplications Osmond apposed a stern 
and decisive countenance. 

••'Were I willing to listen to your wishes,** said be, "I eould 
not; for herei" pointing to the Russian officer, "hei'e is your 
master. You must account for your conduct to his countrymen, 
whom you have so frequently outraged. I have no othet* 
course to pursue than to deliver you over to him.** 

In vain did the abject wretch continue his entreaties. 
Osmond heeded not his words ; but, having delivered him 
over to the guard appointed to watch over him, lie left him, 
in order to make the necessary arrangements for his own 
departure, and for that of Ayesba and her mother. But, 
previously to taking this step, it was necessary that he shotild 
have an interview with them, in order to ascertain from their 
own lips what might be their wishes; for, however much his 
thoughts might be engrossed in the future well-being of Ayesha, 
still he was determined not to control her wishes, or put any 
violence upon her inclinations. 

Zabetta had now had time to collect her ideas, and form 



AYESHA. 263 

schemes adapted to the new turn which her affairs had taken. 
It was as ^9y for her to turn her affections from one object 
to another, ^ it is for the weathercock to revolve on its pivot at 
the smallei^t change of wind. Cara Bey's short reign being over, 
her forn^er scheme was succeeded by a determination to take 
possession of Osmond himself: she resolved to wean him 
from his love to her daughter, and to excite it for herself; cm*, 
if that should fail, in a Russian camp, she imagined, ,ther^ 
would be no want of competitors for her preference. She 
argned thus : — She had been a Mahomedan, she determined 
to be again a Greek. She was now going among those who 
professed her original faith ; she would return to that faith. 
Who was tjiere now to cheek her resolution? Old Suleimaui 
who might have controlled lier, was far away. As for the 
IVIufti, his sacks and his drowning, |ie was wdcome to throw 
any one into the river but herself. 

But the object of all her wild dreams, and such it had been 
ever since she had witnessed the daily increasing beauty of 
Ayesha, was the getting to Constantinople— ^the enslaving of 
the Sultmi in person with her daughter's charms, and securing 
to h^r^elf the high situation of mother to the reigning favourite. 
This hope she now felt w^s about to be realised. If s)ie coul4 
but persuade Lord Osmond to follow up the project of re^- 
t^rning to Stamboul, which he told her he had in view, she 
felt she could desire nothing more; and she longed for ai^ 
opportunity of trying her b^st entreaties upon hLpa for that 
purpose. 

Ayesha, ever since her release from the violence of Cara Bey 
^d her deliverance by her lover, had passed her ima^^ ^ph 
a state of happiness that it alnxost bordered on delirium. 
Although still subject to the confinement of ^ Turkish harem, 
she was far from copiplaining ; she knew no other mode of 
life. She would have shrunk {rom th^ impropriety of being 
left under no restraint. But although she coi^ld not^e him 
for whom she would lay down her life, although she did not 
wish to see him, yet still she knew him to be there, ever o^ 
the watch for her welfare. She placed such devoted confir 
4ence in him, loved him with an ardour so blii^d, though still 
^^pressed, th^t that feeling alone sufiKced for h^r happif^^t^. 
§he ki^ew he would judge for the best, and act for the b^(. 



264 AYESHA. 

All that she had to do was to attend to his wishes and follow 
his bidding: how could she better show her devotion? There 
was only one drawback to her happiness, and that was the 
recollection of him whom she had ever called her father, 
old Suleiman Aga at Kars. From habit, from a feeling of 
gratitude, and from a thousand other causes, i^he was attached 
to him: father is an endearing Word; it reminded her of the 
duties of a child to a parent, which are so strictly enjoined 
among Mahomedans, and she occasionally longed to be present 
with him, in order to assure him of her existence and her $tfety. 
Still she was well acquainted with the quality of hi/mind; she 
was aware of the apathy and indifference pf his character; 
and thus she felt consolation in the conviction that although 
he might have lamented her loss at first, still every regret 
wouM ultimately giveaway before the fascinations of his pipe, 
and his habitual submission to the decrees of fate. 

Osmond having desired to see Ayesha and her mother, they 
appeared before him, properly veiled, at the door of the harem. 
Zabetta at first began to try the whole artillery of her eyes upon 
him, dropping her veil, and making use of every art which Asia- 
tic coquettes are apt to do when they wish to make a conquest; 
but she soon found that such manoeuvres were entirely thrown 
away. Osmond opened the object of the interview by asking 
her whither she w ished to bend her steps in the present posture 
of her affairs? 

She was so awed into respect by his manner, and by the de- 
cision and gallantry of his late conduct, that she at once as- 
sumed an appearance of rectitude. She said that, if she were 
to return to Kars, she must ever be looked upon, after what 
had taken place, as a degraded woman, and that to such a mor- 
tification she never could submit. She had long deplored her 
error in having abjured her faith, and to that faith she now 
wished to return. Could she but once reach Constantinople, 
she made no doubt that, under his protection, she might be 
restored to her parents and her own home, and that was the 
object nearest her heart: if he would help her in its attainment, 
she asked no other boon at his hands. 

This was the language most likely to win Osmond's ap- 
proval, and to her request he without further hesitation gave 
his ready assent, particularly as in fact it accorded with his own 



ATESHA. %&» 

inclination. Finding her in a mood which appeared lo him 
reasondhla and traetahle, he thought he could not have fallen 
upon a better opportunity of extracting from her some infor- 
mation upon a subject which was ever uppermost in his mind 
— the real history of Aye^a. He said to her, ^' Zabetta, I have 
no wish to pry into your secrets, or to insist upon your disclos- 
ing to me anything which you may wish to conceal ; but as you 
love Ayeshar, tell me, am I to believe that she is really yoi|r 
daughter, and the daughter of Suleiman Aga P I have reasons 
for 9i|specting that some mystery hangs over her, and that you 
are able to dispel it. Speak to me as you would to a friend.'' 

^abetta, taken unawares, drew her veil over her face to 
cover her confusion, and answered in a half-angry, half-taunt- 
ing manner, " Not my daughter, say you I how could you ever 
dream that she is not my daughter? Whence can your sus- 
picions arise? what have you ever seen to make you believe 
that she is not my daughter ?" 

" My suspicions are mainly founded, laying aside other con- 
siderations, upon a casual sight which I obtained of a trinket 
suspended around her neck, with some coins used in my 
country. It is a trinket made by English workmen, and must 
have belonged to English people. May I ask you how it fell 
into your hands ?" 

'^ Oh, that talisman I" said Zabetta, with some perplexity, 
but with more assurance; '' that was given to me by Suleiman 
Aga when first we married : he bought it of some Franks, 
when he was an attendant upon the governor of Athens. The 
coins came into his possession at the samejime." 

." But the handkerchief?" eagerly remarked Osmond : " I 
also casually saw a handkerchief, which, I am sure, must have 
belonged to some one of my countrymen — tell me how you 
became possessed of that ?" 

Here Zabetta was evidently much puzzled for an answer, 
and, after making several attempts s^ explanation, at length 
swore that she had bought it in the bazaar, and that, although 
it might be made of European linen, it was sewn by herself. 

However little Osmond might be convinced by what she said, 
he was obliged to remain satisfied on this occasion with her 
very unsatisfactory answers. He hoped time would bring to 
light that which at present was hid in obscurity. He did liot 



2M AYESUA. 

prolong his interview farther than to give her directions about 
their departure, which was fixed for the morrow. It was de- 
termined that they should proceed, in the first place, to the 
nearest Russian station, escorted by such troops as were un- 
necessary to garrison the castle, and then travel to the head- 
quarters of the Russian commander-in-chief in Georgia. 

At parting, Osmond availed himself of the opportunity to 
])Our forth every feeling of his heart to his devoted mistress, 
which she returned in a manner that exalted .her in bi^ esteem 
more, if possible, than ever. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

A U p^nte d« joor iuivant, on ooyrit }es fpcandi battwu des porter da 
piJliiSf ^t }e cpoTpi se mit en marcbe. 

On the following morning, at an early hour, everybody w^l^ 
astir in the castle. The sounds of the animating drum, the 
clash of arms, the appearance of soldiers in marching order, 
everything so much reminded Osmond of Europe, Uiai AsU 
and her barbarous inhabitants appeared all at once to haye 
vanished, and he felt restored to his own place in the world* 
The procession was opened by the in&ntry, in the centre o( 
which was placed the prisoner, Cara Bey, who, casting his eyes 
about him as he bade adieu to all his by-^ne power and pos- 
sessions, afforded a melancholy, though impressive, spectacle 
iff the instability of human affairs. Osmond and the Russian 
officers, attended by Stasso, and Mustafa, who, once again 
seated on the saddle, seemed to have left behind him ail hk 
fears and miseries, followed next in order. The women, at 
some small distance, duly guarded and attended, brcwght up 
the rear; and never, perhaps, were met a gayer set of hearts 
(the prisoner's excepted) than wero coliected tog)ether oa this 
occasion. 

The day broke with unusual splendour, and the vast scene 



AYESHA. tbH 

which developed itself as they issued from the castle-gates, 
acted upon the spirits through the medium of the eyes, in the 
same manner as the examination of divine truths does upon the 
understanding. The summits of the mountains were receiving 
their first crimson tints from the rising sun; the snow-capped 
cone of Ararat was streaked with most ddicate tints of pink, 
rose, and vermitlion, whilst its roots were still embedded in 
darkness. The eastern clouds nearest the sun, receiving the 
brightest touches, shone in the most briUiant hues of gold and 
amber ; whilst those more distant were still in shade, although, 
as the light gradually fell upon them, they soon partook of the 
general refulgence. The plain was involved in misty shadows, 
waiting in its turn for the enlivening presence of the great har- 
binger of warmth and light ; and as the procession wound along 
the sides of the castle-cone, each individual in his turn, as the 
sun shone upon him, received the sharp lights on the one side 
et his person, whilst the other still remained in undefined 
shade. 

After such adventures as those which Osmond had encoun- 
tered, in which he had undergone every vicissitude, from the 
fear of death to the restoration of aU which he held most dear, 
su(^ a scene as this was felt with more than usual delight : his 
inmost soul ^owedwith gratitude; he enjoyed his existence; 
the very act of inhaling the purity of the morning air being of 
itself sufficient to produce unmixed riqpture. What then, 
thought he, will be that state of existence, when such pleasures 
w31 be enjoyed, unalloyed by any mixture of human passions 
and human cares, when our sole occupation will foe the rap- 
turous contemplation of the glories of that Being who called us 
into life 1 

They proceeded straight to the nearest Russian station — a 
spot which brought to the minds of Cara Bey, (Hmond, and Iva- 
novitch, though with different feelings, the recollection of th^ 
event which had led to the present state of things ; here they 
stopped. One of the first objects i^iiich met Uieir sight as 
they were crossing the ravine, was Hassan. This circumstance 
to Cara Bey was bitterness and anguish ; to Oi^nond it gave 
unmixed satisfaction. The one glared at him, as he crossed 
his path, with the eyes and countenance of a demon ; the other 
received Urn with all the demonstrations of the sincerest friend- 



26S AYESHA. 

ship. Hassan soon related his story ; his evasion from the 
castle, with his companion Mariam, had been most successful; 
but his disappointment at not meeting Osmond as he had ex- 
pected, would hav.e driven him to madness, had not the appea- 
rance of Stasso and Ivanovitch, which had taken place before 
his arrival, explained the whole state of the case. He would 
have returned immediately to the castle had his feet enabled 
him so to do ; but he still felt the effects, and perhaps would 
through life, of that fatal bastinado. He expressed his joy so 
naturally and unaffectedly at the result of their enterprise, of- 
fering himself as an attendant upon Osmond as long as he 
should remain in this part of Asia, and altogether showed such 
genuine feeling, that Osmond was quite at a loss how to repay 
him in any adequate manner for his kindness and his services. 
He invited him, at all events, to proceed with themio the head- 
quarters of the Russian commander-in-chief, where something 
might be done in furtherance of any views of his own which he 
might have ; and proposed that Mariam should be taken intp 
the service of Zabetta and Ayesha as their waiting-maid. This 
scheme being agreed to, after a short stay at the Russian station, 
the travellers set off again to seek the head-quarters of the 
commander-in-chief, under the escort of Ivanovitch, who com- 
manded the small detachment sent in charge of the prisoner. 
His appointment to this service had been made at the imme- 
diate desire of Osmond, who thus might have an opportunity 
of expressing to the Russian general the great obligations he 
was under to his gallant young friend, as well as of securing to 
him the glory both of the capture of the castle, and of the per- 
son of the noted Cara Bey. 

At the time we speak of, the Russians were in full posses- 
sion of the . whole of Georgia, arid had extended their con- 
quests nearly as far as the range of the Aligez mountains; an 
extension which at this day includes Erivan and its fertile plain, 
with the Araxes for its boundary. They were then at war with 
Persia. The Russian commander-in-chief was expected to leave 
Tiflis, the capital of Georgia, about this time, at the head [of 
an army, to march to the southward, in order to establish Itself 
on the Persian frontier; and it was a questioniR^hether our 
travellers would reach him before he left Tiflis, or meet him in 
his camp. They reached Gumri on the first day, where they 



AYESHA. 200 

found a Considerable garrison ; and in succession, passed se- 
veral nights on the road, after having crossed a difficult coun- 
try, full of abrupt mountain-passes, everywhere exhibiting re- 
mains of its ancient consequence, and abounding in the finest 
mountain-scenery. Various were the reports which they heard 
on the road, of the motions of the Russian army. One tra- 
veller, coming straight from Tiflis, asserted that it was still in 
its cantonments at that place. Another, whom they met not 
long after, said that he had seen it on its march ; and a third 
swore, he had passed through its encampment near theBambek 
river, but two days before. 

At length it was ascertained that the last traveller had 
spoken the truth, and, moreover, that the commander-in-chief 
was with the army in person. This being the case, Osmond 
suggested the propriety of sending a messenger in advance to 
announce the approach of the prisoner Cara Bey, as well as 
those who accompanied him, in order that preparations might 
be made for their reception — a suggestion to which Ivanovitch 
immediately consented. In furtherance of it, he determined 
himself to proceed, leaving a subaltern in command of the 
escort during his absence. 

On the morning when the travellers expected to reach the 
camp, every one was seen arranging his dress and equipage 
to the best advantage, preparatory to entering upon a scene so 
novel as that which an European army would be sure to pre- 
sent. Osmond in vain wished that he now had in his posses- 
sion the clothes which he had left behind him at Kars, and 
which had become the prey of the Pasha and the Mufti. His 
uniform would at once have secured him protection and con- 
sideration, and have announced without any further explana- 
tions that he was an Englishman ; but when he looked upon 
the clothes which he wore, soiled, old, and weatherworn, and 
which gave him so thoroughly the appearance of an Oriental, 
he despaired to explain to the Russian commander, in such a 
manner as to secure his entire conviction, that he was what he 
pretended to be. It was plain that, unless some lucky circum- 
stance intervened in his favour, he would be taken for a spy. 
The disguise which he wore could secure him no consideration, 
and the delay which might elapse ere he could procure testi- 



270 AYESHA. 

raonials of his identity, might perhaps be subversive of all his 
future schemes. However, as he felt that he had much to say 
for himself, he only hoped that in the Russian eommander-in- 
chief he might be lucky enough to meet with an enlightened and 
an upright man, and then he made no doubt that his cc^e^ if 
properly represented, would carry conviction of its truth. ^ 

At length the approaches to the camp became manifest; 
stragglers were seen; cattle grazed on the mountaio-sides; the 
advanced posts were observed on the crests of the hilk, and 
distant smoke marked its site. Having ascended a hill of some 
height, all at once the camp broke upon the view. Thousands 
of pavilions, white as snow, extended themselves along a Valley, 
which seemed to have been carpeted with the greenest turf ex- 
pressly for their reception. On all sides arose mountains of 
the most picturesque forms, green to their very summits, only 
here and there broken by masses of a red, earthy which con- 
tt'asted richly with the universal verdure. The Bambek, a 
broad and tranquil river, flowed past majestica^Uy, Girted here 
and there by light and elastic trees, and gave a charm to the 
whole landscape, which, though wild when untenanted, now 
seemed the abode of civilization and pleasure. 

Sounds which were unknown to many of the travellers, 
and which had long been forgotten by others, broke delight- 
fully upon the ear as they approached, cheering the latter with 
recollections of the past, and the former with the promii^e of 
coming pleasure. Military music streamed through the air ; the 
beating of drums, the shrill fife, the swelling trumpet, combined 
with occasional shouts, the neighing of horses, the traffic of 
wheeled carriages, and all the busy hum of men, together made 
up such a congregation of sounds, that those who had but lately 
left far-distant scenes, felt that they were approaching qpuile a 
ii«w order of things. 

Ivanovitch had made the best use of his time, for be was the 
first person to greet Osmond as he entered the camp, and to 
cmiduct him to a set of tents prepared for his reeeption. A se- 
' p^t^ate pavilion was appropriated to ^ women, whibt Cara 
Bey was secured as a prisoner, and ])Iaoed under the superiir** 
tend^ise of a guard. He inK»rii»d Osulotid that the codi*- 
maiidcri?4a-ohtef bflNl exprrased himself sarpvisied aiM deligbted 



AYESHA. 271 

^t the unexpected event whicb bad rendered hioa master of 
Oara Bey 'S person and castle, and vas aniLious to see Osmond 
the earliest moment it would be convenient to him. 

Osmond could not conceal from Ivanovitch the awkward- 
ness which he felt in not being abld to appear in his own dress, 
and of the difficulty which he feared he should have in con- 
vincing his chief that he was not an impostor. The young Rus- 
sian, who had never taken this into consideration, agreed that 
the General was always severe updn the subject of passports, 
but he hoped that on this occasion, in eodsideratipn of the ser- 
vices which Osmond had rendered, he would wave his usual 
strictness on that bead. They proceeded together to the com- 
mander-in-chiers quarters. They made their way through a 
crowd of brilliantly-dressed officers who were in attendance, 
and who seemed inclined to pay but little respect to one of Os- 
mond's appearance, whilst they greeted his conduc|or with 
every demonstration of attention* 

At length Osmond, accompanied by Ivanovitch, was ushered 
into the presence of his Excellency. He found him a fine old 
man, of most prepossessing appearance, of mild and conciliatory 
manners, attired in the full dress of a general, decked with 
every imaginable order of chiv£ilry, hat in hand, and swm'd by 
his side, his whole official costume being such as he would as- 
sume when about to receive one of the highest rank. 

Osmond was not slow in observing that he rather drew back 
when he perceived one of his sorry appeara^ce enter ; for 
Turks, Persians, and Orientals in general, are accustomed to 
be held very cheap by their powerful neighbours, and, as he 
could not in his dress exhibit the least token of being an Eu- 
ropean, so it is not extraordinary that the General could not at 
fii^t sight beUeve him to be such. He was about to send for 
his interpreter, when Osmond in some measure dispelled the 
first difficulty by addressing him in very good French, and 
iltraightway entering inio an explanation of the reasons which 
obt%ed him to appear thus disguised. He then gave as short 
im account as he could of the vairk^us circum^tatices w^ch had 
thrown him ialo the hands of Cara Bey, and of those which 
had led to the seiszure of the latter^ and to the fdl of his easUe, 
in which he f^me the whole merit to the gattantry Mid conduct 
l»f the yovnj^ Ivetnovitch ; and fhiished by requesting that he 



^T^ AYESHA. 

might be permitted to proceed on his journey to Constan- 
tinople, together with his servants and the women who were 
under his protection.. 

The old General, who, during the whole course of his life and 
campaigns, had never heard any story like th^t which had just 
been related to him, in which love, war, murder, poisoning, re- 
ligion, and demonology, were mixed up in such various pro- 
fusion, opened his eyes and ears with astonishment and curiosity, 
as Osmond proceeded; and, ere he finished, dropped his fea- 
tures into a look of doubt, shaking his head at the same time 
with incredulity. ^' All this, sir, may be true, and I make no 
doubt it is so,^' said the General, '^ but, during my long life, 
allow me to say, I have never heard any thing like it." 

*' I doubted very much," said Osmond frankly, " whether 
my story woiild gain credence; all I can say is, that my best 
documents to ensure belief are — first, the delinquent whom I 
have brought prisoner ; secondly, his castle, which is now in 
your possession; thirdly, tW women, the victims of his viilany; 
and, fourthly, this young gentleman, who has been a witness, 
a more than unwilling witness to the winding up of my story. 
More I cannot say." 

" But, sir," said the General, " however readyl may be to 
believe you, you must doubtless be possessed of some passport 
which will assure me that in your person I see my Lord Os- 
mond, an English nobleman, the heir to a great house. Excuse 
my request ; in times of war we are obliged to be very cir- 
cumspect." 

** I have nothing to show beyond a Turkish firman," said Oi^ 
mond, '^ with which I have travelled throughout Asia. It never 
occurred to me that I should have occasion to enter the Russian 
territories, or else I should have provided myself with a passport 
from our ambassador at Constantinople." 

'' I fear," said the General, *' I cannot be satisfied with such 
a document. My government is inexorable on the subject of 
passports ; we must devise some mode of procuring you one." 

Osmond looked upon the delay which was likely to proceed 
from his want of a passport with dismay; but, adopting the sug- 
gestion of the General, who said that he should be satisfied with 
a pass from the English minister at the court of Persia, with 
whom he was in correspondence, he immediately determined 






to ^ksplUch Mustafa oh tliat service. Tkis would also give him 
an opportunity of getting letters of credit on some Armenian 
merchants of Tiflis, and thus he would \^ set up in that most 
necessary of all commodities to a traveller, a well-filled purse. 
The camp was Ui remain stationary for a fortnight, and by that 
time4ie hoped Mustafa would have returned. 

All this being duly settled, Mustafa departed. In the mean- 
while, the whole camp rang with the story which had been 
related both by Osmond and Ivanovitch. Osmond was looked 
upon as a wonder; he bepame the idol of the young men, 
who, envious of his adventures, would willingly have en- 
countered the dangers to which he had been exposed, to be- 
come, like him, an object of so much interest. The women 
also excited the greatest curiosity. Their tent was constantly 
surrounded by those whp were anxious to steal a view of them; 
and indeed they were not disappointed, a^ far as regarded 
Zabetta, for her head was completely turned by all she saw, 
and she willingly dispenled with iier veil whenever a scrutiny 
of her face and person was desired. 

The constant passage of brilliantly-dressed and plumed ca- 
valiers; their handsome persons well padded in front, tightly 
compressed in the waist; their military bearing, and, more than 
all, their peering looks, had apparently drawn off her mind 
from her schemes of ambition at Constantinople ; and she 
began to consider whether it would not be the most advisable 
thing she could do to take up her future abode where she was. 
She heard of a chapel which was erected in the skirts of the 
camp, in which the service of the Greek church was performed ; 
and immediately settled that this was the most fitting oppor- 
tunity for her to return to her original faith, and without further 
ceremony she went to church. 

Ayesha had been dazzled at first by the novelty of the scene, 
and, for a few days, did not cease gazing with the greatest 
attention at every thing she saw. But she was still a Turlii^h 
girl, and therefore kept herself carefully secluded from the 
tent, for her whole and entire being was wrapped up in Os- 
mond. He never passed a day without conversing with her; 
and, as her mind expanded under his direction, she daily made 
more progress in securing his esteem and admiration. 

It was the current report throughout the camp that th^ 



§74 AYESHA. 

doom of Cara Bey had been fixed, and that he was eondemned 
to suffiMT death. The Rusaiane had so many just oomplaiBto 
against him, of the eruel manner in which he had frequently 
j^t to death the prisonera he had taken from thera, and of the 
wanton atta^sks which he had made upon their mffitary statioiis, 
that, as a terror to others, it was determined that he should be 
exeeiited in the most public manner. This the Commander- 
inKshief coanmumci^ed to Oraiond, who was too sensible of 
the justice of the sentence to oppose it. It had also been com- 
municated to the offender himself, who received the informa- 
tion with more firmness than could have been expected from 
OB(f who had shown himself so abject and pusillanimous in his 
eoiiduot to Osmond. He said, he had but one favour to ask 
before he met bis £ate, which was, that he might have an in- 
terview with Zabetta without witnesses, which appeared so 
harmless a request that it was tmmediatdiy granted. 

When his request was made known to her, she shrank from 
it, and willingly would have avoided him ; but when she re- 
collected certain confidential conversations which they had had 
tei^etber, in which he had developed certain schemes for push- 
ing their mutual fortunes in (he world, and to which she agreed, 
she determined to accede to his wishes, lest, ere he died, he 
might betray her views and blast her future prospectis. 

She found him alone in the corner of a small tent, with his 
hands and feet secured by irons, looking the picture of wo and 
wickedness. As soon as she appeared, his countenance bright- 
ened up; and throwing off as much of the demon as he eould, 
he laid himself out to the best of his power to m^ake himself 
agreeable to her. 

*' You are wekome,'Vsaid he. '^ You, Masfaallah! are one 
of those whose conduct does not consist in mere words. You 
are a woman of whom there are few such in the world. You 
come to a fallen man when he can give you nothing in return. 
May Heaven reward you I" 

''What words are these, Cara BeyP'^ exclaimed Zabetta. 
''May you live longl—^this misery may pass. What would 
you have ofi»e?'* 

" What say you P May 1 live long ! — I might perhaps stiU 
live if you would help me ; but, if yon too condemn me, I die as 
sure as the sun will set to-night.^' 



AYE9HA. "iVb 

"^ I help yak I" exdahabd Zabetta ia adtonishment. «' Wlut 
can a poor weak woman like me do P" 

^^ You <Mnl cb ^nudh^" retorted the m*tftil man^ ^' Yon have 
]^<m«r over yowr daughter. She has power over the Frank, 
Ostnond. He can denand my Ufe from the Mascovile da^^. 
Have you imdersteod me ?^ 

Zahetia ploised le coasider what course she ought to pursue, 
and what answer to give; for with his ruin had falleu whatorer 
sdieme she migbt have planned m 6oii]uiH;tion wtdi him, and 
she dreaded to be fortber implicated; but he, full of wile a»d 
cunning, reading her thoughts, said — 

^^ Are you fool enough so easily to throw away the advan- 
tages ^ich you possess, and which would raise you above all 
the wottien of Asia ? You have wealth, honours, and pOwer 
heM out to you, and straight yon go and seat yourself on a 
dunghill, axad turn your back upon them.'' 

^^ What say you?" said the excited woman. '^ I do not 
understand you." 

'^ You would eas'dy understand me," answered Cara Bey, 
^^ if, when I had got to Constantinople, I came to you and said : 
* Zabetta KadAn, here is the kislar aga of the Sultan coming 
to wait upon you ; he comes to kiss your feet on the part of his 
liighnesis; he invites you and your fair daughter to Ike sera- 
^\o : you will be its mistress : your words shall be a law : the 
treasures of the em[nre are open to you : the mother of tbe^£sH 
Tonrite Sultaua is only second to the Sultan.' You would 
Mderstand me then, as you understand me now. Is it not 
so ? Speak." 

'M do understand," said Zabetta ; ^' but these iu*e mere 
words. Who is to ensure me this happiness, this power, and 
tibese riches ?" 

*' Who ?" said Cara Bey. '* Not the Englishman, surely, 
in whose hands you have fallen ; but I. Secure me from death, 
and I will ensure all this for you. I have more friends at the 
Imperial gate than you can possibly know. ! have a direct 
channel ib the ear of the Emperor, which has never faikd me 
yet ; and, when a beautiful maid is in the wind, it never fails to 
Wd to an which I now promise you." 

'' What am I to do? How am I to act?" sM Zabetta 

18* 



two AYBSHA. 

dazzled by the prospects held out, and ever ready to put her 
hand to an intrigue. 

^* Listen !'' said the Bey. '' You must make Ayesha work 
upon the feelings of the Frank. He is a good man — an upright 
man : there is no denying that. He has already told me that 
he does not wish my death. Who placed me and my <;astle in 
the hands of these Russian dogs P he, and he alone. They 
cannot refuse to set me free, if he insists upon it." 

" And suppose they do," answered Zabetta, " how will you 
ever get to Constantinople, destitute and a castaway as you will 
be?" 

*' Leave that to me. There is no path ^ no hole, and nothing 
stirs in this country that is unknown to me. Accompany the 
Frank : appear to put your full trust in him. Make him the 
slave of your daughter, and all will go well. And here," he 
continued, taking a ring off his finger, '' return to her this ring 
which I took from her. Tell her it is the last present which a 
dying man makes her: it will soften her heart towards me. She 
cannot withstand that and your entreaties combined. Say you 
will help me." 

Zabetta sat in silence for some time. She saw in truth how 
brilliant were the prospects held out to her by Cara Bey, when 
compared to those which any connexion with Osmond migfaf* 
promise. She allowed herself to be persuaded, and at length 
said : '^ I will do my best endeavours. I am but a woman ; 
still I will try. Osmond, I know, is a good man, and 1 can 
depend upon Ayesha ; but we are in the hands of hard-hearted 



men." 



" You promise, then, to try," said Cara Bey. " Go your 
way, and depend upon success." 

" May Heaven protect you !" said Zabetta, and took her 
leave. She went her way, absorbed in thought. The words 
of the tempter had made a deep impression : she determined to 
do her utmost to save him ; and when she appeared before 
Ayesha, she studiously put on a look of care and grief. 

" What has happened ?" said Ayesha ; " surely some mis- 
fortune is about to take place I What has the vile man" (for 
she knew that she had been to see Cara Bey) 'Vsaid to make 
you unhappy?" 



*i 



AYESH4. 21T 

*^ Ah, my daughter l" eirclaimed Zabetta, '^ may you never 
pass such ao hour as I have passed I The wretch has been 
condemned to death, and he knows it. Never have I seen such 
profound sorrow, such sincere repentance as his ! Ah ! could 
we but save his life! Indeed, it is cruel to see a fellow-crea- 
ture die I" 

This language, ZabeHa was aware, would touch her daugh- 
ter in the most tender point; for her heart was ever ready to 
sympathise with sorrow ; and although she knew that of all 
men who might be doomed to die, Cara'Bey would excite the 
least of that sympathy , still she also knew that, if properly 
affected, Ayesha would not refuse her endeavours to save even 
his life. 

" What would Osmond say if we were to attempt to save 
him ?" said Ayesha ; " does he not think him worthy of death P" 

^' He would not, and does not require his death,'' said Zabetta 
in exultation ; '' he told Gara Bey so himself." 

" Ah ! were I certain of that," exclaimed Ayesha, '* I would 
entreat our kind protector and friend to exert his influence to 
save him. But can such a wretch be ever permitted to live?'' 

" Cara Bey has lost all hope hinself," said Zabetta sorrow- 
fully ; " see, he has sent you this I — of this, he says, he un- 
justly robbed you." Upon saying which, she gave her the 
ring. 

Ayesha bounded forward upon regaining possession of this 
object so precious to her, and exclaimed, ^* Praises to Allah 
for this ! He deserves to live, were it only for this act. I 
should never have thought the wretch capable of such genero- 
sity. We must try to save his life, in order that he may have 
time to repent of his iniquities, ere God requires it from him." 

Zabetta was charmed to find how \^11 the plot had hitherto 
worked. The more she pondered over his words, the more 
she saw how truly they might come to pass; and her next step 
was, when Osmond visited her tent again, to soften his heart, 
and, united with Ayesha, to make him promise to exert his best 
endeavours to save the life of Cara Bey. 



fn» AYESIU. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

CoMT. ItbuniB 

Mj brow; bat mragktto that wbich is wUhin it^ 

Byroiy. 

In due time Mustafa returned with letters from the British 
Minister ia Persia , ooataioiiig the required passport and the 
letters of credit. He was alsa th^ bearer of a leUer to the 
Commander^in-dulef from the same hand^ requesting that Lord 
Osmond might meet with every distmction on the part of his 
excellency, as the representative of one of the noblest femilies 
of England, and passing sueh high eulogiums upon his cha- 
racter that the General,^ after its perusal^ hastened to wait upoa 
Osmond with all due state and fiormality, and endeavoured by 
his attentions to do away every appearance of slight which \m 
former treatineQt might have betrayed. He had already ad- 
mitted him to his table, but now he made it a point to give him 
a public entertainment, in which his oWa health, as weU as 
that of his Sovereign, was drunk with every demonstration of 
respect He ordere.d a general review of his troops, in order 
to do him honour; and so loaded him with attentions that 
Osmond began in right earnest to think of departure. 

The last ceremony which the commandernn-chief wished 
Osmond to honour with his presence, was the e2.ecutiou of the 
wretch Cara Bey, who had been condemned to be shot. It was 
intended, to be an exhibition of the most imposing nature, ia 
order that the report of it might spread far and wide throi^h- 
out that part of Asia , and produce a proper impression u|^on 
the minds of the lawless and ill-intentioned. It was to tak^ 
place in face of the whole army, marshalled in array around the 
devoted man. From distant parts of Georgia, particularly 
from the mountainous tribes of the Caucasus, from Carabagh, 
3heki, and Shamaki, and, in short, from all the surrounding 



AYI8HA. f79 

tUetrkts, the peo|^^ were inviM to attesd. C«ra Bgy wa» a 
Bame so well knowo, that when it was reported ihid he bad 
{alien inte the handa of the Russians, and was about to be put 
to deaths it required but little inoentiTe to bring people to-* 
gether^ So many iadividuala had been despoiled by him, and 
so many families ruined or rendered miserable by his ati^kles, 
that a universal burst of satisfaetioti at his capture was expressed, 
4Liid it wa& pronounoed that a eonmiOB death was too good for 
him. 

The day before the execution, Ayesha, at the imsligatloa of 
Zabetta, had fulfilled her intention of permading Ctemend t9 
interpose with the Cotnmemder-in-chief to save the wretcl^^fl 
life. It required but litde to touch his heart; for benevolence 
and tenderness were among lus principal characterisiies : he 
held ia abhorrence every act approaching to violence at 
cruelty; sAways on the fergiviiig Mm, there waa ever a lieankrg 
in his mind towards (be unfortunate, however wicked or eri-r 
minal they mig^t be. He was on all ooeasions reaAf to make 
aUowanees for temptation aotkig upon the weakness <rf our 
natinre. The best of men, he was awarey require constant 
watchfulness to preserve them in the path of duty ; what allow* 
ances ought not then to be made fat sach a poor b^iighted 
creature as the present offender? Born and ediiealed in the 
grossest of religious beliefe ; a very chiU of Satan by birth ; 
and exercising a profession which, among ike rude people mik 
wbom he lived, was not only permitledl liot esteemed honour^ 
able; certainly there was much in the all- forgiving doctrines of 
Christi^uaity to sanction excuse aild pardon. 

It F^quitfed, then, but littte perstiasiOtib on the paart of Ayeska 
to influence her lover to do that to wbidh his prkwiples as well 
as his inclinatioA already prompted kim. Her bc»rt swelled 
with affection^ and tears flowed from her eyes, when A0 re^ 
marked how nnich his feelings responded to her own; and whet 
at length he agreed to second her wishes, and to busy hknsdf 
in obtaining a reprieve of tbe arwM aenteneey she was but too 
happy to seal her gratitude with the sincerity oif a lover's 
embrace. Zabi^ttar wbo had watehed the progress of her 
concerted stratagem, wUb att the wile oC the serpent i« ker 
heart, althoiugb.widaii the innoieeftce of the dove in her aspeet, 
when she observed this last proof of its success, could have 



$80 itYESHA. 

clapped hdr hands With joy $ but she kept her real feelings to 
herself, and eKcIaimed, when Osmond informed her of his 
determination, ^^ May you live for ever, O Effiendi! but let m 
hope that you may never have to repent of your kindness. - The 
wretch! life from your hands ought to be more bitter to him 
than death from the executioner I " 

The Russian General had not ceased to exto! Osmond's 
conduct in the whole business of the capture of Gara Bey and 
his castle, as something so heroic, generous, and disinterested, 
that he quite persecuted him to ask some boon from the hands 
of his Emperor ; assuring him at the same time, that he would 
gOStrantee its being granted, accompanied by the thanks of his 
whole nation. In the General's estimation, and, indeed it may 
be said, in that of his countrymen, honours and distinctions 
were the rewards most prized ; and he would, in truth, have 
wished to see his friend Osmond decorated in the same manner 
as himself; such was the high estimation in which he held him. 
But Osmond was unconcerned about personal distinctions ; aH 
he required was, that his gallant young companion in suiFering, 
Ivanovitch, should receive those marks of his sovereign's 
favour which might have been awarded to himself, and, more- 
over, that every one of the Russians who had come to his as- 
sistance wh^i he was in distress, might also be distinguished by 
some token of reward. To these terms the General willingly 
submitted, and Osmond was delighted to see the man whom he 
had once been obliged to use so roughly, the happiest of Russian 
mortals* 

On the very morning of the execution, when the marching 
of the troops to their different stations was already heard, and 
the whole camp was teeming with preparation and curiosity, 
Osmond walked to the tent of the Commander-in-chief, and 
demanded an audience. No sooner was his presence announced 
than he was introduced. The General was already arrayed 
in his fullest uniform and decorations; his staff wore their best; 
there was great attention given to display. He received Osmond 
in the kindest manner, took both his hands into his own, and 
kissed both sides of his cheeks. '^ My friend," said he, '^ we 
are now going to put the finishing hand to the extraordinary 
work begun by you. You mrust attend to see that it be well 
done." 



AYESHA. ' 281 

'^ I am quite ashamed of your unceasing kindness," said 
Osmond ; ^'but I fear that our ideas of how the work which you 
are about to accomplish ought to be finished, will be at 
variance when I explain myself." 

^* Howl" said the old man, his face beaming with good- 
nature; ^' we have agreed hitherto in all things, we cannot dis-* 
agree now." 

'^ Hear me," said Osmond : *' I hope you will agree with me 
ta the last. You have frequently pressed me to require a boon 
at your hands; I am more than grateful, and I would have ac- 
ceded to your request were it only to please you, but that I 
had really nothing to ask. But now I have a petition to make, 
and I am sure yoa will grant it, for it 4s in your power." 

^^ What is it?" said the General, with pleasure and alacrity 
in his accent and manner. 

" It is this," said Osmond,' most impressively; — " that you 
spare your prisoner's life — ^that you allow Cara Bey to live and 
be free." 

'* How !" exclaimed the old man, opening his eyes in a(Stotiish-* 
ment. ^' Save his life 1 how can such ai.thi^g be' done how? 
far not ail the country prepared to'wttness his doom? have we 
not made preparations for this event greater than were ever 
made before; and shall we not prove the laughing-stock of all 
the world, if they end in nothing — in an act of weakness? Believe 
me, my friend, I will do any and every thing to meet your 
wishes, but it seems to me that you have here allowed the good- 
ness of your heart to get the better of your judgment." 

^^ It may be as you say," said Osmond, '^ and I will not 
willingly put my judgment in competition with yours; but hear 
my reasons for the request I make, and you shall decide 
whether I am right or wrong. But for that man, I should 
probably be at this moment wasting my existence in a Turkish 
prison at Kars. At first he received me and gave me protec- 
tion, and although his subsequent conduct cancelled my first 
obligations, still I cannot bring my conscience to acquiesce in 
his death ; I cannot bring myself to be a party to it. These 
are my scruples; I am sure, in making them known to you, I 
am confiding them to the breast of an upright man." 

With some hesitation, and after a pause, the General said, 
^* You have sfid enough to shake my resolution, whilst you 



883 AYE8HA. 

kave increased my respect for your charMSter; Iml thmk of my 
situadoD. Here am I Governor-Geoeral and Commattder^ui- 
chief of this great covntry, wUeh the Emperor has confided to 
my management, with the power of Ufe anl death in my haadt. 
The numerous and various tribes whicb I have ta conlroU and 
to keep in constant checkf watch my actions as foxes do Ikt 
lion. Wild as the winds of heaven, living in mountains difficuh 
of acc8sS)^full of deceit, stratagem, and resource, if they perceive 
any weakness or want of decision in my conduot, they are ever 
ready to wew<Ai ; foi^ive their delinquencies but once, they kxA 
«pon forgiveness as their right, and ad in their lawless warfare 
as if no retribution were at hand. What is to be d(me in thia 
advanced stage of our proceeding?" 

'* I fiilly enter into your views," said Oimond, '^ and I should 
be sorry to interpose my petty interests when yours of so mnch 
greater importance are at stake ; but let me observe, that I 
differ from you when you say that, by showing mercy, yon 
show weakness. I have always looked upon it that merey, 
properly exercised by the hwd of power, increases strength. 
It may be looked upon as weakness by the foolisk and ths 
thoughtless^ but those who know what power meatts, kaom 
best how to aj^reeiate an act of mercy ; and the strength of a 
nation consists, not in the feols^ but in the wise heads which it 
contains. Marshal the latter on your side,, add them ixt dw 
bayonets by which you are surrounded^ and you wSl more 
easily quiet the rebdlbus^ and more essentially increase yoor 
moral poww ( whick is, after all, the gresAest strength), Aan 
if your e&ecutioner^s scimijEav were always drawn and always 
«twork«'V 

The old general rubbed his eyes upon hearing thb doe- 
trine, and knew not how t» answer. He was staggered in his 
Opiniom, \mi sliU he only saw befeve him the great prepara^ 
tions which be had made^ and the consequent disappeinlment 
which wOttU ensue were he toi allow them tei go for nougfaAi 
At length he sai4, '^ But something must be dene; we cannot 
dimifas al this colleoled world, wkhont some eshibitioni"' 

'^ Novm," said Osmond; '^ it is quite right that there ahouU 
be as solemn an eaihibitiodd of your power as posdiUe,! which wiH 
itcftdenr more impressive the solemnity of tke mercy you intend 
(it)$ra«t ^t themament wiieathe wreteb exfieets his death, 



AYB8»A. fits 

let hh ibaokl^s be kMdiecl off, and let him be set free, a 
wwdever mi an outoast, witb this^ proelaQiAtioB riaging in Us 
eairSy ^ A^ bis haiwi was against every man, so let every nan's 
hand be against him.' Set a mark upon him,^ as a mark was 
set up(m Cain^ and,^ like him, let hiiiL be a wanderer and a 
fugitive. Many there aire whose Uoodi he has spilled, who will 
be ready to take vengeance ; but let the blood be off* my head, 
and perhaps you will feel happy that it k off yours. He can 
no longer do you barai ^ his castle is in your bainds; his gang 
i» dispersed; and a branded wretch, without weahh, frienik^ 
or a home, will never again be bkely to find adherents." 

The discussion on this subject lasted for some time, for the 
General was not at aU disposed to accede to Osmond'^ wishes ;^ 
but as the moment approached when Cara Bey's doom must 
be settled in one manner or another, they were obliged to se* 
parate, and the result of their deliberations was kept secret. 

The sun had risen about an hour above the summits of the 
monntaiins which surrounded the valley of die encamped army^ 
when everything was in readiness for the execution of the cri-^ 
imnal. The troops, with dipums mi^ed and with every miliCsry 
sOleomity practised in the aw&l case of death, were drawn up 
in a semicircle in front of the camp^ upon an open space of v«r* 
diure ; and their whole appearance, flanked by artillery, their 
bayonets bristling in the sun, and dieir ranks varied by the ad*- 
mixture of their waving standards, gave an impressive idea of 
the power of Rus^, as it stood in the wilds of a country so 
distant from the seat of her rule. Behind the' line of troops 
might be seen the misss of natives who had come to witness 
tbe scene; some sealed in groups upon rising ground, ethers 
stealipg a look between the soldiers' ranks, and others^ encroach^ 
ing too milcb upon the spo^ ^q|>pointed for the execution. Here 
imght be seen Georgians, Circassaans, faneretians, men of tbe 
Ossi tribe, Tu^cbians, and Lesguis. The Georgian, known by 
his^ close vest and dagger on bis thigh ; the CireaBsi«n, by his. 
beknet of steel, his chaia^-^armour, and his straight sword ; the 
Ii^er^tian by his criimson dog^s^^eared eap, his many chains^ and. 
his sword cofvered over like an umbrella v the Ossianby his( shirt 
soki haifi'ji yapumheh^ or cloak;, the Tuschi^yit, by his needy 
aQd v^g^bondf look, parrying ^ spear, which is ^ mark of ahli- 
g^n to aves^ tbe blpoiof 0Ae.<)if his rdeiti#AS ;. and Ate Lesf 



SS4 AYE8HA. 

guian, remarkable for hi& peculiarly wild and ferocious appear-* 
ance. Besides these, there were Armenians, a few Jews, men 
from the Carabagh with their large sheep-skin caps, Turks, imd 
Persians. In short, the congregated mass, with its variety of 
dress, colours, features, and complexion, mixed with the never* 
failing veil of the women, might be compared to a collection of 
flowers planted in different beds, flowers of each bed having 
their separate name and quality. 

This assembly had been kept for some time in expectation^ 
ttoi. the sun had made considerable progress in its ascent, when 
at length the Commander-in-chief, surrounded by his staff, and 
accompanied by Osmond, who walked close to him, and who, 
from his oriental costame, attracted the particular attention of 
the multitude, made his appearance, under the salute of the 
whole line. Much was said, and much was ordered, ere the 
prisoner was allowed to appear. A band of six grenadiers, 
chosen for being good marksmen, were drawn out in front of 
the line, to carry the sentence into e/Sed. A halberd, stuck 
in the grotmd, marked the spot where the prisoner was to 
kneel : a wooden cofQn was at hand, under the charge of two 
corporals. A 4ead silence ensued as the time drew near for 
the prisoner's approach. At length, one of the brazen fields- 
pieces was fired as a signal, and, shortly after, the condemned 
man was seen walking at a slow pace, with a guard of five gre- 
nadiers before him, and five behind him, whilst a band of 
mufiled drums beat a solemn march appropriate to the occa- 
sion. The culprit was worn and haggard; his naturally satur- 
nine complexion was now become a livid white, the blackness 
of his hair and beard contrasting strongly with the unhealthy 
hue. In the 6ast of his countenance, although there was an 
expression of fear, still there was a lurking beam of hope. He 
walked erect, eyed the scene before him with composure, and 
seemed, to say by his gesture, *' I am not to die.*' 

Nothing was heard save the clanking of his irons and the beat 
of the mufiled drum. The breathless silence of the assembly, 
and their looks of intense interest, increased by the effect of the 
surrounding scenery, were in every way most striking and im- 
pressive. When he had reached the halberd, the officer com- 
manding the firing-party stepped up to him, and, obliging him 
to kneel, tied the fatal handkerchief over his eyes. And now 



AYESHA. 885 

it was remarked that. an universal tremor seized his frame. 
He began to think that all hope was gone. He became faint : 
he would have cried out for mercy. Then he heard the words 
*^ Make ready V\ followed by the clashing of the muskets and 
the ominous click of the lock. A scream of despair came from 
the wretched man, and was heard in thrilling echo all around. 
The word '* Present T' was loudly given, and the six muskets 
were pointed directly at the breast of the prisoner, and would 
have been followed by the last doom — "Fire," but the voice 
of the Commander-in-chief was heard, strong and decisive — 
" Recover arms." The order was obeyed, and a general 
pause ensued ; but the wretch, upon hearing the last words, 
fell flat with his face to the ground, in a state of insensibility. 

The effect of this action upon the spectators was almost as 
great as if he had actually been shot. A general murmur 
and agitation were produced by the various feelings which per- 
vaded the assembly. After some delay, during which Cara 
Bey had in some measure recovered his senses, and soon after 
his self-possession, the Commander-in-chief, accompanied by 
Osmond, in great form, followed by his staff and all the prin- 
cipal officers of the army, walked towards the prisoner. Hav- 
ing formed a circle round him, he ordered the handkerchief 
to be withdrawn, allowed him to take a full survey of the scene 
before him, and then addressed him, through the medium of 
an interpreter, ip the following words : — 

"Wretched man! in but a few minutes your miserable 
soul would have been plunged into the eternity of another 
world, to meet the reward of the many crimes which you have 
committed in this; — but, through the intercession of this brave 
man," pointing to Lord Osmond, "and by God^s mercy, your 
life has been saved. However, as you have shown yourself 
a public pest, so a mark of infamy must be fixed upon you, that 
you may be shunned by your fellow-creatures. You will be 
branded as a villain ought to be, and this proclamation will go 
throughout the country, ^ As the wanderer Cara Bey's hand was 
against every man, so now let every hand be against him.' " 

Upon which a blacksmith in attendance was called upon to 
inflict the sentence, which he did by stamping a small heated 
horse-shoe on his forehead, whilst he was held forcibly down 
by two soldiers. He uttered a cry, though but of short con* 



€W AYE8HA. 

tiauanoe ; for he totg&i tfie pam he endutned, ivfcen he snw h'm 
fetters knocked off his limbs, and o^ilid eren indulge in a 
satanic smile of secret exultation, as he tarned bis emnous- 
looking eyes upon the surrounding spectators. Osmond no^ 
€»me up to him, and said :«— 

*^Now you are free. Go and expiate your crimes. Go; 
henceforth be a wanderer and a fugkive.'* 

The Satanic man, throwing his face over his shoulder as he 
turned his back to depart, whilst an ominous scowl overcast 
his features, straightway, like a wounded wolf, gradually, 
slowly, accursed as he was, slunk out of view, and disappeared 
in the depths of an adjacent dell« 

When the assembled multitude saw this result, a BOTi 0^ 
SBj^ressed groan of disappointment was heard, followed by a 
shout of execration at the departing villain. Every one was 
astonished at the mercy which had been shown ; but as soon 
as the terms of his reprieve from death were known, all who 
bore a spite to him swore that be should not long live to enjoy 
his liberty, and that rather than he should exist in the country 
of which he had so long been the terror, they would hunt him 
down as they would a wild beast. In the mean while every on^ 
returned home, filled with the marvel of the scene which he had 
witnessed. 

Among the most astonished and dissatisfied at the result of 
the proceedings was Mustafa. When he saw Cara Bey depart 
with his limbs whole and unfettered, to all intents and purposes 
as sound in body as when at first he had been made prisoner, 
his heart sank with di^onay, and anger rose uncontrolled in hk 
breast. He now &irly set his master down as one of those 
stricken madmen, of whose recovery there is no hope. That 
the vUlain, — the wretch who would have poisoned them — ^who 
had imprisoned them under false pretences — whose death 
would have been a public benefaction, — that such a being 
should have been allowed to escape, was in his eyes a crime 
not to be psu*doBed. He would have left Osmond's service im- 
mediately, had he been able to do so; it was only the prospect 
of soon getting to Comtantinople, which he knew was their 
future desiinati(m, diat prevented him from putting his wishes 
into effect. In vain did Stasso, who blindly approved of every 
action of his master, endeavour to persuade fahn that there 



AYB8HA. 287 

muftt etisi some good reason for his conduct unknown to them; 
nothing could convince him of the propriety of suffering a 
wret^ to exist who would not foil to cut each and all of their 
throats upon the first oppoitnnity. As Osmond, however, now 
seriously talked of his approaching departure, these feelings 
were gradually absorbed in the preparations for their journey. 
T9ews having reached the camp that a large Turkish vessel 
was embarking a cargo for Constantinople at Poti, on the Black 
Sea, Osmond immediately determined to take, his passage in 
her ; and communicated his intentions to the Commander-in- 
chief, who could not but approve of them, although he would 
willingly have kept him as his guest for some time longer. A 
messenger was immediately despatched to the port, to secure 
aH the accommodation which the vessel afforded, and to delay 
her departure until he should arrive. All sorts of provisions 
were supplied to Osmond by the kindness and generosity of his 
Russian friend ; every facility was given for the conveyance of 
the women; and as the season was favourable, there was 
every chance before him of a good passage, and a happy de- 
liverance from the barbarism of the rude people among whom 
he had so long sojourned. 

Before, however, we launch him upon a new sea of troubles, 
we must say a word of the destinies of the faithful Hassan, 
who had been no uncoaoerned spectator of the result of his 
former master's seizure and enlargement. During his stav 
among the Russians, Osmond had taken care that he should be 
treated with proper attention, and now that they were about 
to part, he asked him]^in what manner he could best testify his 
gratitude to him for all the services which he had rendered. 
Our hero having well replenished his purse through the means 
of an Armenian merchant, who attended the army, and who 
bad freely given him money in virtue of his letters of credit, 
thought that one of the modes by which he could best show his 
gratitude to Hassan was, to make him a large present in money. 
But, strange to say, although he was really a lover of money, 
(and what Asiatic is not P) still it was not of money acquired 
in this way that he was fond ; but money attained after a mode 
of his ovm — in short, he was a KArd and a freebooter. He, 
therefore, rejected Osmond's offer with all humility, and only 
asked one favour, which was, that he might receive an order 



<S8 AYESHA. 

from the Russian Commander-iii-chief to be allowed free access 
to Cara Bey's castle, and that be might be allowed to carry 
away with him whatever he chose. Osmond did not care to 
investigate too closely what that might be, for he naturally con- 
cluded that, to those who knew where to seek, much money 
must be there secreted, and, for aught he knew, Hassan might 
be as well entitled to it as any one else. He therefore procured 
for him, not only the desired order, but the strongest recom- 
mendations in his favour, which would secure him protection 
and security from the present possessors of the castle. He en- 
treated Hassan to let him know, through Mustafa, where he 
might be found, in case it should be in his power to serve him 
more essentially; and, with mutual protestations of friendship, 
Osmond saw him depart, full of hope that his future existence 
would be crossed by fewer vicissitudes of life than usually fall 
to the share of an Asiatic in his circumstances. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

J'ai ool dire a des vieux capitaines (Turcs, qa'il j a 1500 batimens snr la 
Mer Noire, et que tons les ans ils'en perd cent.— • Foya^e flTeCHARDiN, t. i. 
p. 100. 

' In order to reach Poti, and the shores of the Black Sea, it 
was necessary to take the circuitous route by Teflis, whence 
there was a road practicable for horses only. As far as Teflis, 
carriages might be used, though with difficulty; and as the 
warm-hearted Commander-in-chief was anxious to see Lord 
Osmond depart with every honour and attention which it was 
in his power to show him, he insisted upon his friend making 
use of his carriages as far as they could be of any service to him. 
Osmond, with every expression of gratitude, declined any con- 
veyance but that of horseback for himself, but willingly ac- 
cepted of a carriage for the use of Ayesha.and her mother, 



who would be happy to bfe saved any part of the fatigue of the 
long jotirtiey before them. 

The day being fixed for departure, Ostfiond, Math the 
greatest regret, left the camp, whefe he had iriet with so much 
ho^itllity^ siccioimpamei) by the G^b^^rsit and h» SiiHU. Th«fir 
parting was that of attsiched fHendd; he left k reputation 
behind him in every way honour^ible to himself and his nation, 
whilst he cartied away With liim etn impression of th^ exceltence 
and urbanity tft thoi^ with Whom he had had thfe good fortt^tie 
to bec<mie thu$ ac^uaiated. Ivanovitch had detained perntii^ 
sion to aeeompany his friend to the plac€f of embarkatipin, slM 
was pfaocfd in command of tke 9maH detachment of troopd, 
without which it was daltigerouj^ t<^ travel in this Wild regi6*tf^ 
atfd which wai^ U) ei^cort him as fafT as ffa^ BHa^tk Sea. Thus 
accompanied, h^ began his nliarch. Of the party th^ persons 
who were most deli^bt^, Wer^ Ay^sfaa aHfd Zafbetta. Th«(y 
had tiever even se^m a Carriage before th^ir arrival tit the camp, 
much less he^tt driven iA one', and the pleasure which they en- 
joyed in their iieW coirreyanc^ is hot 16 be deiiicribed— it was, 
that of children. This foretaste of ^ivBifzattoii was the M*dr€/ 
rrfJshed by Ayesha, because it confirmed to her Much of what 
Osmond had related of the superiorities of European o'^^lt 
Asiatic life. As for ^abdta^ dhe aitoost fo^igot Hi^ schemes of 
atiibirion WIfb whi(^h Ca^a' B^y fcadf so* lat^y bh^yed h^ up, in 
the ^ignittied Which i^ho ItnagiM^d had been conferred t^pon h^r 
by being thus eleVat^ M do enviable a poi^ition. No Pasha's 
Wffe that she heA eV^ heafrcF of, x^s ev^ m hon6tt^ed-^5he 
^^bted whether di^y 6( thi^ t^yafl siiKtoa^ thetni^dFves coultf 
d6iftfiniand su^h tt carriage. Sh^ h^sinf to regret that she wai^ 
dh^d to abali^h' fhe ft^si^tti^, th^ir dquip^^ei^^ ' ^i &e!r 
h^ndsotfite 6!fic^, for ih6' unc^rtaiit^ ^roispeets held out M 
h^t by h^r perfid'fcyds ^rteer in i^riita^^nh Dhring the vi^oW 
of flte road to t^ii^ sfi^ Ad Mi c^ase to dwell npon her pr6- 
s^Vril bappinei^s; a^d Whi^ ^h^ r^dched^ that dty, Which was 
mw grafdnaliy losinj** the dhara<6t^r of aft ^aSflerii towii ; oM^irij^ 
to Ctie Europeali arty dnd cMlis^ation Which ltd preseiit riilen^ 
Wi^r^ dsuty intr<^iln^in^ hito'it, ih& sh^W6d stiU more thstt her 
4^f@ (br Franl^ predoVrnik^ted 6V^ fh^t for the Ibiig^-^roUed, 
i^u^-l!»ieardied M^Hid^dans. 

19 



293 AYESHA^ 

They tarried but a short while at Teflis, giving themselves 
time only to lay in the comforts and provisions which are es- 
sential on board aTurkish vessel/ and then resumed their 
journey* The women, leaving their carriage with regret^ 
were mounted on horses. For several days they travelled over 
a mountainous and thickly-wooded country, difficult of access, 
and inhabited by a thinly-scattered population, whose wild and 
lawless habits were with difficulty kept in check by all the ri- 
gour of Russian military rule. At length, after many a dange- 
rous descent and many a wearisome ascent, from a command- 
ing height they caught the first view of the sea. The Black 
Sea, or, as the Turks call it, the Kara Dengiz, lay before 
them — that sea, so famous among Asiatics for its terrors and 
its storms, and which none of the present party (excepting 
those who really knew what a ship properly managed might 
encounter) could behold without involuntary tremor. 

^^Akh! exclaimed Mustafa, as he wrapped himself close 
with his fur pelisse; "there is the seal Where are the post- 
horses and the post-houses, and where this odious water ? Per- 
dition take its father and mother T 

''There it is at last,'* exclaimed Stasso; ''may the evil one 
takeitr; 

Ayesha viewed it with unmixed delight. Its vastncss in-^ 
fused a new light into her mind; and when she was told of its 
terrors, she only cast a look towards her lover, and thought to- 
herself — ' Be he but near me, and I can fear nothing.' 

To Zabetta's mind it brought nothing but bitter recol- 
lections, and she sighed in silence as she cast her eyes 
over it; but to Osmond it gave the greatest pleasure. From 
its shores Jie reflected that he might make his way at once 
to those of his own land. By a natural transition, his mind 
all at once was led to think upon the dear parents and 
friends from whom he had so long been absent, and who per- 
haps, ere this, had given him up for lost. His whole frame 
thrilled with joy when he thought that he was now in a fair 
way of returning to them. The nav^ation of the Black Sea 
once overcome, in the course of a short time hei would be 
again in England. Those only who have been long absent 
from it, among barbarians and Mahomedans, can truly coa-^ 



AYESHA. 291 

ceive the delicious feeling of happiness which the prospect of a 
return to it creates ! ^ 

The small Russian fort of Poti is situated at the mouth of 
the ancient Phasis, called Rione by the people of the country, 
a river which, taking its source in the mountains of the Cauca- 
■sus, is navigable nearly up to Cotatis, in Immeretia. A small 
village is situated near the fort, consisting of a few wretched 
houses, and inhabited by poor and destitute inhabitants. It 
was well, therefore, that our travellers were provided with 
comforts at Teflis ; here they found none. Osmond established 
his quarters within the fort, whilst the best house in the vil- 
lage was taken for the accommodation of the women. His 
first object on his arrival was to inspect the vessel which was 
to convey him and his suite to Constantinople ; she lay at the 
mouth of the river, with two anchors thrown out ahead, and 
two astern. Osmond, on first hearing of her, had conceived 
that she might be one of those extraordinary, ancient, classical- 
looking barks, seen in such numbers on the Rosphorus, with a 
high circular prow and a high circular stern richly decorated 
with tassels and fringes, carrying one low mast on the prow, 
and an immeasurable boom appended to it : which altogether, 
he recollected, looked perilous machines wherewith to encoun- 
ter the capricious and boisterous Euxine. Luckily, however, 
the bark in question, which was called a saique, was square- 
rigged, and had two masts and a bowsprit. She could hoist 
two sails upon each, and one on the bowsprit ; occasionally she 
could also display a trinquetto over the mainsail, but the usual 
practice is only to hoist one sail on either mast. The masts 
were secured by backstays, but were without shrouds, the only 
method of ascending being by a small ladder up the sides. 
There were two cabins astern, one of which was occupied by 
Osmond, the other by Ayesha, her mother, and Mariam. Of 
the cabins constructed on the forecastle, one was made over to 
Stasso and Mustafa, and the remainder were taken up by pas- 
sengers. On the poop, close to the mizen, was erected a small 
wooden kiosk, duly carpeted and cushioned, which was the pe- 
culiar property of the Reis, or captain. What we call a quar- 
ter-gallery, was a sort of circular cage, which hooked on at 
pleasure on any exterior part of tiie ship. Altogether she was 
.as rude a specimen of a vessel as could be seen in modern 

19 "» 



292 AYESHA. 

times, and the only wonder was how she ever got where she 
now floated. 

The first day passed away in making preparations for depar- 
ture. The cahins were swept out, and spread with carpets. 
All the materials for cooking were taken on board ; for in a 
Turkish vessel every one carries his own. Many passengers 
had already established themselves on the deck, and, from aH 
appearances, their numbers would be great, besides an abim- 
dant cargo. Osmond was anxious n^ to be detained, but be 
had tONdo with men to whom the meaning of the word» * being 
in a hutry^ was unknown; and during the whole course of bis 
journey he perhaps had never been so much called upon for 
the exercise of his patience as he was here. The only answer 
which he could ever obtain from the captain was, " Yava/sk, 
yavash — slowly, slow," or ^^ Bakalum — we shaH see!" or 
** Inshaltah — if it pleases God !" He was an old weather- 
beaten personage, with red cheeks land a white beard, whose 
fegs had grown quite arched from being constantly seated 
tailor-like on the deck, and whose eye had sunk deep into his 
head from gazing at the weather. Though Osmond insisted 
liiat the wtttd was now as fair as it could blow, all the answer 
he got was, '' Let us see how it will he te-morrow." With 
such a person all that could be done was to adopt tiie Persi^il's 
philosophy— to spread the carpet of hdpe, and tie stnofee the 
pipe of expectation. 

We have already said that Zabetta and Ayesba mbabited a 
house in the village. It was situated almost immediately inpM 
the banks of the Phasis. The windows of the room which ^y 
occupied, looked npon the broad stream as it flowed past* in 
tranquil majesty. The day had closed, darkness had come on, 
when the rising moon Kghted up in slow gradation the various 
objects which formed the Surrounding scenery, hs priiieipal 
beauties consisted of several small islets, situated iU: theeenfre 
of the stream, diversified by wood; on the summit of the brgesl 
were seen the remains of au old Turkish fortress, built by Sal- 
tan MArat, whose broken turrets and cmtiAling waHs reared 
their rnd^ outKues in the most j^icfureSque^ form amidst the ranfe 
vegetation. At intervals might be heaird' the wild and harmo^ 
nious song of the sailofs^ On board some distant ship beaviiig 
tt^ dtichor ; and tfirM, combirferf \^t& the soft an* evet^-refoirn^ 



AYESHA. 293 

ing fall of the sufge on the beach, produced sounds which, per- 
haps, are to be heard only ia the still calm nights peculiar to 
the Levant. 

Ayesha had taken her seat at the open lattice, enjoying the 
beauty of the night, and, among other thoughts and specula- 
tions, doubting whether the stillness of the sea, which she saw 
before her quiet as a lake, brilliant as a mirror, could ever be 
so disturbed as to create the danger which she had been told 
was so frequently experienced* The image of the moon was 
reflected in a thousand little silvery agitated streaks down to 
the very margin of the river near her window. On a sudden 
slio perceived a man issue from the darkness into the moonlight. 
He stood for a minute on a small wooden pier which jutted 
into tlie river, with his eyes fixed on the shipping in the road- 
stead; and when his figure was thus brought out in strong 
relief, he presented the outline of a powerful man, with broad 
shoulders, bis head rather stooping on his breast, and inclin-r 
ing to corpulency. Ayesha^s cheek blanched as she looked at 
him, for she thought she had seen his form befoi^e. And indeed 
she was not mistaken, for when he turned round and walked 
a few steps towards her, she vehemently closed the lattice, and 
screamed out in terror, '^ Ahi, Cara Bey I" 

^' What say you?^' exclaimed 2iabetta, who was seated at the 
other end of the room; ''are you mad, Ayesha?'' 

'' It is he, I declare/* exclaimed Ayeshay highly agitated and 
trembling with fear ; '^ it can be none else.'* 

^' It is impossible; let me see," said Zabetta : when^ opening 
the window, looking out, and seeing no one, she added, '' you 
BAtist be mad, there is nodiing here." 

'' I am sure it was be," said Ayesha ; '' let us send to Osman 
Agia,"— so she called Osmond. 

'' Nonsense, child," said her mother^ '' we shall only ereate 
an atarm for nothing. Let us go to bed. To-morrow, please 
Allah! we set sail." 

But k required some time to pacify the maiden^ in whose 
Wfeind the reeollection of all that she had suffered at the hands 
of Ike woMSter, produced a return of u acontvdlable fear« They 
•al and listened with anxiety. Every sound alarmed the daiigfa^ 
ter, and evidently disquieted the mother, until at length, notlnng 



294 AYESHA. 

more being heard, they retired to their beds. Ayesha soon 
after fell into a profound sleep, but Zabetta remained on the 
watch : she apprehended, in fact, that it might be Cara Bey. 
How he was ever to reach Constantinople at the same time 
with herself, had been to her a difficulty which she could not 
solve; but now her eyes were opened. She watched for a 
long time — midnight had struck — an hour or two still passed 
on, — all was silent, — she was about yielding to overpowering 
sleep, when she heard a sHght tap at her window. She listened 
with all her senses awake, as she sat upright in her bed; — she 
then distinguished a second and louper tap. With beating 
heart, she softly rose, and on tiptoe stole to the window and 
opened the lattice. There indeed she saw Cara Bey in person 
standing close below it. The moon shone bright upon her, and 
he recognised her.'* "Zabetta," said he in a low voice, "give 
ear. When you reach Constantinople, mind you assert that 
you are a Turkish woman, and your daughter a Turkish girl; 
much depends on that. You have been to a Christian church, 
I know that : be no longer a fool, but recollect my words : now 
go." Upon this, putting up his hand to his mouth in token of 
silence, he disappeared. 

Zabetta returned to bed, but not to sleep. She pondered 
all the night through upon what she had seen and heard, and, 
when the day broke, she was still absorbed in thought. Ayesha 
arose refreshed, and having heard no more of the apparition 
which had alarmed her, allowed it no longer to disturb her 
thoughts. 

With the morning came the bustle of departure. A mes- 
senger had been sent to them with injunctions to be ready for 
immediate embarkadon. The wind was fair, the anchor was 
heaving. Boats were seen plying to and fro. Most of the 
vessels in port were about setting sail. Every one appeared 
to be visited with unusual fits of activity, and the whole scene 
was full of animation. A boat was despatched to take the 
women, and returned for Osmond and his attendants. Iva- 
novitch stood on the beach to see his friend embark. They 
took a tender farewell of each other, and sincerely hoped that 
by some lucky accident (an event not at all unlikely), they 
might be again thrown together. As Osmond stepped on the 



AYESHA. 205 

tleck of the saique, the anchor was tripped, the sails were given 
to the wind, and the bark glided smoothly on into the bosoiti 
of the deep. 

Osmond, although dressed as a Turk, and looking in every 
respeet like one, was known lo be a Frank; for, having. embark- 
ed with all the honours and attentions that could be shown b^ 
the small garrison of Russians at Poti, he could not have con- 
cealed his being an European even if he had .wished it. The 
"women passed off as Christians, and were known to be under 
his protection. The other passengers consisted of a Turkish 
trader in slaves, who was carrying an assortment of six women 
and two men, whom he had gathered along the coast ( con- 
sisting of one Circassian, two Mingrelians, three Abkasians, and 
two Immeretians, all known under the general name of Cir- 
cassians ) ; of several Jews, and of a large company of Arme- 
nians. There were also many Turkish merchants, and one 
who had his harem on board, returning from Caffa. The prin- 
cipal cargo of the vessel was salt, taken m at Douzlii, or the salt* 
works, about fifty miles south-east from Caffa; the remainder 
consisted of wax, honey, and different sorts of skins, particu- 
larly those of the jackal, which are some of the few articles that 
the inhabitants of Mingpelia, and the other parts of Grcassia, 
have to barter against the merchandize brought from Constan- 
tinople. The decks of the saique were greatly incumbered, 
not only with the numerous company, but with all their diffe^ 
rent articles of necessity — their beds, kitchen-utensils, and pro- 
visions, comprising both live and deadstock. She was worked 
by thirty sailors, and, all together, there might be abo^t one 
hundred souls on board. 

Osmond having made evety arrangem^t for securing such 
comforts to Ayesha and her mother as the rude nature of the 
accommodations on board would admit, and having formed, a 
tolerable estimate of the utter incapability of their vessel to re- 
sist a gale of wind in case it should be their misfortune to be 
overtaken by one, was anxious to ascertain the extent of their 
captain's acquirements in the science of navigation. He saw a 
compass, it is true, but nothing else*-*-no charts, no hour-glass, 
no log-line. He stepped up to the old Reis just after he had 
finished his evening prayer in his little kiosk, and the following 
conversation ensued. 



id6 AYESHA. 

'• Ogho%r altah!—eL good p^ssagp tp ypu, Qimr Reis," (for 
that "^as tlus capt^i^'isi uaine), said O^mon^, ^qc^^ting him with 
the frank familiarity of manner which is most like)y tp win a 
sailqrV he^rt. 

" May Allah giv^ m $i^ce§s, frjepd !" *a*w«r€d th^ ol4 map : 
'' please Heaven, we shall get oi|^eU/' 

<' Inshallah l" answered Osm^d. 

*' Inshallah I" repeated the Rei^, 

" Are we likely to have a gQpd p^^age ?" ipqpired Osipopd, 

"What call I say?" answered the pther. Kismet !-^{^iel 
we are in God'^ bands ! Tbe wiiid is fair ; ple$^ Qod it will last/' 

" Whither are you steering now?" inquired Osmoiid, find- 
iBg that they were nearly out of sight of land. 

" To Sinope, Inshallal) I" said the old mau,.e^teiidiiig bi^ b^pd 
ri^t a-head. 

" By i?vhat "poiut are you steerittg ?" 

" By what po»E^t!" ift^ui^d Qwar; " what dp I l^^w? jby 
the way I Jiave idways gowe. Dofl't I kppw )that there lies Tres- 
biflOAd?" pointing with bis lieft bftud on the J^irbo^d bew; 
^^ and don't I know that Cafi^ is tJbei^e ?" pointing with his rigl^t 
hand. " Besides, have I not gpt nay cpinpaps?^' 

'* Ah, the compass ! do yoju ev^r steer by <3pinp^^ ?" Si?i4 
Osmond. 

" EvaUah i — to he sure I" said the pld man iu grea^ ei^^V 
tation, expecting to surprise \he Frank by bis knowledge ; tbiep, 
calling fpr the compass, which was kept i^ % square bi>^A \^ 
placed it before them, and pointed to the fileur-rd^-lis tm the 
index^ " There, tJhat is noi^th ; here is sputb : on tim ^\^ i^ 
east, and on that, west. This is the direction (^ th^ b)c^$^d 
Meeca. We— praise be tp the PrppfeeU— >*ye Hnow wany 
thingsl" 

^* But bave you no chart ?'* 

^- We have no chart," said ^e old maw- 

" Then what is the u3e d a compass ?" repU^d Osmond- 

" Of what use is it I" said Oma^ " I ba,ye always done very 
w^ll without a chart: my father did very w#ll before rm ; and 
my grandfather before him* After that, what can yo^ w^t 
more? Give n^e ooly win4 — I wttnt noting more; after all, 
that is the father and motfi^ of saijpri^; cbar^ lire bosk — IK^ 
thing!" 



A¥£gUA. 297 

" |Jut w0r^yQM to w^t with a ybr^Mw — n tempest, what 
would you do then ? Yp|i ought to know wbor^ you are." 

'' InshalUh !" ^aid the ^eis with a mgh^ '^ we »l|aU haY« no 
fortuna ! Allah buyiik der /—God is great I" 
. '' Are tbp gal^n violent in thi^ sea ?" ad^^ O^moad. 

'' What can I £ray ?" i^id Omar, evidently wishing to waive 
the subject, puUipg bi^ jaol^et over his breast, and looking 
i^jserable at the vei*y tboygbt. ^^{psballab I we 9hall have no 
gale I ^llah keriv^ der ! — God i^ merciful l" he repeated 
several times with great . serioHsiie^Sf at the same time 
^baking hi^ head apd throwing up. bis eyes to heaven. '^ In- 
sballab \ fortuna yoh /— we^baU bave no tempett!" 

^Mnshallahl" repeated. Osmond, and walked away fuUy 
ji^is^ed that Imhalfah^ f^llafi, kerim^ ^i the fleur-de-lis on 
the compasip, was about the only ^K^ieuee to which they bed io 
tryst in case they should meet with bad weather, However, 
it served perfectly, as good luck would have it, to coiiduet 
them tq Siuope* where the ^aique wa$ to touch i^ order to take 
iu an additional stopk q( passengers and more merebandis^e. 

Alt the passengers, tbe merobaut audhis slaves <^eepied, 

immediately lauded to obtain a transient relief from the miseries 
of ^hipbpardf Aifupug the rest, Qsmoud alsqU»4ed, to visit 
the birtb^plaqe of Diogewesi but left Ayesba and her motJker 
pu bof^rd, fiiviftg ^irectipufi tb^ tbey ^bould sbow tbem«elve$as 
lUUe as possible, in order not to attract fUtentipa. The wind 
cputiftuipg fg^ir, Omar Reis, with more alacrity than be bad 
hitbeilp exhibited, hastened again to setf^il; M wbat was 
the disovay of every oqe on board to fiud tbaMbey 'were to 
eiipibark at least 6fty additipual pa^engers, the prioqipfil part pf 
wbpm opiKsi^ited of % bq^iruk, or flag of jani^a!ries9 with their 
conwauder. This pai'ty entirely overspread the decks and 
seareely left any ropw fpar worWug the vesi^elf TbePw^ ^i^bed 
very much tp dislodge Qi^mP^ from bis berth, m order to dis- 
pose of it to some great per^ouage who was e^pe^d ;, but to 
this Qur herp would by uo mean^ agree. The Turk^ epttceiy- 
ing that be m^t )or4 H over the giaeui^ at hip pleasure, 
i^vldbave takeia forcible posse^io^ of QsmpudV eabiu, had 
not \t» owuei'i with Sim$o and Mustafa at bia sidet stout^ 
opposed tbe innovation, au4 exhiUted ij»iich fierce determil^tiou 



«08 AYESHA. 

to resist, that the great man's quarters were prepared with 
reluctance in some less eligible place. 

The vessel was already under weigh, when the expected 
personage was lifted on board. By the large turban on his 
head, he was apparently a man of the law, but so enveloped 
in shawls and pelisses, evidently made up to discharge all the 
duties of sea-sickness, that his face could not be seen. When 
deposited on his carpet, which had been spread in a snug 
corner on the deck, having his little court of attendants about 
him, he listlessly called for the eternal chibouque, and then 
uncovering his face, to the great discomposure of Osmond, 
exhibited the severe and repulsive countenance of the Mufti 
ofKars. 

This encounter was in every way disagreeable, and fore- 
boded no good toOsmond, particularly as they were likely again 
to be brought into contact in disputing the possession of the 
cabin. Putting, however, the best face he could upon this 
feature of his adventures, and feeling himself the more secure 
from molestation the nearer he approached Constantinople, 
Osmond conducted himself as if he were unconscious of the 
presence of his former enemy. The Mufti, who had a keen 
and observant eye, was not slow in recognising him; but, as he 
was not possessed of much nerve when in power, he found 
himself much less vigorous now that he was out of it ; and 
recollecting the personal prowess which Osmond had ex- 
hibited at KarS) he for the present said nothing, keeping to him- 
self the discovery which he had made. This worthy was now 
on his way from Kars to the capital on business connected 
with his office, and, as it was said, to give an account of the 
state of the frontier on the Persian and Russian side of the 
empire, which was deemed necessary after the recent events 
by which it had been disturbed. Whatever his energies might 
be, they were soon extinguished when the vessel was fairly 
at sea ; for, having given himself up to fate and squeamishnes^ 
he rolled himself up in his pelisses, and endeavoured to forget 
his miseries by remaining in a state of total inaction. 

The first day after their departure from Sinope proved fine. 
The Reis kept his vessel as close to the shore as possible, and 
cared for little else to direct his course, the headlands standiPS 



AYESHA. 199 

him in lieu of all the science of navigation. In proportion as 
they approached the moijith of the Bospborus, increased the 
spirits of those who were well enough to enjoy themselves. 

Osmond now in good earnest began to hope that he might 
soon be restored to civilized life. He did not cease to form 
schemes in his mind for making Ayesha his own ; and although 
he indulged himself in conversing with her but little during 
the passage, still he did not pass an hour without reflecting 
upon her conduct ever since he had first known her. It had 
been in every way so superior to anything which could have 
been expected from one brought up as she had been, that, in 
addition to the ardent love with which her beauty had inspired 
him, he felt for her the highest respect and esteem. Again 
and again did he revert to the trinkets, the coin, and the hand- 
kerchief, as corroborative of her mother's mysterious conduct; 
and again did he determine, the moment he should reach Con- 
stantinople, to set every investigation on foot to discover what 
might be her real origin. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Boatswain. —^Kere, master: what cheer? 

Master. — Good : speak to the mariners : fall to't yarely^ or we mn ourselves 
a-groand : bestir, bestir I — Tempest, 

The second day after the departure of the saique from St« 
nope, the wind began to die away, and towards the evening it 
had fallen entirely, and a dead calm ensued. The vessel did 
not answer her helm, and rolled about most- fearfully, very 
much to the discomfort of all on board. Who that has ever 
seen a company of sick Asiatics, but must confess the sight to 
be infinitely more deplorable than a similar exhibition of sick 
Europeans ! Their beards and flowing robes, their large head- 
dresses, their listless habits, however picturesque they may be, 
are but ill calculated for meeting the thousand ills attendant 



SOO AYESHA. 

upon a sea life. The Mufti presented a picture af geuutne 
misery ; often did he sigh for the soft cushions and the com- 
forts of his house, when, at every dip which the vessel made, 
he perceived the waves curling up towards him, as if they 
would swallow him up, turban and all. The janissaries, armed 
to the teeth, so full of swagger and audacity on shore, were 
here reduced, to make use of a sailor's simile, to the consis* 
teney of so many wet swabs. The poor Grc^ssian slaves 
sighed when they thought upon the wild mounlaitts wbicb they 
had left ; and we willingly draw a veil over the Biiaeries en- 
dui'ed by the gentle Ayesha and her intriguing mother. Mus- 
tapha was only kept from annihilation by the visions which 
occasionally floated in his mind, of the luxuries awaiting him 
at the gate of the ambassadorial residence at Constantinople, 
varied by reflections on postnhorses and post-4iouae9 ; VfhM 
Stasso, who proved one of the stoutest, and was the least in- 
commoded of the party, only thought how he might be of the 
best use to his master. 

Osmond had observed with much anxiety symptoms of a 
change of wind : the weather was sultry ; he remarked a bank 
of clouds gathering to the south-west, the precise direction of 
their course ; the sun, as it descended below the horizon, ap- 
peared heavy and ominous, and there was altogether a general 
sensation of approaching storm. He looked. about for the 
Rcis, to discover by his looks (the best barometer to consult, 
for there was no other on board) what might be his feelings on 
the occasion, and he perceived him quietly counting his beads 
after his evening prayer, per4>hed up in his little cage, aaif all 
was going on well. 

" What do you think of the weather^?" said Osmond, step- 
ping up to hin. 

^* GuzeKk^-^gooAf preAty good,'' answered the ^Id man. 

*< Our wind is giMM,'' remarked Osmond. 

^^ What can <we do P" said tl^e Reis, with reftignatkm : " it 
wtlt come again.^ 

'^ DoqH you think U will eame a-beadi ?'' enquired Osipwd : 
'' It looks Jbrk yonder.'' 

'* Let it come," answered the other, >^ we can always run 
back to Sittope." 

^ But see, it is come I Why dos't you brace op your yavdsP'' 



<e> 



AYESHA. 301 

^' B&kalum ! — we shall see 1^' said the other, totally un- 
coneei^iied. " Allah kerim der ! — God is merciful TV 

By this time the vessel had drifted towards the shore^ hav- 
ing felt ^e inflnenoe of the current which runs in the direction 
of the Bosphorus. Darkness increased to the south-west ; a 
black cloud, portending ah immediate squall, was occasionally 
figbled up by slight indications of lightning, and very distant 
thunder was heard : still, old Omar sat cros»-legged on his 
carpet, with two or three of his friends, smoking bis pipe^ 
waiting for bis evening meal, and ejaculating ever and anon, 
'' Praises be to the Prophet I All will be well, please Allah r 

Osmond could scarcely control the risings of his temper ; 
he saw the coming squall — be thought be could perceive the 
agitation of the sea under the margin of the cloud ; and whea 
the approaching crisis could no longer be doubted^ he made 
bis way hastily to tbe captain, who, with his hand ia the dish, 
was quietly ruminatmg a previoiis mouthful of rice, and imr 
plored him to lower his sa'ds immediately, er else be would 
soon have none left. 

*^ Y(m(x^hj y(W€Bsh ! ^' — slowly, slow I" mumbled out the old 
man» with appar^it unoonieern : — ^^ Bir chey yok — there is 
nothing; k^rkmu — fear not." 

He bad n» soover said thi»y than ikte wbole violence of the 
sfoall took tbe vessel on her beam, the sea whitening with 
foam and throwing her very considerably on^ her side. This 
eircumstance, accompsmied as il was by a most vivid flash of 
Kgbt^mg and an awiul dap o<f thunder, sooii produced a total 
dMM^e in the apathy of tbe Reis and his sailors^ and a visible 
sen^aliKni among the passengers. Omar, jumping up from his 
carpet, left bis pillau ta the mercy of tbe windi, and ordered 
bis sails ta be ioweredL This was not so easily done, for, tbe 
wind having taken them, they were now flapping about, making 
a tremendous nmsev andftying mi in ev^ry direetkinr without 
^dntr«^L 

As night came on, the violence of the storm increased, and 
iSab criesrand shouts of the sailoirsi inereased wiUr it ; bis ulual on 
iliieh oecasioM^ all wev& commanders, audi iJraoe obeyed. — 
Wrong^ ropes were hauled, ordcir and couratf^r^oifdet instantly 
succeeded each other — no one listened — the poor old captaia 
invaiD afftempted' ti^ mak^ binlsetf heard; eirew, passengers. 



noi AYE8HA: 

janissaries, muft^ all were vociferatiog at once. Every man had 
got on deck, the women alone were kept to their cabins — 
thunder and lightning succeeded each other in awful grandeur. 
Osmond had taken his stand close to the aperture of the cabin 
of his Ayesha, who, protruding her hand, had quietly placed it 
in his, thus instituting a channel of communication between 
their hearts, he encouraging her occasionally by a word of 
consolation, she showing her fortitude and confidence in him 
by her silence. A knot of men, sailors as well as passengers, 
were collected on the forecastle, with upturned faces, watching 
the aspect of the sky ; when all at once a most vivid flash darted 
down from the cloud, and enveloped them for an instant in one 
imihiense blaze of apparently liquid fire; every object on deck 
was brought to light with as much precision as in the broadest 
day. Osmond was all at once struck as if the electric shock 
had overtaken him, by seeing in the crowd the face of a man 
whose features were so indelibly fixed on his mind that he could 
never mistake them; to call it the face of a demon, would im- 
mediately discover to whom it belonged — it was, in fact, the 
face of Gara Bey himself. Osmond involuntarily dropped his 
mistresses hand the moment this vision appeared, so strong was 
the effect which it produced upOn him. Ayesha then for the 
first time ventured to open her lips, and, alarmed by his sudden 
action, said, ^^ Osman I tell me, in the name of Allah I what has 
happened?" — "Nothing, nothing," answered her lover quickly, 
still looking intently through the almost impenetrable darkness 
which had succeeded, in the hojpe of being able to make out the 
person of the monster. He could see nothing more for some 
time, but kept his eyes fixed in the direction where he had first 
beheld him, until, Stasso coming up, he inquired with an 
anxious voice whether he had remarked Cara Bey among the 
passengers. 

^^ Cara Bey ! " exclaimed the ardent Greek in a tone of great 
astonishment, " Ti diavolo ! what makes you think of him, 
Effendi!" 

" I have seen him," said his master, '^ of that I am quite 
sure; go -a-head, look among the people on the forecastle, and 
tell me whether he be not one of them; go with caution, and 
say nothing." 

Stasso did as he was directed, and in a short time discovered 



AYESHA. '^ 303 

Cara Bey seated i)ehind one of the small guns which the saique 
carried in her bows, crouched low on the deck as if afraid 
of being seen, with his tasseled turban well drawn over his 
eyes. — " The dog is there, sure enough," said Stasso ; " what 
shall we do with him, Effendi?" 

" What can we do but bear his presence as well as we can ?" 
said Osmond, evidently much discomposed by the discovery. 
" Say nothing to him — leave him to himself — we can have no 
more to do with him — the world's surface is free to him as well 
as ourselves?" 

'' But," said Stasso, who was not at all willing to let the 
wretch escape so easily — " but, EfFendi, cannot we throw 
him overboard ? what is to hinder us ?" 

" Softly, Stasso," said Osmond, " in God's name, be cau- 
tious ; we are, here, Franks among Mahomedans, — giaours, as 
they call us, among true believers. If you talk of throwing 
people overboard, see that it be not our turn first. Go — be 
quiet — say nothing ; — we shall soon be at the end of our 
voyage, and then all will be forgotten." 

By this time the weather had developed itself in a complete 
storm ; it had set in with a squall, and was increasing to a gale. 
The old Reis did his best to manage his bark, but with her high 
stern and her scanty sails she was so difficult to navigate, that 
she lay at the mercy of the waves during the whole night. He 
would have run back to Sinope, but he required daylight to 
tell him where he was ; for the land could not be seen ; the 
stars were obscured by the darkness of the night, and he had no 
powers of mind left to puzzle out what to him were the intri- 
cacies of the compass. Osmond would willingly have helped 
him, but he would accept of no assistance, delighted to have . 
hit upon a good reason for procrastination, by saying, '' Let us 
wait till the mormng." 

When the morning began to dawn, the gale still blew vio- 
lently, and all hands on board were anxiously waiting to know 
what steps were to be taken, when a circumstance occurred 
"which for a while took off their attention from the uncertainty 
of their situation. 

St£^so, after the discovery which he had made, having quitted 
his master, sat down by bis companion Mustafa, to whom, of 
course, he communicated the unpleasant intelligence. He 



304 AYESHA. 

would wiDingly have kept it (o himself) according to his mas- 
ter's dirdetions, but could not, so violently was he agitated, and 
so impelled by passion to assault the wretch. Mustafa, as 
may b^ supposed, caught the whole of Stasso^s violence, al- 
though it was much tempered by fear ; he would Willingly 
have lent his hand to throw Cara Bey Overboard, bat felt that 
there were consequences attendant upon such an enterprise 
which might not suit his own safety, t'bey did not cease talk- 
ing over this circumstance^ and connecting it With knottier-— 
that of meeting with their old enemy of Kars, the Mtrfti : they 
agreed that they must surely havef sailed under the aspect of 
some evil star, or at some unluc^ky honr, or before the £ippointed 
time for sailing — that is, before the festival 6t St. Geotgiof, 
among the Greeks —* to hav6 been thus persecuted by ill-fortune. 
As the day began to dawn, observfng the gale to be unfabated 
in violence, Mustafa, who cherished all Asiatic superstitioni^, 
was at once struck with the eonvictiott thd^ Ibi:^ change 6f ttitid 
and Ibis sudden turn of htck Inu^t proceed froitt the presencd 
of some ill-fated man on board — sOme JOnas, who, in persofr, 
ruled the fortunes of the wholes bark. " Whd," thought he, 
'' con this be^ but that Yeisidi, that soA of the eVit ohe, that 
dtxttbn of wickedness, Cara Bey ?* 

He sdioa comnhtidicated this tbotight to the offii6er cottittianfd- 
ing the janissaries, with whom be hsfd struck up' a friendship, 
who, whett he heaird that there i^as st Yezidi* dA boaird', im^ 
mediately concluded with Musfalk tha^ all th^ ttiisch^f h»ii beeti 
caused by his presence ^ mtd ^ee'mg the gale i^tilf bopetessiy 
violent, ftbey^ in tfaeit unified wisd^ttiv tboti^bf thatt the only Wdy 
oC seeurmg a retui^n of fine weather %a» to tbro^w th^ devo^ 
man overboard. Thk feelkig bavitig ^aine<l the vd^A§ 6f M 
janiifcssiries and the other Turks, the qUeiiikfit^ Hmddh Yietddif 
— where is the devil- worshipper ?" was soo* heard to isSfl^ 
frorm dtftreMMI moUiCfas; 

^' Tbete is^ Mtbit^ of diat so¥t Oil board {" e:&ci(lhxied OnfMfT 
Heii^ davmed M the cry ; *^ we ut^ dlt go^ tft^A ! tfedtiiiilf 
forbid it r 

^' But there is, indeed !^^ said Mustafa. 

'' Yes^," Mid Stttis^; aii^, ^eeit)^ fh^ top 6f hi^ ^ban 
jpirotvudiiig froiM behind tbef p»y e>«cl^^d, '' irhd i)!i^H itt 



AYESHA. HOft 

The unfortunate CaraBey having been thus pointed out, the 
Utentlon of every one was soon drawn upon him. 

^' I do not know this man/^ said the captain; '^how got he 
here?" 

^' He is a Kurd," said one. "He is a Yezidi,'' said another. 
**• Look at his hair." 

" Lahnet be shaitan /" exclaimed Stasso in malicious exul- 
tation ; upon which the excited Cara Bey arose, and his eyes 
glared most horribly. 

"Look at the horse-shoe on his forehead 1" cried out 'Mustafa, 
concealing his own person at the same time. Upon which 
there was a rush among the most superstitious of the Turks to 
seize him, with the intention of throwing him overboard. 
Cara Bey, seeing his danger, repelled them as they approached 
him. 

" He brings us ill-luck," says one ; " Throw hm over," said 
another ; " Kill the Yezidi 1" roared out a third. The tumult 
had now assumed a serious aspect. Every one on deck rose 
to see what was the matter. Osmond, hearing the voices of 
Stasso and Mustafa, immediately stepped forward, and perceiv- 
ing what was about to take place, made his way with violence 
among the crowd. Three or four men had now seized the 
devoted wi*etch, and were about to plunge him head foremost 
into the sea, when Osmond, who could not thus quietly stand 
by and see a fellow-creature murdered, rushed in, and with all 
his might so thrust himself between the murderers and their vic- 
tim, that, by dint of blows and violence, he succeeded in sav- 
ing him from his watery grave. Standing over him, he drew 
his yatagan, which he usually wore, and vowed that he would 
kill the first man who should venture to molest him. This 
strange interposition of a Frank in favour of a devil-worshipper 
astounded every one. Some thought their religion was the 
same; others, that they were in league with one another. 
The violence of the tumult was about to fall upon them both, 
when Stasso, although enraged at his master's interference in 
favour of Cara Bey, immediately stepped forward to his rescue, 
foUowed by the Beis, and afterwards by Mustafa : thus united, 
and making a show of resistance, they prevented any further 
attack. Osmond addressed the crowd, and by his conciliatory 
i^ords and manner succeeded in pacifying them; having in a 

20 



300 AYESHA. 

great measure persuaded them that the heavens Would contitine 
to be unpropitious, rather than turn in their favour, should 
they call down the vengeance of God upon their heads by com- 
mitting the crime of murder I 

The wind had continued very variable during the night, com- 
ing first from one point, then from another, and producing a 
most disagreeably agitated sea. As the day broke, just when 
the old Reis had managed to get his bark with the direction of 
her head for Sinope, it began to blow dead upon the shore, 
which was now s6 near that the surf could plainly be distin- 
guished breaking over a reef of rocks, the black crests of which 
showed themselves fearfully above the water. Turks have t)o 
idea of beating to windward ; they either sail with the wind right 
aft^ or not at all. The saique was not calculated for going close 
to the wind; had she attempted it, she would have made 
but little way on account of her cumbrous construction; and 
now that it became necessary, to work off a lee-shore, it was 
evident that, if the wind did not change, there was every likeli- 
hood of her being thrown on the rocks. 

Osmond saw their danger; and immediately endeavoured (o 
persuade old Omar to brace-up his yards, and to haul his ves- 
sel as close to the wind as possible. But his efforts were to no 
purpose; the Reis was quite bewildered : he and his mate saw 
their situation, and, as long as the land was still at a moderate 
distance, lived in hope of a change of wind; and what with 
"Allah kerim I" and "Allah buy^k der!" they managed to calm 
their minds, and even to smoke their pipes. But as the vessel 
approached the shore^ and the rocks and their foaming crests 
were so plainly discerned that there could be no illusion about 
their dangerous vicinity, the dreadful nature of their situation 
seemed to break upon their minds all at once, and abandoning 
the tiller, and leaving the bark to drift as the waves might di* 
rect, they began to deplore their fate in accents aot to be mis- 
understood. The doleful prospect was soon made known to 
every one, and death and all its horrors stared them in the face. 
If once the vessel ran upon the rocks towards which she was 
drifting, there was no hope for them, — every soul on board 
must perish. The Mufti^ forgetting his sickness, unrobed him- 
self of hi^^ielisBes, and, laying aside all his dignity, ran about 
the decb like one demented. The cries oi the womm were 



A¥fi8HA. 909 

li€ard, Ayeaha md Zabetia, oleptHBg fcdmiheir cabin u|»m 
hearing the difttress on de<k, aU atooee baoatne aware of <^ir 
danger. Ayesha aaUl not a word, hut, keepkig herself tHitipety 
veiled, quietly took her staod sear Osmond, who was revolving 
ia his mind what could be done to save their lives. All he 
iGOuld say to his aiistress was, ^' My Ayesha, if death is to be o«r 
fate, let us die toge&er. Stay by me, and we wiU pray to God 
for help!" Ayesha knelt dewa close to his feet in humUe ac- 
quiescence with his proposal. Zabetta, on Ihe^eontrary, htf^^a 
to bemoan hersdf in a manner truly pitiable. Many wiere the 
instances in which the resignattoa of the true belieMer xHight 
have been remarked; but many, also, in which the weakness 
of human nature got the better of every principle, and betrayed 
itself by the most uncontrollable fear. 

There was among the crew^ aOreeki a palicari, df fine fordi 
and of great activity ; Osmond had belbre remarkied bin, and 
now called him and Stasso to his ^de. HaYiBlf endeavoured, 
in the first place, to allay their fears by soothing words, heidd 
ihem, if they would coolly attend to his direetioos, and watch 
every change in the wind, much might be done towards saving 
the lives of the crew. He took chaiige himself of the tiller : he 
then got the yards sharply braced-up, hoisted dM trinquetto 
over the mainsail, and got out another sail on tfie bowsprit; 
and, keeping her as close to the wind as possiUe, he hoped that, 
if they were in the least favoured by a slant, be might weaithci* 
the rocks, behind winch, «md a protecting turn of ihe ^oast, he 
might run the bark into smooth water, and there anchor. The 
captain, the mate, the pasfiengers, were aU toe much absorbed 
in their miseries to see what steps had been taken by Osmond, 
or, if they did perceive them, to have any confidence in his en- 
deavours. Many would have taken to the only boat which be- 
longed to the saique, but, in the heavy sea which was then run- 
ning, who was bold enough to risk hiiBself ? -NotwidistandiDg 
the exertions of Osmond, every thmg promised speedy destrae- 
tk>n. The vessel made bat little way, and went most bodily to 
leeward. He, however, still kept the till^ in hand^ whilst bis 
whole attention was fixed on the sails. Stasso stood dose by 
his side, — the Palicari was at the mainfarace. I^ie hissing of the 
wat^s over the rodts was now plainly heaid; every effort seemed 
hopeless; the vessd was tossed to and fro with unc^Ksing vio- 



908 AYESKA. 

lence. The piteous, the heart-rending cries that proceeded 
from the passengers, mixed up with the howling of the storm 
and the lashing of the sea, were enough to deprive every heart 
of the spirit of exertion, and unnerve every arm; but Osmond, 
to the last, trusted that the wind might favour them, and, if ever 
so little, they would be safe. To his unspeakable delight, what 
he had expected cailie to pass. Just as the last hope had ex- 
pired, when one might have almost jumped ashore upon the 
rocks, the wind suddenly veered two or three points, and ena- 
bled the heavy bark to lay up and weather the land. 

The Reis, who was waiting with all the resignation of a true 
believer for the dissolution of his vessel and himself, seeing 
that she was gradually turning her stern to the danger, rushed 
up to Osmond, who was at the helm, and would have kissed 
his feet for joy : his exultation and his delight were quite affect- 
ing to see; he gazed upon tfae preserver of himself and his for- 
tunes as one that did not belong to earth. To show his devo- 
tion, he immediately placed himself under his orders, and exe- 
cuted with alacrity every order which he gave. In the course 
of the morning, he had the unlooked-for happiness of seeing 
his vessel in safety and at anchor. 

The friendly nook, which had thus so providentially given 
security to the vessel and saved their lives, was situated on 
the south coast of the Black Sea, not far from Elegri, a town 
occupying the site of the ancient Heraclea, or Penderaki, as it 
is most commonly called by the Greeks, and about eighty miles 
from the mouth of the Bosphorus. No sooner had the cap- 
tain and his crew secured the vessel by anchors both ahead 
and asterU) than all the passengers betook themselves to the 
shore as fast as they could. The difference between Os- 
mond's feelings and those of the Mahomedans on being saved 
was striking : he acknowledged, and felt in the highest degree, 
that the hand of Providence had mercifuHy interposed between 
them and a premature death, and his first impulse was to vent 
his gratitude in prayer and thanksgiving; the feeling of the Ma- 
homedans was a cold acquiescence in the decrees of predesti- 
nation. They all felt, more or less, unbounded delight at 
their present safety, for it is our nature to shrink from danger 
and cling to life; but the same calm resignation which would 
make the real Mussulman bend his head to the bowstring, or 



AYBSHA. S09 

see himself involved in ruin, or meet his death by shipwreck, 
woidd. also sear his heart to thelove and gratitude which the 
Christian is prompt to feel for every dispensation proceeding 
from the hand of his Maker, and make him look upon his pre* 
servation as a mere occurrence which was pre-ordained and 
predestined. 

All felt that, through Osmond's sagacity and presence of 
mind, their lives had been saved; but he received no intima- 
tion of their .thanks beyond kind expressions^ One said, 
" Aferin^ Frank ! — well done, Frank! You are a good 
man! Mashaliahl the English are good! '' Another, who had 
picked up a word or two of Italian, came up to him, and pat- 
ting him on the shoulder said ^^ Bono Ingliz /'' A third pre- 
jsented him with an apple, and holding up [his fingers, as de- 
noting a whole handful, exclaimed, '' Mashallah! — praises to 
Allah! Jack G — d d — m — bono /" This ebullition was fol- 
lowed by that of another Turk, who, coming up to Osmond^ 
looked at him for some time straight in the face, and said, as 
he shook bis head in token of astonishment,'" At gidi Ingliz — 
sen chok adam! — ^Ah,,you Englishman! — you are much of a 
map!" The chief of the janissaries invited Osmond to sit by 
liim, and offered him hi3 own pipe to smol^e, first cleaning its 
orifice with his thumb : his observations upon the late event 
took an epigrammatic turn, for, pointing to the poor Omar, 
whose prowess had certainly been far from conspicuous, he 
said, " Osmanli dxymous — Ingliz yaous ! — the Turks are 
hogs — the English clever dogs !" The Mufti did not deign to 
make the least acknowledgment, but, when the danger was 
over, wrapt himself up, as usual, in his pelisse, made up his 
face and mind to be wretched, and retreated to Ins corner. 

As for Cara Bey, his mind had been so entirely lacerated by 
his downfall, that any benefit now eonferre4 upon him, was 
like the heaping of hot burning coals upon his head. Instead 
of feeling the least gratitude to Osmond for having been the 
preserver of his life from the brutality of those who would 
Ijave thrown him into the sea, or from the horrors of ship- 
wreck, he seemed to have acquired, afresh accession of hate 
against him, and an increasing thirst for revenge. During 
the storm he remained unmoved, entirely wrapt up in the folds 
of his own diabolical miture. As soon as the vessel was at 



319 AYfiSfiil. 

anchor, k« was tke firsi to set foot od shore, and, aAer hafv- 
iBg bees heard to mutter oertaiii iilysterious threats o^ Teii- 
fgeaDce, he disafqpeared, avd never more relumed o& hoard. 

Mustafa, vIm) was always destined either to dread hh 
iftaster as a mactaian or to worsbqi him as an angri, was not^ 
absorbed in the latter exercise. His gratitude, when it was 
jreally ealled forth, was sincere. He never, indeed, could cKs- 
cover why, when there had be^i so fair an opportunity to 
gfet rid of Cara Bey, his master shouM have stepped forward 
to save the wretch — he thonght the mad fit must then have 
S^zed him; but when be recollected that, but for his endea- 
vours, his own carcass would have been food for fishes, he 
did not de^e eyeing him with looks of astonishment and ad- 
miration, sayu% to himself, ^ Wattah hillak ! — by Heavens, 
that u a good mauT 

Both he and Stasso, when they found that Cara Bey had 
tikken his leave and decamped, were sensible that they had 
smch to dread from his revenge; and although they could not 
foresee how that revenge might be accomplished, destitute and 
a Vagabond as he now appeared to be, yet they felt that they 
w^r0 exposed to meet hiin face to face, at any time, in a coun- 
try where his delinquencies were unknown, and ^ere he might 
he pr oteoted* 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Brief time hadXonrad now tu greet Gulnare, 
Few words to re-aai are tke tremMiiig fair. 

Tke Corsair. 

Tie weather having resumed its wonted serenity, and the 
wind being agam fair, Osmond persuaded Omar Reis, who 
was now grown more docile with respect to his representations, 
to put to sea. in the course of a short sail, they reached the 
entrance of the Boiqpherus^ and, very i^on aifter, the saique ati- 



€)hored ia the liiUe quiet bay of Biiyukdere, proviously to 
dropping down to ^Copstaptinople. The trai»sitioii from the 
troubled waters, the uncertainties, and particularly from the 
recent storms of the Black Sea, to the calm and security of the 
narrow channel of the Bosphorus, more like a magnificent river 
than an arm of the sea, was, to use the Persian poet's imagery. 
'^ like going to bed in the eiLecutioaer^s prison-house with a 
rope round your neck, and awaking the next morning in a 
g'&listan^ or rose-garden, with a cupbearer presenting to you a 
goblet of rosy-coloured wine.'" The dark open sea shaded by 
sombre clouds, became here, a blue and transparent water, re- 
flecting within its bosom the beautiful and refreshing scenery 
which decks the banks of this celebrated strait. From the an- 
chorage at Buyukdere might be seen that picturesque village, 
with its row of painted and ardiite^tural-fronted villas, prin- 
cipally belonging to the ambassadors of foreign powers and ta 
the rich European merchants, backed by gardens rising in ter- 
raees behind, green to the summit of the bills, and receding 
into one of the most delicious, quiot dlstribiitions of water in 
nature. This view is terminated by a prairie of the most luxu- 
riant verdure, in the centre of which is a dump of some of the 
finest plane-trees, perhs^p^s, in the world,^ conspicuous through- 
put the landscape from their immense si^e, and beautiful to look. 
at, on account of the extraordinary grace with which the foliage 
is distributed upon their wide-spreading bnanches. To this 
spot, upon holidays, resort the whole of the population of this 
and the surrounding villages, great and small, Frank and 
Asiatic, ambassador and his dependentf Greek and Armenian, 
Turk and Jew — all bent upon pleasure and festivity. 

On the other side of the strait, the shore rises into verdant 
knolls, intermixed with meadows, t^es of all size^^ from the 
poplar to the plane, exhibiting, in stealthy vistas, those low- 
roofed, painted, and gilded kiosks, so peculiar to the Tmrks ; 
and occasionally, villages, with the tapering and pioturesque 
minaret rising from the midst To row along the shore in one of 
the lovely caiques; to lose one's sdf ia the numerona charming 
little nooks wUb which it abounds: to examine each beauty as 
it rises on the sight, is a luxury known oaoily to thoae who have 
visited these unic^ and delightful scenes. 



8i2 AYEBHA. 

During the vayage in the Black Sea, Osmond had been 
solicitous to keep the women concealed as much as possible 
from observation. He was aware that difficulties might arise 
upon his arrival at Constantinople, as to their safe disposal. 
Still retaining the appearance of Mahomedan women, for they 
had not changed their mode of dress since they left Kars, it 
would be asked, how do women of the true faith happen to be 
under the protection of a giaour? They had [themselves will- 
ingly adhered to their cabin, particularly since the Mufti had 
come on board, who, had he known that they belonged to 
Suleiman Aga, his townsman, might probably have insisted 
upon their returning to Kars. It was only during the moments 
of peril which we have described, that Osmond had held any 
communication with them, when every one was too much en- 
grossed by his own situation to notice them. Now that they 
had reached their destination, Ayesha, still submissive to her 
lover's wishes, checked her curiosity to see the wonders of the 
Bosphorus ; but Zabetta was not to be so restrained ; she in- 
sisted upon coming on deck, and did not cease to examine 
with delight and astonishment the magnificence of the scene 
before her. She recollected the injunctions she had received 
from Cara Bey to declare herself to be a Mahomedan woman; 
and right well did she determine to put them into effect upon the 
first necessary opportunity- Surveying the new world which, 
like magic, had sprung up before her eyes, as the seat of her 
future greatness;.building upon the charms of her daughter as a 
stepping-stone to her ambition ; and with a full dependence 
upon the ability of Cara Bey, whose interests were now so 
identified with her own, to help her, she spurned the poor and 
insignificant prospects held out by any connexion with Osmond*^ 
and waited with anxiety for the moment 'which would release 
herself and Ayesha from his fellowship, and from the authority 
which he had hitherto exercised over them. 

The Mufti of Kars, tired with the miseries of shipboard, had 
landed at Buyukdere, and proceeded to Constantinople by land. 
Osmond would have done the same, and immediately have 
sought out his friend Wortley; but he was determined not to 
think of himself uptil Ayesha was fairly settled in a suitable 
lodging. His intentions were to convey her with the leasts 



AYESflA. 313 

possible delay to the first Christian place where they might be 
married, and then to Englsmd. How much better had it been 
for him had he landed a|; Buyukder6, and seen his friend! Upon 
such slight events, very frequently, hangs the whole of our 
earthly happiness or misery. 

The saique slowly made its way down the Bosphorus, stop- 
ping at each village on the coast, and giving its passengers every 
opportunity to examine the never-ceasing variety of its en- 
chanting scenery. At length, on the second morning after 
leaving Buyukdere, Omar Reis brought up in the canal (^posite 
to Orta Kieu, not far from its small though conspicuous 
mosque. From this point the eye might take in the whole of 
the splendid view, comprising the greatest part of the city, its 
celebrated Seraglio Point, the entrance into the harbour, or 
the Golden Horn, the suburbs of Galata and Pera, on the one 
hand, — with the town of Scutari, its magnificent scenery backed 
by the mountain of BourgourIA, on the other; whilst the open- 
ing to the Propontis, or Sea of Marmora, studded with vessels of 
all sizes and denominations, at once produced a most picturesque 
break between the conformation of the lands, and^ showed the 
termination of the Bosphorus on its northern extremity. 

Osmond could not sufficiently feast his eyes with this glo- 
rious view, however impatient he might be to deposit his lovely 
charge in a place of safety. Neither could he resist the desire of 
making Ayesha a partaker of his rapture and delight; he invited 
her therefore to take post on the deck beside him. She was well 
worthy of such a sight. Osmond watched all her emotions with 
the interest of one who tends the progress of nature from the 
^rst formation of the bud to its opening: all her observations 
were so just, and her exclamations so full of genuine feeling, that 
every time he gazed upon her and heard her speak, his convic- 
tion increased that she was not the person she appeared to be. 

As they were casting their eyes about them from the deck of 
^he vessel, all at once they heard guns fired from various bat- 
teries, and, among others, from that of the small tower in the 
Bosphorus called Leander^s Tower ; and not long after they 
distinguished the cause of it, for a suite of magnificent barges 
pushed off from the imperial palace of Beshik-tash, and, with 
the swiftness of the sword-fish, darted across the channel 
towards Scutari. The Sultan in person was proceeding to 



314 AYESUA. 

perform his nooa-day devotions at a mosque built by his pre^ .. 
decessor iu that suburb. The beauty of the boats, with 
pointed prows, surmounted by gilded ornaments of the most 
elaborate workmanship ; the singular neatness, grace, and dex- 
terity of tKe multitude of rowers ; and the awful figure of the 
Sultan, seated by himself under a canopy of cloth of gold, were 
the objects which principally attracted their attention. Tlien 
came a second boat, similar in all respects to the first, with 
the exception only of its being in readiness instead of being in 
actual service ; after which followed the principal officers of 
his brilliant court, in boats of the most beautiful construction, 
without the distinction of the canopy, and containing fewer 
rowers, but perhaps more li^t and graeefnl than the imperial 
barges. The whole scene, as the pageant passed, gave an im- 
posing idea of royalty, and whilst it excited the pleasing delight 
of novelty in the breast of Ayesha, it drove all common-sense 
from the head of Zabetta, and made her perfectly mad with 
rapture. All her aatiqipations of the wonders of Constantino- 
ple were fully realired: she looked at every thing with delight, 
and longed only for the moment when her dreams of greatness 
might be realized. 

The barges of the Sultan had scarcely reached thetr landing- 
place at Scutari, when Osmond remarked one of similar cha- 
racter, with a crowd of rowers dressed in the same manner, 
that is, with the small Bostangi cap aiid the white muslin shirt, 
coming from the Seraglio Point, and apparently making directly 
for tbesaique. The sea foamed wtth the i^pksh of the oars, 
and the exertion ef the rowers. Those who knew Constanti- 
nople, immediately recognised it to be the boat of the Bostangi 
Bashi, the dreaded police-officer and comptroRer of the Bos- 
phorus. Every one on board the saique was delighted that so 
fine a boat dhould pass so close, and rushed to the poop of the 
vessel to enjoy the sight What was their surprise, however, 
to perceive it steering straight for the side of the ship, and then 
dashing alongside with the swiftness of the wind ! Curiosity 
now yielded to fear ; every one became alarmed at so danger- 
ous a visit ; each feared that it might be intended for himself' 
so (^prieious are human destinies under a despotic rule ! Stasso 
and Mustafa approached the place where their master stood. 
Ever siiioe ib^ slealtlny disappearance of Cara Bey from the 



AYESHA. 315 

vessel at Elegri, Osmond had felt that it foreboded no good, 
and they participated in that feeling. To their surprise and 
horror, the first person who met their eye as they looked into 
the boat alongside, was the wretch himself, with that look of 
arrogance for which he was so remarkable, whilst his genera? 
bearing was that of one in authority. He was dressed in the 
richly embroidered costume of a Chaonsh attendant upon the^ 
Capitan Pai^, with a brocade turban and a long knife in his 
girdle. The Bostangi Basbi was seated in the place of honour, 
whilst Cara Bey appeared as an attendant officer ; and, appa- 
rently acting under the orders of that chief, he stepped on 
deek, swelling with importance, and exhilnted in his whole de- 
meanour a mixture of petty exultation and ferocious dogged- 
ness. He said in a loud voice : 

^' There is one Osman on board, who calls himself a Frank 
— where is he ?" 

Osmond immediately stepped forward, and facing his old 
enemy with a boldness and determination which greatly dis- 
composed him, said, '^ I am the man you mean ; what can you 
want with me, 'nllain that you are ?'' 

Appearing to give little heed to his words, Cara Bey pro- 
ceeded, '^ There is also one Mustafa Tatar, and one Stasso, 
who is also called the Bosbnak — where are they P^^ 

" Here they are," said Osmond ; " they are my servants — 
who dares take them from me P" 

^' Bismallah ! in the name of the prophet !^* said the other, 
with the greatest self-importance : '^ Here is the boat of his, 
excell^aey the Bostangi Bashi — haste — get in." 

^^ I am an English subject," said Osmond, ** and am not to be 
molested with impunity ; these men are my servants, and are 
only ciommanded through me. We know who you are ; it i& 
but the other day that you were branded in the forehead as an 
outlaw ; how is it possible that you can now be acting fron< 
authority P Explain, O man !" 

On hearing these words, Cara Bey's countenance spoke the 
whole vilbny of his heart ; he would have drunk the blood of 
Osmond had he been completely in his power. His turbatf was 
thrust so closely over his eyes, that the brand which had been 
alluded to could not be seen ; but the wretch felt it thei^, and 
it kept the feeling of lud revenge alive, aeling like a blast upon 



316 AYESHA. 

a bui*ning furnace. With a sullen tone, speaking through tbe 
fury which almost choked him, he said, ''No more wordis, 
haidi — come along, the Aga israits." 

'' If your Aga is at hand, I will speak to him," said Osmond^ 
'' and not waste my time upon such a wretch as you/' Upon 
which he left the saique, followed by Mustafa and Stasso, and, 
entering the great barge, addressed himself to a stern and in- 
flexible-looking Turk of high degree, who was seated on a car^ 
pet, propped up by cushions. 

Having gone through the preliminary forms of politeness^ 
OsD9ond, adopting the Turkish form of idiom, said, '' My Aga, 
may you live many years I What business is this P We are 
straightforward men ; I am an Englishman, and my country, 
thanks to Allah ! is in friendship with the Osmanlies. You are 
an upright man, by the blessing of God 1 but where have you 
found this fellow ?'' alluding to Cara Bey. '' This is a bad man, 
do not enter into his frauds. He is a dinsiz^ a fellow without 
religion — a Yezidi. It is a shame for your government to 
make use of such a man. 

The boat had already put off, and was bending its way 
with swiftness towards the city, when the Bostangi Bashi, 
with perfect composure and ease of manner, answered,' 
" What can I do, my friend ? I act upon the orders of my supe- 
riors; whatever is right is right, and whatever is wrong is 
wrong. If there be fraud, fraud will be discovered ; if not) 
there is no harm done." 

" But where are we going ?" said Osmond. " This must 
not be; I am an Englishman, my government will not allow 
this.^' And having said thus much, he turned himself towards 
the saique, where he saw his Ayesha apparently convulsed 
with grief. There was a beseeching look in her attitude 
which seemed to say, ' Why do you abandon me?' But what 
could he do? Despair had arisen in his breast: he would have 
used violence to those around him; but still, what could he dot^ 

'' Patience, my friend," said the Bostangi Bashi. . ''This is 
Constantinople; things are not done here in a conier. The 
ass does not die of water here without its being known/ 
Inshallah ! — please Allah 1 all will be well." 

* This alludes to a well-known trick in Turkey, of swelling a beast up with 
water, in order to make it look fat, preparatory to its sale. 



AYESHA. »17 

On looking round him, Osmond was surprised to find that 
Cara Bey was not in the Bostangt Bashi's boat. The fact is 
that the artful intriguer having, through the means of that 
si4perior officer, secured the persons of Osmond and his 
servants, remained on board the saique, to take under his care 
the partner in his wiles— the infamous Zabetta, and her now 
wretched daughter. The appearance of Cara Bey produced 
widely different effects upon the two women. The mother, 
on seeing him, understood at once the tendency of his conduct, 
and was in her heart delighted. The daughter, on the con 
trary, abhorring him from the very bottom of her soul, 
frightened by the appearance of authority with which he was 
accompanied, and fainting from apprehension at seeing her 
lover thus taken from her and apparently in his power again, 
relapsed into a state bordering on madness. The day which 
had been so auspicious, which seemed fraught with every bliss, 
all at once darkened, her prospects were bUghted, and from a 
state of enchantment she was thrown at once into the veriest 
depths of woe. The monster having procured a boat, made 
them get into it, and ordered the boatmen to follow the barge 
of the Bostangi Bashi, and land them at the place which he 
should point out. During this short passage, Cara Bey was 
in close conversation with Zabetta ; whilst the tears of the un- 
fortunate maiden did not cease to flow, — a circumstance 
which under her closely clasped veil she carefully hid from 
her odious persecutor. 

'^ Now, Zabetta,^' said he, in so low a tone that he could not 
be overheard, '' open well your eyes ; all our future prospects 
depend upon your conduct this day. The Capitan Pasha is 
my protector. I have told him my story. He has taken me 
into his service ; I am one of his chaoushes. I have described 
your daughter's charms to him : he is delighted. He wanted 
just such a person to present to the Padishah j the Sultan, and 
your fortune is made. But we must get rid of the Frank, 
happen what will; by right or by wrong, he must go. Still, 
there is caution to be used. His nation is all-powerful here: 
his ambassador is a misfortune. We must not let our right 
hands know what our left are doing. Have you understood 
me?" 

Zabetta was bewildered with the importance of the subject 



3 18 AYESHA. 

which was so suddenly presented to her mind. Never having 
been accustomed to come in contact with such great names 
and such great interests before, she became giddy with amaie- 
ment. ^' Tell me what I am to do," she said, ^* for my soul is 
shrivelled up." 

^' We are now going before the tribunal of the Grand 
Vizir. You will see many things. You must not be fright- 
ened. Above all, keep your daughter quiet. You will hear a 
petition read, which I have caused to be written as conu&g 
from you, in which you complain of the Frank, who by his 
frauds has forced you to leave your home. When you are 
called upon, you must boldly swear to this. I have got wit- 
nesses to support your assertion. Open your eyes, and give your 
ears up to all that passes. Yon must not thwart what I have 
said, or the Pasha will never forgive me. Our cause can^t 
fail when he interferes ; for who dares Oppose his wishes ? 
Should we succeed, then we may walk with our heads erect, 
and with a flower under our ear." 

The Bostangi Bashi alighted at the landing-place nearest the 
Seraglio, where he found his horse and retinue waiting his 
arrival. Having delivered over Osmond and his servants to 
the care of a chaoush and some armed men, he ordered them 
to follow him, and took his way to the Imperial Gate, or, as it 
is called in Europe, the Sublime Porte. Cara Bey, with the 
women, landed at the fish-market, and proceeded thither also. 
They found the principal street leading to the palace thronged 
with a crowd expecting the passage of the Grand Vizir, who 
was proceeding in state to the public divan, or eouncil, ^idi 
is held daily, excepting Fridays, at the palace, for the despatch 
of public business, as well as for hearing and deciding causes 
of all descriptions. 

They had not waited long before the procession began; and, 
as a specimen of Oriental manners and grandeur, nothing 
could be more characteristic. The Grand Vizir, the greatest 
officer of state after the Sultan himself, is preceded by the 
Chaoush Bashi, by a band of cfaaoushes and their inferior 
officers, bearing wands of office in hand, and accompanied by 
the principal dignitaries of the empire, who, surrounded by 
their numerous and richly-dressed attendants, swell the pro- 
cession into an immense throng. The whole is accompanied 



AYE8HA. 319 

by the Grand Yiz'tr's guard of Albanians, and closed by a body 
of more tban four hundred horsemen ; and they slowly pick 
their way through a dense crowd of the inhabitants, who are 
ever ready to make a thousand exclamations, praying for the 
prosperity of their minister. Upon the days of divan, it is to 
be remarked, three officers appointed for that purpose, proceed 
onQ hour before sun-rise to the gate of the Serai, or palace^ 
there to make certain prayers preparatory to the arrival of the 
ministers of state ; and, when those ministers appear, they salute 
them in a loud voice with appropriate expressions, naming 
them one after the other by their names, as they appear and 
pass on. The Pashas, for such is the etiquette, lose their 
wonted gravity of aspect at the sight of the palace ; they put 
their horses on the full gallop some thirty or forty paces from 
its entrance, and then range themselves in due order on the 
right of the first court, waiting the appearance of the Grand 
Vizir. The Janissaries and the Spahis dispose of themselves 
in the second court under the galleries, the former to the right, 
the latter to the left. Each individual dismounts from his horse 
in the second court; but the gate of the divan is not opened 
until the arrival of the Grand Vizir, nor until a prayer has been 
repeated for the souls of the deceased sultans, and for that of 
the reigning sovereign. 

The Grand Vizir, a venerable-looking old man, with a snow- 
white beard, wearing his white conical cap of office on his head, 
elad in a cloak of cloth of gold, covered with sables of immense 
value, appeared in due time, and, as he passed, ever and anon 
saluted the populace by placing his hand gracefully on his 
breast, and then extending it right and left towards the people. 
Osmond was so taken up with the scene that he almost forgot 
the extraordinary and difficult situation in which he was placed. 
When the proper etiquettes had been performed previously to 
opening the divan, and all die great dignitaries had proceeded 
to the stations allotted to them, those who had business to 
transact made their way into the great saloon or hall where the 
council was held. 

The great officers, and the Cadilesquers, who are the prin- 
cipal functionaries of the law, by way of showing their respect, 
never enter the hall but as accompanying the Grand Viizir, and 
then all prostrate themselves before him to the ground. When 



320 AYESHA. 

he, the first minister, is seated, the two great lawyers take their 
seats on bis left, which among the Turks is the place of honour, 
the Cadilesquer for the affairs of Europe next to the Grand 
Vizir, and the other, for those of Asia, second in rotation. 
After these come the lord high treasurer of the empire, the 
Defter-dar, and the Haznadar Aga, with their attendant officers. 
The Vizirs, of whom there are six, with the simple title of Vizir 
attached to them, are men learned in the law, who attend the 
divan, but do not give their opinions unless called upon by the 
Grand Vizir, and they are seated in due rotation ; and if there be 
any Begglerbeggi, or governors of provinces, or distinguished 
men, the Grand Vizir generally gives them a place after the 
Vizirs. At the divan which we are now describing, the Mufti 
of Kars, who enjoyed great reputation as a lawyer, was allowed 
to seat himself at the end of the line of the dignitaries. 

The business of the day opened with the affairs of finance. 
The Chaoush Bashi was first enjoined to proceed to the door 
of the treasury, and remove the seal, which is always impressed 
upon it, and to take it to the Grand Vizir himself, who, having 
examined it, assures himself that it has not been touched since 
the last inspection. The stronghold is then opened, either for 
the purpose of placing in it, or taking from it, such monies as 
are necessary for the payment of the troops or other purposes; 
after which the Grand Vizir gives over his seal, which he draws 
from his breast, to the same officer, who again closes the door 
and applies the seal to it. To the affairs of finance succeed 
those of war: every detail relating to the army and to its des- 
tination was then brought under consideration. Matters rela- 
tive to the demands of foreign ambassadors were discussed, 
and answers were ordered to be made out. All orders emanat- 
ing from the Porte, imperial firmans, passports, patents for 
exclusive privileges, and decrees for the accumulation of pri- 
vileges, were next brought forward and despatched. The Reis 
Effendi, the minister for foreign affairs, then received from the 
hands of the Grand Vizir all the necessary despatches to be 
forwarded: if only those of ordinary business, they^ received 
the seal of the Chancellor, but, if secret and confidential, the 
Grand Vizir stamped at the bottom the seal of the Sultan, 
which he affixes with his own hand, covering it with the proper 
jnk. 



AYESHA. 321 

Osmond, at the end of the great saloon, had waited with 
patience for the moment when his case should be brought under^ 
discussion; at one time giving up his attention to the novel 
scene before him; and at another, considering what was likely 
to be the result of this his present dilemma; for such he was 
£ure it must be, since that wretch Cara Bey was evidently at 
the bottom of it. His thoughts, too, were full of Ayesha. What 
had become of her ? — where was she likely to go ? — who 
-would protect her ? — ^were questions which he put to himself, 
-without being able to solve them^ When he found his fears 
gaining ground, he put them to flight by the reflexion that, being 
now within call of his natural protector, the Ambassador of 
lis country, it was ridiculous to suppose that any harm, beyond 
^ little delays could possibly accrue to him. As soon as he 
should have discovered upon what pretext he had been dragged 
to this tribunal, he concluded that it would be time to de- 
termine what was to be done. He had a friend in Wortley, 
^who he knew would fly to his rescue at a momenf s notice. In 
short, he so satisfied himself that the whole of the proceeding 
gainst him could only be founded upon the falsehood and 
machinations of a wTetch not worthy of notice, that he fully 
expected on that self-same day to take up his quarters in the 
British palace, to see his friend, to receive the news of the state 
^f his family, and, what was of more consequence to him than 
everything else, to ascertain what had become of his beloved 
mistress. 

Mustafa, however, did not view the case with quite so light a 
heart as his master. The tribunal of the Grand Vizir, in his 
eyes, had always been one of the last places at which he would 
^wish to appear ; and as he was well aware of all the tricks 
practised in Turkish courts of justice, he anticipated nothing 
but a disastrous result, particularly when he found himself op- 
posed to such an antagonist as Cara Bey. He had anxiously 
looked about the court for some dragoman belonging to the 
embassy — some friend to whom he might apply for help ; but 
he was unlucky, he saw no one. Stasso's spirits had forsaken 
him ; they had been so much excited by the pleasure of having 
at length, reached the capital jin safety, that the reaction was 
overpowering: he could almost have wept. The only conso- 
latjim which both he and Mustafa now felt, was in contemplating 

21 



322 AYESHA. 



the regret w^h their master mast feel that he had not allow- 
ed them to promote the throwing of Cara Bey into the sea, at J 
a time when it might have been done with so much ease. But 
that moment was gone by, and the wretch was still before them ! 



CHAPTER XXX, 

of ail affliction taaght a lover j«t, 
Tis sore the haidest science to forget ! 

Eloiaa to Abelard. 

The usual buiiiness of the day having been despatched, tbe 
court was open for the trial of causes between individuals. And 
here it must be said in favonr of Turkish justice, however great 
may be the reputation of its judges for venality, that the poor 
man has an opportunity of making his complaints heard, and 
of seeking redress against the oppressions of the rich. In cities 
distant from the seat of government, justice is not of such easy 
acquisition ; for the traffic of false witnesses is immense, and 
many an honest man has been known to lose his fortune and 
his life through their means. One of the reasons why justice 
is presumed to be better administered in the divan of Constan- 
tinople is, that the Sultan in person is supposed to be present, 
lending his ear to all that is going on, at a small window situ- 
ated just over the head of the Grand Vizir, whilst his person is 
only skreened by a blind. 

Still the corruption is great. A cause had just been tried I 
which had interested Osmond very much, owing to the insigbt 1 
which it gave him into the manners of the capital and the mode 1 
of obtaining justice. A Jew broker and a Turkish grocer, 1 
two rogues of the first quality, had entered into a league I 
to defraud an Armenian merchant. The Jew went to the Ar- 1 
meniah and said, '' I have found a buyer for a large assort- 
ment of yoar goods, sugar, coffee, spices, &c. ; he is an honest 
man, and one upon whom I can depend — will you sellP'' Hie 
Armenian agreed ; and saw the grocer, who brought himi by 



AYESHA. 32:t 

way of lure, one thousand piastres in advance, and in conse- 
quence obtained possession of the goods. The grocer appear^ 
ed at the tribunal of the Grand Vizir as prosecutor of the 
Armeni49, swearing that he had paid in full, and complaining 
that the Armenian avowed havmg ireceived only one thousand 
piastres of the amount. He backed this by the testimony of 
two false witnesses. After much UUgation, the Vizir recom- 
mended the parties to settle their differences by arbitration : 
which being done, a compromise was made ; the Armenian 
lost two-thirds of his property, the Turkish grocer marched 
off triumphant, and kicked the Jew broker out of his shop for 
daring to ask a share of the spoil I 

When the parties interested in this affair had left the court, 
nearly at the close of the day, Osmond's case came on. He 
was waiting with impatience to see who would be his accuser, 
when a rather shabbily-dressed Turk, with a large caouk 
bound with a piece of linen over his eyes, stepped forward, and 
seemed in readiness to proceed to business. The Vizir having 
asked the attendant Chaoush, '^ Which is the next cause to be 
tried? Where is the plaintiff? who is the defendant ?" — 

The Chaoush, showing the usual document, answered, '^ This 
ifi your excellency's order." 

The Grand Vizir then said to the Cadilesquer, ^' Sir, let this 
petition be read ; and be careful that the cause be tried accord- 
ing to the strictest rules of justice, so that I may not again be 
referred to." 

The Cadilesquer exclaimed, '' Chaoush, let the parties stand 
forward, side by side I" 

Upon which, Osmond was called to stand forward by the 
Chaoush : which he did , without exactly knowing what was 
about to happen to hipn, and was followed by Stasso and Mus- 
tafa. The shabbily-dressed Turk, whose name was Mehemet 
Aga, was also called, and stood up near Osmond.} 

The Chaoui^ then addressing the judge, said, ^' These are 
the parties: this man, Mehemet Aga, is the plaintiff, and this, 
Osman Aga, the defendant." 

The Cadilesquer instantly addressed Mehemet Aga : '^ So, 
friend, this is your petition. You here set fprth that you seek 
for justice, not for yourself, but for your relation, a woman , 

21* 



324 AYESHA. 

one Zabetta Kadun, who claims redress for her wrongs. What 
do you require from this man ?'^ pointing to Osmond. 

Meh^met Aga answered — " My lord, my relation, the woman 
Zabetta, complains that, by divers frauds and cajoleries, this 
man inveigled her and her daughter from her house, and has, 
under one false pretence or another, drawn them hither, with 
tlie intent of disposing of them as slaves. She asks the pro- 
tection of your excellency, that she may be rescued from the 
designs of this man, and be no longer open to his molestation.'' 

The CadQesqner then turned towards Osmond, and said, 
'' This is a new and strange case — Well, Osman Aga, what do 
you say to this? We frequently hear of slaves being brought 
from Circassia, and are acquainted with respectable merchants 
who acquire them according to established rules ; but it is new 
to see women, who are the subjects of our lord the SultaUf 
brought to Constantinople as slaves. Speak, what answer have 
you to give to this accusation ?" 

Osmond was so much disconcerted by the strangeness of the 
whole proceeding, that for some time he was unable to answer; 
but at length, seeing that there was a deep plot laid against him, 
in which the wiles of Cara Bey were but too plainly percep- 
tible, he determined to oppose nothing but the plain truth to 
all that should be alleged against him, and to leave the rest to 
Providence. 

^^ I declare," said Osmond in the most impressive manner, 
'^ that the accusation, from beginning to end, is an utter false- 
hood ! I am an English subject, and I insist that some one be 
instantly sent to the Ambassador of my country, who will satisfy 
you on that head. The woman to whom my accuser alludes, 
has followed me of her own accord. I was the means of saviog 
her and her daughter from the hands of a villain who had car- 
ried them oflf by force. She is free to go whithersoever she 
pleases. The whole accusation is falser' 

The Cadilesquer exclaimed, '' How is this? You can be no 
Frank ! Your language, your dress, your name, your whole ap- 
pearance, bespeak you to be otherwise. Besides, if youbea Frank, 
how came you to be the protector of Mahomedan women ?" 

Osmond to this answered — "The woman Zabetta, the com- 
plainant, is not a Mahomedan woman; she might have been 



. AYESHA. 325 

such once,, but she is a' Greek. She attended the Greek church 
in Georgia*" 

Upon hearing these words, a woman entirely veiled came 
forward with great animation, and exclaimed, ^' What words 
are these? I a Greek woman ! I am a Mahomedan woman, and 
Osman 'Aga knows it well; let him answer to my accusatiop 
with truth, and not with lies!" 

The Cadilesquer seemed, to be much puzzled as. the cause 
proceeded, and consulted at various times with his colleagues. 
A reference was made to the Grand Vizir, who ordered that the^ 
great head oC the law, the Mufti, should be consulted ; and a 
note was sent to him with a short statement of the case, as is 
usual in questions of any difficulty. 

The difficulty that chiefly perplexed them was, whether, the 
accused person being a Frank, the law for carrying off Maho- 
medan women could be put in full force against him, seeing 
that the Ambassador of nis nation might take it up as a national 
question. This was the point which Cara Bey and his patron, 
the Capitan Pasha, attempted to avoid, for probably, by an im- 
mediate appeal to the English Ambassador, Osmond would 
have been liberated; but, as ill-luck would have it for our hero, 
the Mufti of Kars, who by a strange fatality had been preseat 
all the while, seeing that be could throw great Ught upon the 
subject, and happy to have an opportunity of revenging himself 
upon Osmond for his rude treatment at the time of the con- 
troversy, stepped up to the Cadilesquer, and disclosed to him 
all that he knew of the case, making thereupon his own com- 
ments. 

This explanation was fatal to Osmond. The judge, con- 
vinced by the testimony of one of the Mufti's reputation,, that 
Osmond had been guilty not only of what he was accused, but 
of a great deal more, put an end to the proceedings, saying tha^ 
he required no further investigation, and no other witnesses ; 
and committing Osmond, Stasso, and Mustafa to the hands of 
the chaoushes, he dismissed the parties: upon which, there 
being nothing more to be done, the Grand Vizir arose and 
returned to his palace. 

During the course of the proceedings one of the chaoushes, 
a man of respectability, had recognised Mustafa for an ac- 
quaintance ; and knowing him to belong to Ihe British Embassy^ 



326 AYE8HA. 

he immediately mentioned tliis to the Cadilesquer, who, fearing 
to incur censure for retaining him, ordered his dismissal. 

Osmond was hurried away with violence, and treated With 
insolence. From the hands of the Yissir^s chaonshes he was 
deUvered over to another set of men, who seemed to have a 
method in the tone and manner of their insolence. They were 
conducting him and his servants through different chambers* of 
the palace, when they were stopped by the chaoush, Mustafa's 
acquaintance, who announced to them that, by the orders of 
• the Grand Vizir, Mustafa was allowed to depart. 

The suddenness, the hut*ry, the abrupt manner in which he 
had been carried away, had scarcely allowed Osmond time to 
collect his thoughts ; and it was only when his steps and those 
of his conductors were stopped, and he was informed that 
Mustafa was about to be free, that the hope of immediate 
release came to his mind. He then , made a resolute stand. 
He inquired whither he was about to be conducted ; and pro- 
tested against the violence with which he was treated. 

Among his conductors, there was one man, enveloped in a 
large cloak, apparently wishing to escape observation, who 
came forward when this delay took place, and, the people look- 
ing to him for instructions, by his gestures intimated that no 
indulgence was to be shown to Osmond. Osmond, seeing that 
resistance was hopeless, asked permission to write a letter, 
which he wished to send to Wortley ; but that was also denied 
him. His last resource was to request Mustafa, speaking in 
"English, to go at once to Mr. Wortley, and inform him, from 
the beginning to the end, of all his adventures, and to beg that 
the Ambassador would instantly interfere in procuring his re- 
lease, should he not be put to death in the meanwhile. He 
desired also that the Ambassador might be informed of the 
interest which he took in the fate and well-being of Ayedba, 
and that every assistance should be given her -, and requested 
Mr. Wortley, if possible, to take both the mother and daughter 
under the protection of the British Embassy. He would have 
said much more, but, his conductors becoming impatient, they 
stopped all farther communication, and hurrying him along to 
the sea-side, compelled him and Stasso to enter a well-manned 
boat which was there in waiting. Having so done, they push- 
ed from the shore, and pulled away into the open sea with 



AYESHA. 827 

the greatest velocity. It was theki that the mysterious man, 
who had kept so closely concealed, showed hunself at the mar- 
gin of the sea, and in him Osmond discovered the eternal Cara 
Bey. 

It will be necessary to explain that, when Cara Bey left the 
saique at Elegri, he had done so with the intention of putting 
into execution the plot which has here b^n developed. 
Whilst, impelled by the thirst of revenge, he sought for the 
destruction of Osmond and his two attendants, he also hoped 
that he might take advantage of the ambition of Zabetta, and 
of the beauty of her daughter, to further his views. Making 
his way sometimes on foot, sometimes mounted, and being well 
acquainted with the country , he managed to reach Constanti* 
nople two or three days before the vessel He atxmce pro- 
ceeded to the palace of the Capitan Pasha. Owing to the fre- 
quency of his presents, and to his own ingenuity in intrigue, he 
had succeeded in securing that great officer as his protector \, 
and on this occasion, when he appeared before him, notwith- 
standing the disadvantage of being empty-handed, and the tale 
of ruin and disaster which he had to relate, he so well knew 
how to advance his own interests and to ingratiate himself, that 
he succeeded at once in being appointed one of his chaoushes. 
The principal cause of this success was, in all probability, the 
interest created in the breast of his patron by that part of his 
story which related to Ayesha. The Capitan Pasha, it seems, 
had felt for some time that his influence with the Sultan was. 
on the decline, and was anxious to find a good opportunity for 
recovering it. When Cara Bey described the charms of 
Ayesha, and represented the possibility of securing her as a 
present to offer to the Sultan, he was elated with joy, and de- 
termined to leave no effort untried to obtain possession of her. 
The character and views of the mother appeared to him ad- 
mirably adapted to forward his object : her history, too, placed 
her precisely in the situation in which he wished her to be. 
But as Cara Bey gradually developed the story of the maiden, 
showing her love of Osmond, and that it would he necessary 
to get rid of him, the Capitan Pasha began to foresee difficulties, 
and was not quite so sanguine in his expectations. 

^^ You say that she is beautiful ?'' said the Capitan Pasha to 



3iB AYESHA. 

his protege, as they were closeted together in one of the small 
rooms in his palace. 

^^ Let me tell your excellency," said Cara Bey, '^ that in 
Turkey, in Persia, in Greece, in Georgia, and in all the various 
countries through which I have travelled, I never saw anything 
that could approach her beauty ! But that is not all : she is the 
most accomplished maiden that was ever known. Ask the 
Mufti of Kars, and he will tell you what great reputation she 
has acquired." 

*' But how came she known to the Frank P" 

'' It was by accident, on the terrace of the house at which 
he lodged. He, it seemS; asserts, from certain ornaments 
which be has discovei*ed on her dress, that she must belong to 
his nation. . The woman who calls herself her mother, is ca- 
pable of any act, and it is possible that there may be some truth 
in what the Frank asserts ; so much greater, therefore, is the 
necessity for getting rid of him." 

'' And how can that be done ?" asked the Capitan Pasha. 
Upon which, Cara Bey detailed to him the whole plot which 
he had devised for effecting that object. He said that, for a 
sum of money, he should certainly be able to secure some one 
who would swear that he was related to Zabetta, and who 
would appear as the plaintiff before the tribunal of the Grand 
Vizir against Osmond. A petition might be easily drawn up^ 
in which so much of truth might be exhibited that it could 
not be totally denied by the man accused, and which would be 
sufficient to lead to an investigation; whilst their own assertions 
naight be seconded by as many false witnesses as were neces- 
sary, who were always forthcoming at the comer of any street 
The great object to avoid would be an appeal to the English 
Ambassador ; and Cara Bey asserted that the Capitan Pasha's 
influence might easily avert that, and procure a sentence 
against Osmond upon his mere acknowledgment of having seefi 
and known the women, thus invading the sanctity of a Mahoi- 
medan's harem. 

'* I fear that there will be great difficulty," said the Capital 
Pasha, '' if this man be really an Englishman. The English 
are all-powerful here, and will not be trifled with." 

^* We must act before any one is apprised of his arrival. He 



AYESHA. 399 

must be Gondemned, seized, and sent off at once," said Cara 
Bey most earnestly. 

^^ What sort of a person is this Frank P" said the Gapitan 
Pasha. 

'^ He js a devil,'' said Cara Bey, all that he had suffered on 
Osmond's account coming in strong colours to his recollection- 
^^ He is mpch of. a.manl" 

'^ What sort'of a looking man P" was the next inquiry. 

'' He looks like an Osmanli to all intents and purposes. He 
is dressed like one ; he talks the lai^age so well that nobody 
would take him for a Frank. What can I say more ?" 

^' Ha I" said the Capitan Pa«ha, ^' that is important ; that 
will do. We can proceed against him now without difficulty. 
If a Frank will make himself look like a Turk, atid talk like one 
too, he must take the consequences. Pek ayi ! — very well P' 

It was evident that the great mistake which Osmond had 
committed throughout his journey, was quitting the appearance 
and characteristics of an Englishman, to assume those of an 
Oriental ; for he thus lost his greatest protection. Dragged as 
Turk before a Turkish tribunal, upon condemnation he was 
treated as a Turk. Cara Bey had thus acquired a complete 
triumph over him. 

We now return to Osmond. There was a mystery in the 
manner and looks of those into whose hands he had fallen, 
which made him apprehensive that his life was in danger. The 
boat in which he had been placed, was one of the fine long 
boats, called besh chiftehs, used in making long voyages, either 
along the coasts of the Black Sea, or to the Dardanelles. It 
was rowed by a band of stout men, and steered by a serious^ 
looking personage, who kept a profound silence. They rowed 
on without intermission throughout the night, and, by the next 
morning, had entered the channel of the Hellespont. 

During this interval, Osmond had full time to ruminate upon 
his present situation. Occasionally his mind would be visited 
by regret that he had not taken advantage of the many oppor- 
tunities which had been afforded him of putting Cara Bey to 
death ; for he, it was evident, was the author of his present 
calamity. But when he seriously reflected upon the awful re- 
sponsibility of taking the life of a fellow-creature, he felt relieved 
that he had not given way to his feelings. His principal ap- 



SSO AYEBHA 

prehension was for the fate of Ayesha. It was now evident, by 
the declaration which Zabetta had made of her being a Maho- 
medan, and by her whole conduct since they- had reached the 
Bosphorus, that she was in league with Gara Bey. Althou{^h 
he had from the first been convinced that she was a woman 
of very indifferent character, yet it was only now that he was 
struck by the enormity of her wickedness. He shuddered to 
think of the danger in which Ayesha was placed. On a for- 
mer occasion he had depended, in some measure, upon the 
protection which her mother might have given her; but now 
that he had obtained a better insight into her character, that 
consolation had vanished, and he could only view her in the 
light of one of the most infamous of her sex, a plotter against 
her daughter's innocence. He concluded that the predicament 
in which the unfortunate maiden was now placed, was infi- 
nitely more perilous than when she was in the castle and the 
immediate power of Cara Bey. He never before had been so 
entirely wretched. On the former occasion he had lived in the 
hope of effecting her release in some way or other, and the ex- 
citement buoyed up his spirits ; but now, thrown into the hands 
of the powerful chief of a powerful government, what could he 
expect but some wretched mode of death, or some future release 
when she, for whom he would have laid down his life, would be 
taken from him, perhaps for ever, to be shut up in the confine- 
ment of a tyrant's harem, there to pine away the rest of her life 
in hopeless misery! — ^Such was the tenor of his thoughts, as the 
boat in which he lay was carrying him he knew not whither^ 
Occasionally, he would turn himself towards his faithful Stasso, 
to endeavour to find consolation in his remarks ; but he, too, 
was broken in spirit They had endeavoured, each in their 
turn, to elicit from their conductors some information concern- 
ing their destination, but they could by no means extract a word 
beyond an unwilling " Bakalum ! — we shall see I" or, *' Ne 
bilirim ? — ^what do I know ?" Osmond had once or twice dis- 
cussed the possibility in his mind, and even communicated his^ 
thoughts to his servant in Greek, of seizing the boat ; but when 
they came to calculate their own unarmed strength (for all 
arms had been taken from them), as opposed to that of the 
crew, they found the scheme too ridiculously hazardous to at- 
tempt it. 



AYBSHA. 331 

At length they descried a ship at anchor, for which they 
steered. She was off Galipoh, and appeared to be in readiness 
to sail at a moment's notice. Osmond having discovered from 
the mysterious steersman that he was to be put on board of 
her, and that her destination was Rhodes, determined to make 
one more efibrt to communicate with his friend Wortley ; and, 
addressing him in so low a tone as not to be overiieai*d, said, 
*^ I will give you five hundred piastres if you will deliver a 
letter for me at the British palace. Say, will you serve me ?" 
The grave man again repeated *' Bakalum /" but with so sig- 
nificative a glance that it amounted to an agreement. Upon 
which, tearing a page from a sketch-book which he always 
carried about him, he wrote with a pencil as follows : 

" My dear Wortley. — I have been forcibly seized, and am 
about to be put on board a ship bound to Rhodes. I sus- 
pect that one Cara Bey , a ruffian famous on the Russian and 
Persian frontier near Kars, now a chaoush of the Capitan 
Pasha's, is at the bottom of this act of tyranny. Toe ras- 
cal is to be discovered by the brand of a horse-shoe on his 
forehead. His object is to gain possession of a Turkish maiden 
of the name of Ayesha, either for his own purposes, or to ad- 
vance the ambitious views of one, by name Zabetta, who pro- 
fesses to be her mother. I have reason to think that Ayesha 
is not her daughter; but on the contrary, by certain indications, 
I believe her to be an EngUsh girl, who, by some means or 
other, has been stolen from her parents. I entreat of you, as 
you value my friendship, to seek out the abode of her mother? 
from whom you will elicit much that may secure my freedom ; 
and, moreover, I wish you would endeavour to protect her and 
her daughter until I am released. Mustafa, I hope, will have 
informed you of the strange events which have led to my pre- 
sent situation : but I do not despair. I depend upon your 
exertions to obtain my release, unless the rascals in whose hands 
I am, should previously put me to ^death. Let my friends in 
England know that I am in good health. 

" Ever yours, affectionately, 

" Osmond." 

^^ I have promised the bearer five hundred piastres should 
he deliver this safe." 



332 AYESHA. 

The boat had no sooner reached the ship than Osmond was 
put on board , accompanied by the steersman, who delivered 
him over to the charge of the captain, when Osmond at a proper 
moment sUpped the letter into his hand. 

He found that the ship was about to convey a Pasba^of two 
tails to Rhodes, condemned to exile for having been found 
guilty of too much wealth, which, as a matter of course, was 
seized upon by the Sultan. Besides him, there was a lai^e as^ 
semblage of convicts, condemned to hard labour in the Arsenal 
al that place ; whose fisite Osmond and Stasso were doomed to 
share. The ship had apparently been detained until their ar- 
rival ; for, as soon as they were embarked, she immediately 
got under weigh. The captain, who was a rough Algerine, 
scarcely gave himself time to look at the wretched Osmond and 
the still more miserable Stasso, but, ordering them to be taken 
care of with the other convicts, instantly busied himself with 
his duties. 

As the vessel glided from her anchorage, Osmond, casting 
his eyes at the receding shores,"was lost in a feeling of despair 
and despondency at the utter misery of his situation. His 
adored Ayesha was present to his imagination in all her love- 
liness, and for the first time he felt that he must abandon all 
those endearing hopes of possessing her, which had formed 
the sole object of his past thoughts. His better reason whis- 
pered to him that he ought to make up his mind to forget her 
for ever ; but neither his resolution nor his fortitude was yet 
equal to such a sacrifice. How could he forget that sentiment 
which had so identified itself with every feeling of his heart! 
Time alone could work out that consummation. With his 
present feelings, he vowed that, as long as he existed, nothing 
should ever deprive him of the consolation of living for her 
alone ; and whatever might be his future fate, he determined 
never to abandon the hope of one day reclaiming her as hii& 



AYE8IU. 333 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

La falta 'dei maigo liace de conocer, no aborrecer. 

C^udOf Refranes CeuteUanos. 

Edward Wortley was several years younger than Lord 
Osmond. He was eminently handsome. There was a certain 
bright and lively expression in his face which bespoke at once 
the ardour and enthusiasm of his character, and which was but 
ill-adapted to secure the reserve deemed so necessary in the 
profession which he had adopted. Whatsoever feeling en- 
grossed his hearty was so quickly brought to the surface in the 
mirror of his countenance, that, without his lips giving it ut- 
terance, it was discovered, almost with the same truth that 
objects on the margin of a lake are seen reflected in its waters. 
Were it the custom for faces to pass an examination in Downing- 
street previously to the enrolment of a diplomatist, he certainly 
would have been rejected ; he never could dissemble. It was 
well that his first essays in his profession were made in Turkey, 
where every speech and every feeling is made to pass to its 
destination through the filter of a dragoman; otherwise we 
doubt whether the interests of his country would not have ma- 
terially suffered had they been entrusted to his management. 

Both he, and the Ambassador to whom he was attached, 
had long been in expectation of hearing some tidings from 
Osmond. The last accounts they had received from him were 
when he was about leaving Bagdad; since which they had 
remained in ignorance, and began to be apprehensive for his 
safety. Piles of letters from his family were awaiting him ; 
and from the anxious tone of those which they had themselves 
received, it was evident that his return home was as desirable 
as it seemed impatiently expected. 

It had been a question decided by the Ambassador that very 
day, that a special Tatar should be despatched in quest of Os- 



334 AYESHA. 

mond; and Wortley was in the very act of writing a letter to 
him, when his servant came into the room with greater haste 
than usual, followed by the tramping of a heavy pair of boots. 

" What has happened ?" said Wortley. 

'^ Here is Mustafa," said his servant. And before Wortley 
could make an exclamation of delight and surprise, the long- 
missing Tatar stood before him. 

'* Why, Mustafa I" exclaimed Wortley ; " in the name of 
wonder, where have you been ? We had given you up for lost. 
Where is Lord Osmond ?" 

^'Lost! yes," answered Mustafa slowly, and drawing a long 
sigh : '^ we have been lost, I believe ; but we are come at last" 

"Where is Lord Osmond?" repeated Wortley, with re- 
doubled animation. 

" We came in a saique from the Black Sea — we landed to- 
day." 

" Is he in the house?" inquired Wortley, making a rush to 
the door, with the intention of seeking him. 

"iVe belirim-^'what do I know?" said Mustafa, strangely 
distressed by the question : — " No, he is not in the house." 

" Then where is he ?" 

" What can I say ?" said Mustafa, with the air of one making 
a great effort over himself — " He came, and is gone again." 

" What say you ? Gone ? — ^whither could he go, but to this 
house ?" 

'* He is gone though," repeated Mustafa, shaking his head at 
the same time, and looking most dejected. 

" What has happened? In the name of Heaven ! what has 
happened?" exclaimed Wortley, with intense anxiety in his 
tone and gesture, struck by the doleful looks of Mustafa— 
"Where is he gone?" 

"We went on very well," said the Tatar, "until our good- 
fortune turned upon us, since then everything has gone ill. 
Shall I speak a lie? — no. If our Beyzadeh had not been a 
trifle mad or so, we should have done very well, ^ma — ^but 
that was not the case; and, therefore, •4/&zA kerim — God is 
great! as we say in Turkey." 

"What can you possibly mean?" sud Wortley, quite 
alarn^d for the sanity of his fri^d. " Do you pretend to say 
that Lord Osmond is lAad?" 



AYESHA. 335 

'^May you live many years!" said Mustafa, ^^ and may all 
the English prosper I Imt when I say mad, I mean to say that 
he is occasionally mad, like his countrymen. Had he listened 
to my words, all would have been right ; but he would not, and 
aH is wrong." 

>*How IS this? explain at once, Mustafa," cried Wortley, 
still more excited by his apprehensions. 

^'He does not know the Turks," said Mustafa, ^^ and I do — 
that's all. Our Osmanlies, do what you will, are Turks, and 
never can act or think like Franks. By the grace of Allah 1 
they are animals — what can I say more P" 

'< But is Lord Osmond to run mad for that?" said Wortley, 
not in the least able to make out the meaning of Mustafa's ex- 
planations. 

'* When you hear the story, you will not be surprised at what 
has happened," said Mustafa. *' OuJ\ amdn ! amdn /" said he, 
s^haking the collar of his jacket at the same time, and blowing 
out a deep sigh, ** our's has been a strange business I" 

After a great deal more preliminary matter, which seemed to 
plunge the subject to be elucidated into greater darkness than 
ever, Wortley at length managed to guide Mustafa into a track 
which led directly into his narrative. He invited him to begin 
his ^tory from the time of their leaving Bagdad, which was like 
putting him into the right road after having lost his way. 

Mustafa then enumerated how frequently they had mounted 
and dismounted; he extcdied some post-houses, and reviled 
others; he described how well they fared here, and how ill 
there ; how fowls and rice were abundant at one place, and 
nothing but bread and sour milk to be found at another. He 
spoke feelingly of the miseries which they had ^idured in 
Persia; and did not lose this opportunity of asserting that he 
had behaved most disrespectfuHy towards the fathers, mothers, 
and ancestors of all that worthy people. And at length, having 
reached the point in his narrative which brought him to the 
Armenian monastery at the foot of Ararat, he more particularly 
entered into the details of that part of his master's history, which 
had led to his present disastrous situation. 

" Wallah! — by the Prophet!" said Mustafa, "it was then 
that our luck turned. May I eat Cara Bey's mother and sister, 
if it be not true that, from the moment we saw his castle, our 



336 AYESHA. 

misfortunes commenced ! First, at Kars, my lord was struck 
with the sight of a moon-iaced maiden. There he ran mad, 
there he wanted to make Franks of Turks — to convert a whole 
city of rogues and ruflBans, whose profession it is to cheat and 
cut throats, into Christians and good men. And what did he 
get by that P he was nearly killed, and was thrust into prison ; 
and if, by the blessing of Allah! he had not seized a rascal of a 
mufti by the beard, and threatened to shoot him, we should have 
been torn to pieces by a furious mob. Then, instead of running 
away when we might, as Allah is great! we proceeded straight 
into the den of that lion Cara Bey, Heaven knows why I only 
because Milord would be civil to his rogue of a lieutenant And 
then, when we had been treated like slaves, made to fight 
against our wills, at length we had poison served up to us 
when dying of hunger. In fine, after God had delivered the 
fiend into our hands, my lord would not kill him, out of deli- 
cacy, but quietly delivered him up to the Russians." 

" And did not the Russians put him to death ?" said Wortley, 
roused by Mustafa's narrative. 

^' Certainly, certainly, they did put him to death. They 
had him down upon his knees, and he cried, *Amctn ! Amdn ! 
and they pointed their guns at him ; but then, when Allah was 
about to deliver our souls from him, and men were beginning 
to cry * Shukiur — God be praised !' who should step in and 
save his life but our master I It is true, the rascal was branded 
with a horse-shoe on the forehead, and he was kicked out of 
the camp like a dog ; but still, he lives I — he Uves, as sure as 
you sit there I " 

^' I recognize Lord Osmond in this," said Wortley; ^^ he is 
too good a man to deal with barbarians." 

^« A man must be a devil," said Mustafa, ^' to deal with devils ! 
How have I got on among them P It is now fifteen years since 
I have travelled the road, and see what I am ! Mashallah! this 
mustache has not grown thus long for nothing !" 

" And what happened after ?" inquired Wortley. 

** Why," said Mustafa, ** we got on board ship at Poti; we 
were all happy to have left the rogue behind ; and we put the 
women on board — " 

" What women?" inquired Wortley, with animation. 
: ^^ Ey vah .'" exclaimed Mustafa ; '' don't you know the 



AYESHA. 33t 

story of the women ? MashaHah ! where have you been ? 
Women — to be sure ! had it not been for the women, we 
should now be smoking our pipes, with our caps on one 
^ide 1^' 

" Tell me," said Wortley, '' tell me aU !" 

'Mustafa then^ in a confidential tone, continued thiks: — 
'< Tbete are two women: one, who is a misfortune, a bad otie 
— a little old — who speaks for ever; in short, a devil! The 
other is a peri. Ahh! who ever saw such a face — such beauty! 
She is the wonder of all Anadoli ! — she is the daughter. My 
lord is become mad about her; that's the secret ! The rascal, 
Cara Bey, carried her off from Kars; my Aga delivered her 
out of his hands ! But for th^e women -^may they perish !— ^ 
we should all be in fortune- s road !" 

He then gave a description oftheir perils in the Black Sea, 
and touched with great feeling upon the re^^appearaikce of Cara 
B^in the vessel. '' You will perhaps say that there are no 
such things as evil spirits upon earth, but hiEid you seen that 
man stand before us again, in the middle of the storm; you 
would have been convinced of the contrary. He is Satan in 
person, and that is the truth of it. All the Turks on board t6st 
by one common consent, as soon aa they saw htm/ to thi^ow 
him overboard. A Yezidi, in their eyes, is worthy of death, 
on shore or on board; and into the sea he would have been 
plunged, had not our Aga been again visited by madness^ or 
struck by some evil-eye to do that which he ought not, and, 
at the peril of his own life, he stepped in to save that of the 
wretch. For this piece of service, the first thing that hap|)ett- 
ed on our arrival at Ortacui, was the>appearanoe of the Bos- 
tangi Bashi, bearijQ^ in his bokt this- very Cara Bey in persdU^, 
and before we could count bnr^beads, our master, myself^ atid 
St^MB^o, were conveyedbefore the Grand Vizir, and accused of 
rumaing away with Turkish women. In vain be swore that he 
was an £ngli$bmaQ^ Ao one would b^eve him ^ he spoke our 
language so well, andlook^so like a true believel", th«t' all 
his assertions were uaetess; and, to crown our misfortufiesi, 
when we least expected, it^ up juoipodca rascal of a mufti, who 
said so much tothecadilesquer^.that all hope of redemption 
was gone. Our Aga was carri^ off^ fjaced forcibly in a boat^ 
and I» by th^ Uessing of AHah 1 wasr released. He wad not per^ 



^\iS AYESHA. 

mitted to write, but he ordered me to inform you fully of hii 
situation, and to request you to protect the women. What 
more can I say ?" 

When Mustafa had finished his narrative, he could not 
refrain from tears, so much was he attached to his master. 
Wortley, from what he had heard, endeavoured to unravel a 
sufficiently connected narrative of his friend's adventures, in 
order to make an intelligible report of his present dangerous 
position to the Ambassador; and without delay quitted the dis^ 
tressed Tatar, ordering him to be in attendance. He then in 
haste sought out his excellency, to whom he disclosed what 
Mustafa had told him. The Ambassador, almost as much 
interested in Osmond's fate as Wortley, listened to the whole 
account with the greatest attention ; but when he came to that 
patt which related to the women, he shook his head, as much 
as to say, this will be a difficult business to bring to a happy 
issue; for, from experience, he well knew how impracticable 
Turks were on that head. He saw the scrape into whieb 
Osniond had fallen, and, impelled by every proper filing m 
his favour, determined to act with the utmost vigour until he 
^(Mil4 have extricated him. He, therefore, immediately sent 
for his principal instrument of communication with the Turk- 
ish government, the head dragoman of the embassy, and it 
was not long before he made his appearance. 

Signer Trompetta, for such wa» his name, were he taken^ 
tale quale, as he stood before the Ambstssador, and placed in 
an English drawing-room to be stared at as a lion, would not 
fail to create as much astonishment by his appearance as he 
would by his acquirements. He was a tallish man, wearing 
on his head a sort of quadrangular pincushion, of the dimen- 
sions of a lady's footstool, covered with cloth, neatly padded 
with wool, and terminated at its lower extremity by a broad 
stripe of grey lambskin. This^ as he approached the Ambas- 
sador, making a long graceful bow, he took off with both hands, 
and showed a crimson skull-cap underneath, which covered his 
closely-shaven head. From the top ^f his shoulders to the tip of 
his foot^ he was so entirely enveloped in loose and flowing dra- 
pery, tliat it would be difficult for any one to pronounce what 
might be the form and materials of his body, except that it was 
loug, thin, and angular. An ample vest, buttoned at the throat. 



AYESIIA, 350 

covered him from tap (o toe, confined in ike middle by a lai^e 
girdle of shawl. Over thU came a cloth robe with short 
sleeves, above that a lighter one with large sleeves, and under 
bis arm he carried another, so vast that it completely covered 
him all over when he presented, himself officially befoi*e one of 
the Turkish authorities. 

His countenance was made up. of shrewdness, an habitual 
expression of obsequiousness, and quick remark. He had an 
arched nose, sharp grey eyes sunk deep in their sockets; a 
projecting chin; and a slight mustache covered his upper lip. 
Every hair excepting these few was most carefully shaved off, 
so that his ears, his jaws, and his neck, were all completely bare, 
forming a strange contrast to the prodigal use of hair worn in 
modern times. His manners were those of a courtier, full of de- 
ference, polish, and grace. He was a complete master of five 
different languages, being able to read, write, and conversse in 
them with almost the facility of a native. He had acquired Eng- 
lish with astonishing accuracy, considering that he had never 
left Constantinople, daily writidg official notes in it to the am- 
bassador, and always using it when he talked to him. French 
and Italian being the languages mostly spoken at Pera among 
its great diversity of inhabitants, they were hourly practised. 
Modern Greek was the dialect spoken in his family and to his 
servants ; and Turkish being the language of the court and the 
country, in that he was learned and eloquent. Of Arabic and 
Persian he had made a study, and was abo conversant with 
Armenian. With these various tongues in his head, in daily 
use, and called upon to speak and write in them at. any mo- 
ment, he never was known to make a confused mixture. Cer- 
tainly, the station which he fiUed was one full of difficulty, in 
\vhat regarded his own personal interests, and his case might 
be called that of many of his colleagues. He and they, mostly 
descendants from Venetian and Genoese families who had taken 
root at Constantinople during the time of its partial possession 
by those powers, were employed as dragomans in the European 
missions. They were, in fact, subjects of the Porte, although 
they enjoyed the protection of the power in whose employ they 
were, as long as that power was at peace with Turkey ; but 
whenever war took place, their position became dangerous — 
dangerous in proportion as they had rendered themselves per- 

22* 



340 AYESHA. 

sonally obnoxious during the transaction of the aflPairs whi<^ 
had passed through their hands. In their own defence, there- 
fore, with the fear of war hangmg over their heads, they are 
obliged to steer a middle course, doing their duty towards their 
employers, whilst they make the words in M^iich that duty is 
communicated to the Turkish authorities, as palatable as pos- 
sible. It is their province to sweeten the brim of the cup 
whenever they have a bitter draught to present, ere they ad- 
minister its contents. 

Cos\ a Tegro fanciul porgiamo aspersi 
Di soave licor gli orli del vaso. 

In the present case, the Ambassador, who was a straight- 
forward man, making at once for his point without unne- 
cessary drcumlocution, stated in a few words the awkward 
predicament in which Lord Osmond bad apparently placed 
himself, showing that it probably arose from iiis interference 
m fovour of the women, and insisted that, in the representa- 
tions made to the Turkish govc»rnment, as a preliminary to aU 
fordier proceeding, he should be immediately released and 
restored to him, free from all haroi. 

Signer Trompetta, as soon as he heard mention made of 
women, instantly put on a look of serious a^>rehension, omi- 
nously shook his head, whilst at the same time be made a de- 
ferential bow. 

VI fear that your excelleacy will find," he said, <^ that this 
will prove a difficult aSkir. Whenever women are concerned, 
a Turk will scarcely listen to reason-^he becomes entirely en- 
grossed by passion.^' 

'* I am aware of that, Mr. Trompetta," said the Ambassador, 
*^and am ready to make every alfowance for Mahomedan 
prejudice. But, ignorant as I am of the real state of the cai^ 
wUbt' I can place every dependence up<m the high character 
of iso distinguished a nobleman as Lord Oismond, I must inast 
upon it that no dday be allowed to take place in settmg him 
at liberty. You wiU go immediately to the Reis Effendi with 
this message from me, and request that none pf the accustomed 
delays,' so apt to be thrpWn into the discussicm of every trifle, 
be here aUowed to interfere. And in oi%|er to show that I am 
more than usually^interested in this, I will desir^ Mr.. Wortley 



AYESHA. 341 

to accompany you/* Upon which he requested Woriley, who 
was present, to proceed to the Reis EffencK, saying, '^This is a 
bit of diplomacy which I am sure I can s^ely confide to your 
management; although I must give you one precaution, which 
is, not to allow your zeal in favour of your friend to carry you 
beyond the hounds of moderation, when you are brought (ace 
io face with the Turkish minister/' 

Wortley was delighted to he sent on such an errand. He 
felt that, if the delivery of the Ambassador's message to the 
Reis Effendi, in favour of his friend, were left entirely to the 
discretion of the dragoman, it would lose the whole of the 
vigour with which it was sent; and as he possessed the Turkish 
language sufficiently to ascertain the value of words in common 
use, he hoped, by his presence, to serve as a check upon Signor 
Trompetta's propensity to dilute the meaning of the message 
of which he was the bearer, into the sort of phraseology agree* 
able to a Turkish ear. They proceeded forthwith, taking 
Mustafa with them as a precautionary measure, and, havii^ 
reached the residence of the minister, they were introduced 
into his presence, after passing through crowds of turbaned 
and bearded attendants. 

The Reis Effendi, a most urbane Turk, full of courteousness 
and demonstrations of politeness, received Wortley with the 
greatest attentions, whilst a smile of surprise migbt be seen to 
play over his features at his extreme youth. Having imme- 
diately ordered the never-failing chibouque and coffee, he in^ 
quired very tenderly concerning the health of the Ambassador. 
'* The keif'-— the spirits, of the Elchi Bey, are they in good 
order? Inshallah — please heaven,, he is without ailment! 
Benim garendashder — we are brothers of the sam(e bowels. 
He is an excellent manl'' 

To all this Wortley answered with appropriate expressions, 
helped out, in his incipient essays ih Turkish^ by the interference 
of his dragoman, who having clothed himself in his ample robe, 
which covered his person to the tips of his fingers, adopted at 
the same time that look of humility which Orientals are apt to 
assume when they stand before a great personage. 

The Reis Efl'endi then complimented Wortley upon his 
youth ; called him an Elchjik^ or a little ambassador ; and 
hoped, in very polite terms, that this his first essay in the trans- 



342 AYE^IA. 

action of business, would in time lead to good fortune and to 
the dignities of a full ambassador. He illustrated this by quot- 
ing a line from a Persian poet, which was to this effect — ^ The 
dews of heaven dissolve drop by drop until they become a sea!' 

Wortley was anxious to proceed to business, and, as soon 
as he could with propriety, evading the preliminaries of an 
audience, which, in all Oriental proceedings, are sure to take 
up the principal time, he addressed Signor Trompetta, and 
requested him to communicate to the Effendi the Ambassador's 
message, and to add, in as strong language as possible, his de- 
sire that no delay should take place in the execution of it. 

Wortley paid earnest attention to every word which fell 
from Signor Trompetta, as he made his speech to the minister, 
and, when he had finished, endeavoured to give it strength by 
certain explanatory gesticulations, induced by the excited state 
of his feelings. 

The Reis Effendi heard every word with the greatest pa- 
tience and urbanity, and with all the proper coldness and gra- 
vity of a statesman. He pretended at first to be totally ignorant 
of the case, saying only, ^ So Ms it so ! indeed! we will see!'' 
as the dragoman proceeded ; and when he had heard the whole 
statement, he placed his hand upon his beard, and stroking it, 
said with great composure, in a sort of suppressed tone, to 
the dragoman, eagerly watched by Wortley, " If there had 
been no women in the case, the whole thing would have been 
easy ; but, as it is, there is much difficulty.'' 

** Tell his excellency," said Wortley to the dragoman with 
much animation; ^* that the person whom his government has 
treated as a criminal, and condemned without a proper trial, is 
an English nobleman of the greatest worth." 

The Reis Effendi replied, " My friend, when a diamond falls 
into the mud, its price is not diminished ! Please Allah ! all will 
be well ! Tell our friend the Ambassador, not to be under 
any apprehension. Upon our heads be it I Inshallah! the 
good understanding that subsists between us is not to be 
disturbed for such a trifle as this." Then turning to Trom- 
petta, he said in a suppressed whisper, *^I think I have heard of 
this case, which was tried befbre our lord the Grand Vizir. 
The man pretended to be a Frank, but he proved to be one 
Osmaii Aga, known to the Mufti of Kars — a man of probity, who 



AYESHA. 34» 

denounced him as a brawler and a maker of disturbance ; be 
was accused of stealing women of tbe true faitb, and bringing 
them hither for sale. This cannot be an English Beyzadeh.^* 

Wortley, who heard the name of Osman mentioned, imme- 
diately caught at it, and exclaimed with some violence, *' If ^ 
his excellency knows anything of Lord Osmond, or of the affair 
in question, I cannot allow him to pretend ignorance of it. We 
will not put up- with the usual procrast'mation ; every moment 
lost, is so much accumulated misery to an innocent man. But 
should his excellency be ignorant of the case, let him question 
Mustapha, the Tatar, who accompanied him.'^ 

Upon this suggestion, to which the Reis Effendi assented, 
Mustapha was introduced, and having taken up an attitude of 
respect at the end of the apartment, answered to all the 
questions which were put to him with great animation and 
interest; and from the explanations which he gave, it was 
evident that the Osman Aga to whom the minister alluded, and' 
I^rd Osmond, were one and the same* 

" Tell his excellency," said Wortley to the dragoman, '"^ that* 
there cannot now be the shadow of a doubt how my friend has 
been treated: He may at this very moment, for aught I know, 
be dragging out a miserable existence in chains, as a malefactor, 
in some desolate prison. How can his government answer to 
this accusation?" said the youthful diplomat with nmch wrath. 

Signor Trompetta interpreted this speech with every qua- 
lifying interpolation, at which Wortley would have taken fire, 
had he sufficiently possessed the Turkish language to make his 
own explanations. The Reis Effendi„ observing his agitation, 
said with great calmness, '^ My friend, when a man with the 
name of Osman, dressed, to all intents and purposes, as a true 
believer, speaking our language better than I can, without a 
jingle token in his person by which b.e may be recognised' as 
a Frank, is accused and brought before the tribunal , of our 
Vizir, unprotected by his nation, what fault can be attributed 
to our judges, if they see in him one of their nation, and refuse 
his pretensions of being an European?" 

'* My Aga insisted upon a messenger being sent to the Eng- 
lish Ambassador," interposed Mustafa, to the astonishment of 
the Turks, ^' and he was refused ; upon this I will take my 



344 AYBSHA. ., 

oath. The whole of the affair is a trick of that son of the devil, 
the Yezidi, Cara Bey.'' 

Wortley took up this ohservatican of Mustapha's with increas- 
ed violence ; he inveighed against the injustice and iie£»rious- 
mess of the whole proceeding, whilst he insisted upon the 
dragoman giving to the Reis Effendi the whole force of h» 
words ; talked much of the vengeance which his g0venn»ent 
could and would take» if imm^ediate satisfaction were not given 
for this insult <^ered to one of its most distinguished subjects ; 
and desired that a Tatar might be despatched whithersoever 
Lord Osmond had been conveyed^ with orders that be should 
immediately be set at Uberty. 

At this ebullition of violence, Trempetta was alarmed ; but 
the Reis Effendi was calm. ^ Tdl our friend the Ambassador,^ 
said the minister, '' that we will investigate the whole affair, 
and* that he will not have to complain of any backwardness 
on the part of the government of our Lord i^d Sovereign 
the Sultan to meet his wishes and give him redress. And let 
our young friend here be assured,'' addressing himself to 
Wortley, '' that if the English Beyzadeh had kept to his own 
costume, had appeared in his proper character, and not 
interfered with our women, or with affairs that did not 
belong to hinf, he might have walked from one end of our 
country to the other with his head up, carrying gold at the top 
of it, without meeting with molestation or hindrance of any 
sort." 

Upon this the conference broke up, and Wortley and his suite 
returned to the English palace. 



• •• 



4YESHA. • 345 



CHAPTER XXXIK 

Tke to&n was yet upon lier clieek, 
But mellowed with a tenderer stre^. 
Where was the play of her soft lips fled ? 
Gone was the smile that enliven'd their red.. 

The Siege of Corinth^ 

It is time to return to the unfortunate Ayesha, who, from the 
height of happiness, had been plunged into the depth of despair. 
Those dreams of future bliss in which she had indulged when 
she was last in ^mpany with her beloved Osmond were dis- 
pdled, and she now saw before her nothing but wretchedness. 
She felt herself so totally abandoned, and so entirely in the 
hands of Cara Bey and her designing mother, that there seemed 
to be no other resource left than to ky herself down and die. 

Cara Bey had prepared a small house for their reception, 
situated on the rope-walk leading from Galata to the arsenal 
and the palace of the Capitan Pasha. It was an obscure dwell- 
ing, facing the turreted wall that surroynds that suburb, con- 
sisting of two $tori^ entered by a low door, and covered by a 
shelving roof; and could attract no attention. The large bury- 
ing-ground, and its thick wood of cypress-trees, situated close 
to it, afforded an open space for taking the air, and was one of 
the avenues to the British palace, as well as the promenade,, 
of an evening, to the Europeans and Christian inhabitants of 
Pera and Galata. The uppenuft)st story was occupied by the 
women ; Cara Bey took possession of the lower apartments,, 
and adopted every precaution that no man sav^ himself should 
have access to the house;^ so jealous was' he of the possession- 
of a treasure which, in his estimation, was to lead him on to 
wealth and power. A woman devoted to him, attend^ as a 
servant ; for Mariam, from the day of Osmond's seizure, had 
absconded, and returned to her own country ; so terrified had 
she been by Cara Bey's presence. 



346 , AYESHA.- 

Cara Bey having, as he thought, entirely got rid of Osmond^ 
exulted in malignant joy at being obstructed by no impediment 
in pursuing his schemes upon Ayesha. As soon as Zabetta was 
installed in the house, he lost no time in making known to her 
his success with the Capitan Pasha, who professed himself 
burning with impatience to view those charms, which were at 
once to seal his pardon with the Sultan, and secure a con- 
tinuance of his favour. He told her, with all the precaution 
which his brutal nature could devise, that he had been obliged 
to describe her as his slave, and that as such he had offered her 
to that great dignitary. 

** But what share in the profit am I to have ?'" exclaimed Za* 
betta in alarm, lest her interests had been overlooked. ^' She 
is mine ; I am her mother." 

" What share are you to have ?" repeated Cara Bey with a 
sneer. " Are you mad to ask such a question, when you are 
about becoming a lady of the imperial seraglio*?" 

" What do I know ?" answered Zabetta in a tone of great 
ill-humour, the whole rapaciousness of the Greek beaming in 
her countenance : ** There is much fraud in the world : pro- 
fessions are cheap ; but such beauty as my daughter's is 
scarce. Let me know what share of the profit is to be mine, 
and then I will speak to you." 

" Woman ! are you mad ?" again exclaimed Cara Bey, his 
Satanic features breakiqgout into sudden passion. '^ Have we 
not been long agreed P Shall we be seated together in one 
boat, and the next moment be thrown separate^ly into the 
sea ? Be he ! — This is much, indeed." 

" Agreed , indeed ! What words are these ?" said Zabetta. 
'* You seem to have agreed with yourself to gain all, and to 
leave me without a cap on my head. You take my daughter, 
you sell her, and all I am to acquire is the prospect of getting 
. into the seraglio. I am no such fool, praises be to the Prophet! 
as not to see into a trick, however crafty. - If prosperity were 
to be gained by cunning, mice would prosper." 

'* Do you talk thus to me, you weak one !" exclaimed Cara 
Bey, forgetting for a moment that he was no longer the inde- 
pendent chief — the governor of hisxstronghold. *^ How came 
ye hither, but for me P But for my protection you would at 
this moment be grovelling in the mire, — the slave of a Frank ;• 



AYESHA. 347 

-whereas now you aspire to be a sultana. Open your eyes, wo- 
man, or Wallah billah! — by the prophet! I will cut that 
unceasing tongue of your^s from that never-failing mouth." 

" You will, will you ! wretch of a Yezidi !" exclaimed the 
infuriated woman, throwing her five extended fingers into his 
face. " Na ! — that for you ! You think me friendless, and 
therefore insult me. Because you are a swine, am I to be 
taken for a post? No : get yon elsewhere to rub your hated 
hide. I have friends here. I will go to my husband^s friend, 
the Mufti of Kars : he will protect me; he will tell the truth. 
You talk of the Frank ; would he were here ! He is no pitiful 
dealer in stolen slaves : he is a man, if ever there was one. I 
will seek the protection of his Ambassador. Wherefore should 
I require the help of a branded outcast like you P" 

At these words the devil- worshipper, thus taunted, thus ex- 
cited, would have thrown himself headlong upon the reckless, 
perverse, wrong-headed woman. Her passions being once 
brought into a state of fusion, like lava running over a crater, 
flowing into an undefined channel, bore everything before 
them. Reason, common sense, prudence, every consideration 
gave way before her uncontrollable temper ; and had she even 
seen the villain's knife at her breast, of which she was running 
a considerable risk, she probably would have continued her 
strain of volubility, taunting in never-ceasing reproach and in- 
vective even to the very verge of dissolution. He, however, 
did not give way to his passion ; but, suddenly recollecting how 
much he had at stake were she to seek the protection of the 
Mufti, and fearing to lose a prize, of which, by a little good 
management, he would certainly be the possessor, he all of a 
sudden lowered his tone, withdrew his frown, called up a de- 
mon's smile, and said : 

" Wherefore are you thus angry without a cause ? Do I 
say that you shall not share in the profit, if profit there be P 
Astaferallah I — heaven forbid! I am not a man to enter into 
a fraud thus. But, as you love your daughter, reflect on 
whom we have to deal with. These are not merchants ; these 
are not Jewbrokers. Here is, first, a lord high-admiral ; one 
who with a wink of his eye cuts off a head; with a nod, sends 
a soul in haste out of a body. Then perhaps, who knows ! 
will come the great blood-drinker in person, who says, ' Fofc, 



348 AYESIU. 

no/ and the heavens shake ; and pronounces, *• Beiliy yes/ and 
the clouds, stars, sun, moon laugh. These we have to do 
with. Shall we then inquire what ffrofit there will be P , Per- 
haps there may be gain, perhaps not. Let us but get our little 
finger into the hole, we will soon make it wide enough ta in- 
liert our whole body. Once installed in the royal sera^o, 
what is the eminence to which a woman of your wit may not 
attain? With the emperor^s beard in one hand, and yot.r 
daughter's diiarms in the other, you may ride over the universe- 
And will you then forego these advantages, to higgle over a 
few uncertain piastres ? If you really are such a fool, ^u are 
not the woman I took you for.'' 

These words, spoken with all the wile and cuiming of a 
demon, calmed the woman's rage, and brought her round to a 
more correct seose of her interests. She gradually subsided 
into silence, and from silence into thought; she pondered for a 
while, and then said, ''What is to be done? When shaH we 
begin our operations ? After so much kneading, when shall we 
put our loaves into the oven?" 

''Patience — eh, patience, friend!" exclaimed Cara Bey- 
" An egg is not hatched in a minute, nor does the hen cadde 
before her time. This very night I have agreed that the great 
Capitan Pasha in person, tebtil — in disguise, is to visit this 
very house. Be it your business to prepare the maiden for his 
reception ; he must see her — of that there is no doubt : prepare 
a good cup of coffee, some fruit, and I will get wine. Do you 
hear ? see you to this, and I will now proceed to conduct him 
hither. But be cautious, and, above all, keep your temper." 

Zabetta, having given her assent to this, left Cara Bey to 
seek her daughter, whilst he betook himself to the palace of the 
great naval chief. 

She found poor Ayesha^ as usual, brooding over her miseries, 
wrapped in thought over the one object of her existence — her 
absent lover, and pining in hopeless, heart-breaking wretched- 
ness. Her. beauty, which had risen to the height of its splen- 
dour during her sea voyage, happy as she then was, without a 
wish ungratifled, and with the prospect of future happiness be- 
fore her, was now daily declining; the bloom had fled her 
cheeks, her brilliant eyes were dimmed by constant tears; the 
gracefulness of her healthy figure was gradually relapsing into 



AYESHA. 349 

extewiaiioaL In vain she attempted to pierce into the gloom 
by which she was surrounded ; no ray of hope broke in upon 
h^. She felt herself doomed to be the victim of the being 
who she once thought was her Biother, but who, it was clear, 
could not be so, now that she was about to sacrifice her to her 
unprinc^Ied schemes of andi^itioa and rapacity. To whom 
could she flee for help, imprisoned as she was in the toils of 
two such wretches as Zabetta and the monster Cara Bey P Her 
Osmond was far, £ar away. ^' AhiP^' would she fre<}uently 
exclaim to herself, in a desponding sigh, ''where are you, 
dearest, best, most adored of my heart! Are you pining in 
some lonely dungeon? or, oh hornd thought! have your ruth- 
less enemies wreaked their utmost vengeance upon you?" 
This idea would so harrow up her soul that it almost deprived 
her of reason ; scheme after scheme succeeded each other in her 
mind in rapid succession^ until she scarcely knew where she 
was or to whom she belonged. Often did she resolve to leave 
the hated lodging in which she was immured, and to seek her 
way back to her father, who she now felt was the only being in 
the world to protect her. She thought, too^ of the Mufti; but 
he, her Osmond's enemy — what could she expect to meet with 
at his hands but insolence and contumely? 

The disconsolate Ayesl^ was plunged in the midst of such 
reflections when Zabetta entered her apartment. Putting on 
a face of sympathy, the artful woman approached her daughter 
with every d^nonstration of kindness. 

'* My soul, Ayesha," she exclaimed, " wherefore are you so 
sad? Are we not at Stamboul? is not the world smiling upon 
us ? You, Mashallah ! you — are you not the most beautiful^ 
the mosteharming of maidens, and am not I your mother? 
What is there to make you sad ? Open your heart, and let 
us live to all the delights which this charming place affords.** 

''Mother," said Ayesha, ^^ be the enjoyments yours, since 
SHch you esteem them ; I witt none of them. I have only one 
reiq^est to make. — Let me return to Kars — let me once more 
be restored to my father, and there let me Uve and die. Would 
that thfse dliarms, since such you are pleased lo call them, 
could be wip^ away, and replaced by looks the most homely ! 
for then I should pass through this hated world unnoticed and' 



SW AYESHA* 

unobserved. But wherefore repine, since Allak Las so decreed 
my fate ?'' 

*' What say you? return to Kars!" exclaimed Zabetta. 
'< Heaven preserve us! will you wrap yourself in your winding- 
. sheet before your time? What is there so hate&l in oar pre- 
sent situation, which should make you wish to change it? 
Have you not all you can desire ?'^ 

*< Mother, wherefore speak you so ?'^ said Ayesha, interrupt- 
ing Zabetta. ^' Subject to the power of, and living an inmate 
under the same roof as that ruffian Cara Bey I can that be a 
cause of rejoicing to us who have experienced so much mi- 
sery at his hands P Wherefore do you not skreen me from 
him — you who are my mother? Wherefore live we with 
him?" 

" What words are these?" rejoined Zabetta, roused into 
anger; '' and who are you, to speak to me thus ? If I am your 
mother, you will act according to my wishes. You have been 
saved by Cara Bey from the hands of a Giaour — one who 
would have borne you away to his infidel country; and now 
that he is preparing the road for your happiness and your 
elevation, you call him ruffian, and would return to Kars! 
Are these the words of a Turkish maiden?" 

Ayesha held her peace; she felt that it would be madness to 
venture to argue with one so perverse, and she determined to 
be silent. 

Zabetta, in her usual manner, when her temper was roused, 
continued to give the reins to her volubility ; and when she had 
exhausted herself, finding that Ayesha did not answer, she at 
length began to reflect that she was defeating her own purpose. 
She had undertaken to persuade her to receive the Capitaa 
Pasha, and she had not advanced one step in obtaining her end. 
She feared to encounter the inflexibility of her daughter, who, 
she knew by experience, would never deviate from what she 
conceived to be due to herself; and still she felt it necessary to 
forewarn her of the projected visit, in order to prevent any dis- 
agreeable consequences, were she to resist receiving it. 

" How can you," said she, ^* continue to give up your 
thoughts to the Frank, now that you have the first agas of the 
country striving to obtain a glimpse of your charms ? Ere this. 



AYESIIA. ^51 

he muit have returned to his country, and huve long forgotten 
us. After all, he is a Giaour. Iniidels can no more mix with 
true believers, than oil with vinegar." 

" I want to see no one," answered Ayesha. " If you ever 
loved your daughter, allow me to sit in a corner, and to remain 
unnoticed ; — above all, save me from Cara Bey." 

^' Here is the great Capitan Pasha in person coming to see 
you this very evening," said Zabetta. " If you fear Cara Bey, 
seek his protection. He is one of the grandees of the govern- 
ment ; you must see him." 

** There is no man, according to our law, save the Sultan 
himself, who can force, me to show my face to him," said 
Ayesha, with great energy; *' and unless I am compelled by 
force, I will not see the Capitan Pasha, or any other man." 

Zabetta, for once, succeeded in smothering the anger that 
was rising in [her breast, when she heard this her daughter's 
declaration. She left her, without saying more, to busy her- 
self in making the necessary preparations for receiving her im- 
portant guest. She exerted her best endeavours to make a 
display of her knowledge in cookery ; she brought to light the 
most savoury of pillaus ; superintended the most fragrant con- 
coction of coffee, and piled delicious fruits inappropriate bowls. 
At about night-fall the door of the house was opened with 
caution, and the great Admiral in person, attended by two ser- 
vants, and conducted by Cara Bey, entered, and was ushered 
into the apartments of the first-floor. He was a stout, broad 
man, of hale complexion, with a beard tending to red, though 
sufficiently mixed up with white hair to show that he had passed 
the middle age of life, and his appearance exhibited little of that 
refined and courteous demeanour which is so frequently the 
characteristic of Turks. He was dressed as a galiongi, or sailor, 
iTvhich consists of a jacket highly embroidered, a pair of white 
trowsers, naked legs, crimson shoes, and a small *turban. He 
was, besides, completely covered with the white cloak com- 
mon to the Barbary states. 

He seated himself with the ease and self-possession of one 
accustomed to command, whilst Cara Bey stood in an attitude 
of respect before him. Zabetta was in attendance to receive 
him, which she did with the most officious marks of attention 
and servile obsequiousness. But, scarcely noticing her, the 



352 AYESHA. 

great man, after having taken several whiffs from a mag- 
nificent pipe, said, as he looked around the room, '^ Where is 
Ayesha. Wherefore is she not here ?'' 

Zabetta inunediately stepped forward and answered, '* Hea- 
ven preserve your highness ! the maiden is abashed. She is 
timid, and is fearful of appearing; she will soon come. Your 
highness must forgive her. We are poor folks ; we are not 
accustomed to such visits. Mashaliah !— May Allah protect 
you ! Let me intreat you to take some cofiee made by my 
unworthy hands.^' 

Upon this she served up the coffee, but during this operation, 
Cara Bey, who acted as an attendant, ^appeared ill at ease, and 
anxious at the non-appeai»ilce of his victim. He whispered 
Zabetta to go and force her daughter to appear. Zabetta, ap- 
prehensive of her inflexibility, and fearful gf producing a scene, 
did not give a ready ear, but continued to oppress her guest 
with her volubility and officiousness. 

" Ucmidh Ayesha ? — where is Ayeidia ?" £^ia repeated 
the Capitan Pasba, $s be. sipped his co£Eee. 

*' Go, bring her,^' said Cara Bey to Zabetta, as if there was no 
difficulty about it, although, at the same time, he made a sign to 
her with such a frown on his counteliatnce that his anger and 
impatience could not be mistaken. She wiU conieimmediately, 
my lord," said he to the chieftain; ^^ she is only in the upper 
room, and will appear in a minute; she is a child, knd knows 
no better." 

Zabetta then projceeded, with slow sle|» and a hopeless man- 
ner, to seek her daughter. She found her 1^ a state of great 
excitement. She had heard the arrival of the Gapitan Pasha, 
and anticipated the miseries thatwer^ likely to fall upon her. 
'^ Mother T she exclaimedi as soon as she saw Zabetta appear, 
** I know wherefore you come; but I intreat you to spare me; 
do not allow your daughter to degrade herself lo. a being> lower 
tha^ the most ^ject of slaves. I cannot, I will not expose 
myself to the gaze of men. They are neither my Eather nor 
my brother ; wherefore should I be thus iiisulted P" 

^£|bett^ w^s astonished at Aydsha's impet«tefiity, for she had 
ever been accustomed to fiadj^er the most^nile and traetable 
of beiQg^. There rW<o^ no \ism for dismission^ she saw ..how 
hopeless was \w att^rop^i 9^^ retunaed whenoe she c^uaa^i 



AYE8HA. 35S 

Without saying a word more, and, gently opening tbe door of 
the room in which the Capitan Pasha was seated, she whispered 
to Cara Bey to come out to her. 

^< What has happened ?*^ said the great man. 
*' £ir ehey yok — there is nothing," said Cara Bey, " I will 
soon return." 

Upon which, with his anger excited, the ruffian approached 
Zabetta, saying, '' Wherefore does she not come P By the 
standard of Yezid I I will have her blood, if she does not 
come." And thus saying, he sprang up the stairs. Throwing 
open the door, he found the excited maiden standing in the 
middle of the room^ with her veil fast clenched in her hand, 
drawn tightly over her person, in an attitude of dignified resolve. 

** Wherefore will you not come, child of iniquity?" he ex- 
claimed with a voice of rage. 

" Wherefore come you here?" said she. " Who are you 
who dare intrude upon a w<Mnan's privacy? This is the harem 
— away ! 

^' Come with me; come immediately^ or, by Allah! I will 
force you." 

" Monster !" cried the intrepid Ayesha, " by what right do 
you command me ? You are neither my lather nor my bro- 
ther. I stir not from hence." 

<< We will see 1" said he, darting forward to seize her. 

Ayesha fled from him towards the window, which was open, 
as if to throw herself from it, uttering at the same time a shriek 
which rang through the room in piteous accents. He sprang 
forward and seized her by the arm ; she resisted with all her 
might, and at the same time continued to utter loud and re- 
peated cries of distress. In the midst of their struggles, the 
door was thrown open, and in rushed the astounded dignitary, 
followed by Zabetta, who, having heard the cries and the 
sounds of the scuffle, had ascended in haste to ascertain the 
cause. As soon as Ayesha perceived her mother, she rushed 
towards her, leaving her veil in the hands of her assailant, and 
hid her face on her breast; her fine form and the whole beauty 
of her person being open to the gaze of the astonished Capi- 
tan Pasha. 

^* What has happened P" said he, in an angry tone to Cara 
Bey, as he took his stand in the rooip. Looking with great 



Sb\ AYESHA. 

intenscbess of admiration upon Ayesha, and seeing in her one 
who probably oin some future day might exef dse great control 
over the Sultan, he felt a quick flash of apprehension lest she 
might exercise that control to the detriment of those who were 
dow treatii^ her so rudely. He went up to her, and with as 
soft a tone as he could throw into his voice, said, '^ Korkma, 
guzum^ — fear not^ my eyes! no one shall harm you. We are 
not come here to excite your displeasure ; wi^ are your friends; 
we wish your happiness. Inshallahl m a Aort time every 
pleasure will attend you." 

*^ If you are a man," exclaimed Ayesha, with indignation in 
her accent, aiid eoTeiring herself at the same time with part of 
her mother^s veil-— ^^ If you are a man, I ask you to protect me 
from that monster," pointing to Cara Bey. '* We are Turkish 
women — we are children of the true &itb, and not worshippers 
ef Satan, whd Htknowledge np law. Is not the harem sacred 
in Codstailtlheple? Are we to b^ treated m heretics and base 
women, in the capital of the Sultan, and that under the very 
i^yes of one of his ministers? Are you not ashamed to enter 
a harem by force, and to assail a weak woman when she is 
anpirbtectbdP" 

^^ How IB tins, Cara Bey?" said the Pasha, addressing himself 
to the villain ; ^ you told me these women were your slaves. 
Speak^ nian, how is this ?" 

*^ His slaves 1" exclaimed Ayesha, the blood of indignation 
rushing into her face as she s{^oke, and free flashing from her 
eyes. *^We his slaves! by the head of the Sultan, sir! by 
ever^ thitag that is sacred, that mioi has i^bken falsely. We 
are IVbdidm^dan wonleb; we belong to a man tof w^rtfa; from 
bis boiise the monstto stole us by a dastardly slratagem, and, 
htd it not bete for the vabu^ and kigactty of n FrAnk— ^f aA 
Inglife, whom, throu^ his Ssilse iH^cusations, he has perhaps f!t^ 
this casised to Jle pxt to deathv we should tO this da^ have, been 
his prisoii^^- Eiet him Aow you the brand on hm forehead, 
and 9A him how it got dMire ? You do not ioiow him^^you are 
dbhoiifoak*ed by fans services, how mueh ihore then by his bc- 
quoiiftiinde ! Shantfe, sir, shame!" 

The grave Turk, who had never been acquainted iprith any 
wonien but thosQ afcomtomed to submit bhndly tohis will, upon 
hearing thc^ie W«rds, mA seeitig the energy afad tcontaHmding 



AYESHA. 355 

manner of the beautifu} person by whom: they were spoken, felt 
a degree of awe and admiration which was entirely new to him. 
He never qouli have cpnceived that so mnch strength of cha- 
racter, and such great love of vir^^e, as were now evinced by 
<^ye^ha^ could belong to wopian ; i^n^y like one who sees some 
{^eat aatural phenomenon foip the first time, he remained star- 
ling a^dstijpified, i^ot l^no^ing what to say, or how to express 
jbi$ astpqisbment. Cs^tphing the infectious energy of her man- 
Uj^r, jAQd siding with her, \ke looked towards Cara Bey with in- 
jdigQfition ; and although he w^ conscious that he had allowed 
hiniself to b^ implicated in that villain's designs, by lending 
hiaiself to his proposals, still he had been left in ignorance of 
the greatest part of what Ayesha had now cpmmunicfiled to 
him. , . , 

Cara Bey, on the other hand, was writhing under the lash of 
the heroic maiden's words, with the feelings of one who,1;»ound 
to the stake, was under the infliction of torture. He felt that 
she had now emancipated herself from his protection, and 
placed herself under that of a power over which he had no con- 
trol. He cowered under her presence, as the worker of ini- 
quity shrinks from the glare of daylight. All he could say, his 
hypocritical eyes turning towards the Pasha, was, '' She lies — 
she is false — your highness must not believe her; — ask this 
woman," pointing to Zabetta ; '^ she is her mother, apd knows 

all." 

The ^Capitan Pasha^ happy to ^cape for a moment from 
the feeling of self-degradation which Ayesha's accusations had 
awakened in him, turned to Zabetta, and said^ '^ How is this ? 
Are you apid your daughter slaves of this man P or did he steal 
you from yoiur home by stratagem P" Speak 1" 

Zabetta had been as much thunderstruck by Ayesha's energy 
'pf coiKlupt as Cara Bey. Shei stammered out a few incoherent 
words, which only the more evinced her confiision. '' Ne bill- 
rinij Effendim — What can I say, my lordP" she said. " We 
are Mahomedan women, that is true ; we are your highness's 
slaves, do with us what seems best to you. We are poor folks, 
and are not accustomed to such a visit as this. Our Ayesha 
is a child, she does not know better; pardon her faults ; we have 
always lived in the country, we are unacquainted with the ways 
of Constantinople. Whatever your highness may command. 



S5a AYESHA. 

that we are ready to do ; pardon us. Would not your high- 
ness take more refreshment ? everything is ready below. Big- 
millah /—in the name of the Prophet ! it is ready ;" upon which 
she showed the way to the door. 

The Capitan Pasha was not slow in taking advantage of the 
invitation of Zabetta; for, strange to say, the retiring, the tender, 
the feminine maiden had more awed the rough sailor, the man 
«-of storms and violence, in the few minutes which he had spent 
in her company, than he eould have been by the taunts and 
threats of many men. As he was about to go, he turned 
towards Ayesha, and taking one long admiring look at her, said, 
** Korkma kizev^ — fear not, my daughter, everything will go 
well with you, Inballah V* Upon this he left the room, and at 
the same time qr^ering Car^ Bey to follow him, said, ^^ As you 
valae your head>lmai>, never approach that maiden again. She 
is ours." . • . 

The foiled wretch, clenchiRg- hi3 liands with impotent 'rage, 
and looking at her under hifi d«^ and ominous brow, followed 
without uttering a word ; and thus 4he grief-stricken Ayesha was 
once more left to her solitude. V^en she found herself re- 
lieved from their presence, she refii%ated to a corner of the 
sofa, and burying her face-in her hands, resting them upon her 
knees, her fine hair streaming over her shoulders, and her 
graceful figure bending into a form which painters would love 
to design, she freely gaje up her heart to prayer, whilst her 
whole frame shook with die videiice' of her sobs. She called 
upon her Maker for protection, -w^i^t the image of her lo^el* 
came before heir in all its bewitmaig charm and tendeniisss. 
She trusted that s)ie was for tl^e present delivered from her 
greatest affliction — the presence 'pf the odious worshijfSper of 
Satan ; but what were the trials and the sorrows istill in store 
for her from the new protector M^hich lihe had^ acqiiiinedV she 
dreaded to think t . ' • •' -** 



r 



^^' 






' ^J, J.', 






' ■ ' I • * •# • t i ' »j 



t' '■■■ 



AYSSHA. n57 



"••; 



CHAPTER XXXni. 

Cent Faith ! once or twice, she heared the name of father 
Pantingly forth,'at'if'itpreM^ her heart 

.r. ' King huw* 

i -x.. . . . ■ . ■ 

The Capitan Pasha, upoiii' leaving the hoHse,. gave Zabettar 
assurances of his future protection ; recomlnMidedifaer to take 
the greatest care of her daughteri; told !ly$rr.(hat she should 
want for nothing f and, as an'earnest of *thi9,*>«iade her, . upon 
stepping from the door, a/hand6ome.presenjt*i%.moneyv Or- 
dering Cara Bey to follow ;hiin;ia|idLthe night' Ibeiiig far ad- 
vanced, he returned incognito to^hi^^K^n: palace. ' 
. Zabetta could hardly.,^l(^ep|){fipm:. delightful, anticipations of 
the grandeur and worifify pr6spigri|y^in store for her ; whilst 
Ayesha, from apprehensH>ns o(;thatj^me fate, was equally una- 
ble to close her eyes. ^The former* h^d no other visions before 
her than of rich dresses, gilded palai^s,: fine equipages, splen- 
did boats, and never-ceasing pleaf^une;;. the latter could. not 
divest herself of the horr(^,;dftbMi)gi^u1;q1^Qt]tQ ,the power of 
^some rude and barbarous^^ster; in.c6inm6niwith other unfor- 
tunate women; whilst ^ei^'oym loyer, tier fond and devoted 
Osmond, might be wasti|^aly&ay'hi)3 existenoe in a prison, for- 
gotten and despised. l<fi* 

The succeeding day hajcbnot long appeared, when their atten- 
tion was awakened j[>y'a^knocking at the door. Zabetta looked 
out of the upper^wibdow, dnd, seeing several men in waiting, 
and amo|%-th^em a^ Frank, ordered the servant not to admit 
them .b^oflre she 'had ascertained who they were. 

^' iSSm dcr .^--Who is it?" said the old woman, as she 
stoqdi/withlier^hiknd on the latch, and with her ear towards 

*ffJ4^(?^open 1" said a Turk. 
^ " V^ho are you ?" repeated the old woman. 



358 AYESHA. 

" Atch — open !" again said the voice. 

By this time, Zabetta, having thrown her veil over her head, 
had come to the assistance of the servant, and repeated the 
question in her shrillest tone of voice. 

" Who are you, and what do you want ?" 

A different voice from the first then answered from without, 
^' I am Mustafa Tatar. You know me, Zabetta Kadun. We 
are friends. Open.'' 

Upon which, Zabetta huddUng up-stairs to the room on her 
first-floor, ordered the maid to open the door and admit the 
visitors without farther delay. 

Ayesha too, who was alive to every noise, had ventured to 
peqp through the lattice, and, perceiving a Frank among the 
intruders, her thoughts immediately recurred to Osmonds 
With her curiosky and her imagination all alive, ^he covered 
herself closely over with her veil, and, hoping that this visU 
might throw some light upon the fate of him whose edstence 
was idenlified withiier own, she timidly determined to join her 
mother in |he room below. 

liie visitors were five in nuniber. A Chaonsh of the grand 
Vizir, and his att^dant, a Hoja^ or scribe, Miislafe, Signor 
Troffipetia, and Wortley. Their visit was caused by the recep- 
tion of Osmond's letter to Wortley, which we have already 
set brfore our readers, in which he was enjoined to discover 
the abode of Zabetta and Ayesha, and to elucidate from their 
lips such parts of the truth of his history as would be necessary 
to secure his emancipation. The Ambassador, upon perusing 
this letter, immediately made a communication of it to the Reis 
Effi^ndi, and insisted that, lot the better satisfaction of his 
excellency, who still remained convinced that Osmond was not 
an Englishman, biit a Turk, an examination of the women im- 
plicated in his adventures should be made ; and requested that 
one of his officers^ together with his own secretary and drago- 
man, should be allowed to proceedto their abode for that pur- 
pose. The Reis Eflfendi acceded to the request, and this visit 
was the result. 

Zabetta was seated in a corner of the room, whilst Ayesha 
had taken post immediately behind her. The Chaoush (one 
of the oflficers attendant upon the Vizir's court, and usually 
employed upon such like occasions), Wortley, the dragoman, 



AYB8HA. *^9 

and the Turkisb scribe, were seated opposite to tbeni, whilst 
Mustafa stood near the door. 

'' Which is Zabetta Kadun P"* said tbechaousk. 
^* I am your slave/' said Zabetta in a low and tceimiloite 
voice, evidently much alarmed at the whole fhSMietHaigf and 
keeping her (ace dosely concealed by herveil. ^ Nei$Usrri» f 
— What do you want P^' she continued if say, as she cast her 
eyes upon the different individuals befope her. 

There wa^ aa agitation and an iacoheeency .p^coeptiUe in 
her whole maimei*, whidi showed 4iat Ae was greatly syffiaded 
by the appearance of those present Wondey seemed to 
£^tract all her obsenration. She gave little heed to Mustafa^ 
who, being her old acquaintance, it might have been supposed 
would have inspired her with jcoafidence; biii;,ftbsoiebed as she 
was by so|ne predominant feding^ she was iuieiaW and isppa- 
rendy greatly dbturbed. Ayedia, too, remained pecfeoily 
motionless, her eyes fixed upon War|tley : whe&er loom the 
consciousness that be. was her Osmond's J&iHid, or &om some 
other motive, slie seemed to be taken up wiib him alone, and 
heedless of the presence of all else. 

*^ Now open your eyes," Said the €faaoush to Zidbetta ; ^^ you 
will answer the 4}uestions of tins aga,^\pointingtto boippelta, 
'' and you will speak the truth, the clean truth. Do you hear P—r* 
this is no play. We are here iqpon ^ :^ervice (rf your Lord 
and Sovereign the Sultan->--have you understood me ?'' 

Zabetta made a sort of nervous movement, apd wUlii^ly 
would she have been spared this scene, but said nothing. 

^' Now write," said the dragoman to the scribe, ^^ wbatever 
you will hear." Then addressing ^himsetf to Zabetta, whilst 
Wortley was a/t -his «lbow to prompt him, he inqutri^d of iher, 
'^ Are you acquaihted with a Frank -^ an Englishman of the 
name of Osmond^-^Lord Osmond P" 

She could scarcely utter, so ihoroiigbly didlier senses ap* 
pear to be confused. 

'' Do yen hear, woman!" 'Said theChaowib, in a voice q(f 
authority^ " Why do you not answer ?" 

^^ Apswer, mother," whispeced Ayesha, whose whole soul 
was wrapped up in the proceeding. 

The question having again been put to her, she answered, 



300 AYBSHA. 

*^ Did you inquire aboiil Oiiiuib Aga, the Fruk ? — yes^ I know 
him." 

^^ Relate how you became acquainted with him ?*' said the 
dragoman^ 

Zabetta made several essays to begin her narrative^ but, 
finding herself unable to proceed, she fairly bunH into tears, 
through excess of agitation. 

'' Wait a Utde;' said Wortley to Trompetta ; '« £^ow the 
poor woman time to recollect, herself, for she appears greatly 
distressed^" wh^st his eyes were. fixed alternately upon her 
and upon Ayesha, with an expression which seemed to say how 
much he desired that their veils did not lorm an impediment 
to the gratification of his curiosity. 

'^ Speak I" said the Chaoush ; '' we are impatiefit I" 

Having a Itttle recovered hdrself^ Zabetta. thent. proceeded, 
tlH*ough sobs and sighs, and innumerable, pauses, to give an 
account of her first acquamtance with Osuncmd, Qceasionaliy 
prompted by Ayeaha, and set right* by . Mvstafa. She gave a 
tolerably clear account o£ Osmond's adventures until his leaving 
Kars through the intervention of Hassan ; but when she came 
to narrate that which related to Cara Bey, she became con- 
fused, and her account was so full of hesitation that it was 
difficult to be understood. 

Mustafa, however, who was greatly alive to the whole scene, 
did not allow her memory to fail her, but constantly plied her 
with such pertinent questions, that, little by little, the whole 
story was elicited. 

^^ So then," said the dragoman, >^ you were made slaves by 
Gara Bey ? How then does it happen that you swore Lord 
Osmond brought you to Constantinople as his slaves P" 

'' What can I say P" said Zabetta, in evident confusion. 

" Write this down," said Wortley to the scribe. " You 
see what falsehoods have been invented." 

'^Now tell us," said the dragoman, 'V where is this Cara 
Bey ? '^ You must occasionaUy see him ; where is he P" 

'^ What can I say P" said Zabetta, in still greater confusion. 
" We are poor women, and new to Stamboid. We put our 
trust in Allah 1" 

'^ I can tell you !" exclaimed Ayesha with great animation, 



AYBSHA. 361 

opening her lipe for the first time ; *' he is to be found with 
the Capitan Pasha ; and, if ye have the souls of men, let us in- 
treat you to save us from his presence.'' 

These vi^ords, spoken with an accent which went to the 
heart, and which sounded, throughout the whole frame of 
Wortley Uke the reverberations of his own feelings — as if they 
belonged to lus very existence, produced such an effect upon 
her auditors, that there was a tacit pause in the whole pro- 
ceeding, s^d silence ensued for some minutes. 

'' Sighor Trompetta, we must discover this man wherever 
he maybe,'' said Wortley with intense interest, looking towards 
Ayesha, as-he spoke, and Smiling at her with a glance of ap- 
probation. 

'^ Now a^k the woman,'^ said Wortley to the dragoman, 
^^ wheth^ that yoiing person is her daughter : it is one of Lord 
Osmond's requests that we should investigate this matter." 

'* This is Mr. Wortley, the friend of Lord Osmond," said 
the dragom^in to Zabetta, " and he wishes to know whether 
that maiden is your daughter." 

At these words, Zabetta became entirely and completely 
overpowered ; she seemed all at once to be struck by some 
unaccountable affliction, as if her whole frame was paralysed. 
She shook from head to foot. Ayesha.became alarmed at her 
state, and endeavoured to soothe her, and give her courage 
to answer. She seemed afraid to look up ; there was such a 
total loss of mind for some minutes, that every one present 
was convinced that something more was connected with this 
question than met the eye. At length, as if gathering her 
senses, and making a sort of desperate effort upon herself, 
she exclaimed, '' She is my daughter 1 What do you want 
more ?" 

'' Have you ever been acquainted with English people 
before P" inquired the dragoman, at the instigation of Wort- 
ley. 

This question called forth another struggle, and after some 
moments of hesitation, she said, '' No I how should IP I am 
a Turkish woman." 

'' You were once a Greek," said Mustafa, ^' that you know ; 
and you attended the Greek church in the Russian camp in 
Georgia. What words do you speak ? We know things." 



36*2 AYE8HA. 

'' If you were a man,*' exclaimed Zabetia, her anger roused, 
'* I would answer you. What is it to you who and what I am ? 
Look to your saddle and your post-horses, and leave honest 
folks alone. If you come here to insult us, let me tell you we 
are not without our protector. We have a shade to sit under. 
Although you may shake your elbow at me, I can throw ray 
fiv(^ fingers at you.'* And thus she would have continued (6 
run on in idle vituperation, for, when once roused, her passions 
and her tongue knew no control, had not Wortley broken up 
(he meeting, by saying to Signor Trotnpetta and to the' at- 
tendant officer, 

^^ We have learned aU that is necessary for our purpose^ 
and as it is not our intention to produce a scene of confusion, 
let us depat^.'^ 

Upon this they tbok their leave, and proceeded straightway 
to the Reis Effendi, ixk order to give him ^n account of what 
had taken place'; whilst Zabetta and Ayesha were left each to 
their different speculations, as to what might prove the result 
of this unexpected visit. Contrary to her usuid custom after 
the departure of a visitor, whose merits or demerits, according 
to the rules of gossips, she freely discussed, Zabetta remained 
absorbed in thought. Something of more than ordinary in- 
terest had struck her mind, and seemed to have paralysed her 
tongue. She did not even by sign, gesture, or exclamation, 
exhibit to her daughter what might be passing in her mind. 
There she sat in a comer of the room, sullen and deject- 
ed ; the only symptom of her b^g alive was an occasional 
deep-drawn sigh, whidi involuntarily caused her breast to 
heave; and one whd %new her might have supposed that she 
had been struck by some invisible spell. Ayesha, on the 
contrary, had been greatly relieved from her apprehensions 
concerning Cara Bey, and his patron the Capitan Pasha, by 
the appearance of the pet^ons whom she had just seen, and 
particularly by that of Wortley. She now felt that Osmond 
had not been totally abandoned to the malignity of his enemies. 
The investigation which had just taken place, taught her to 
hope that there was no fear for his safety, and that, with the 
exception of the miseries of delay, be might hope to be released 
from his present bondage. In Wortley she ^ had seen her 
lover's friend ; after the lover himself, one invested with that 



AYESHA. StiS 

character is generally the most interesting and the most be- 
loved ; and during his stay her eyes had been riveted on his 
features und^r a degree of fascination for which she could not 
account. She felt that she loved him, and still nothing told 
her that that love was unpermitted. What would she not have 
given to have been allowed to open her whole soul to htm con- 
cerning Osmond, to learn from him all' the intelligence which 
he might have received relating to his fate, and to communicate 
all her hopes, her expectations, and those innumerable no- 
things, which, to those not in lovej seem foolishness, but to 
those who are, become matters of serious and weighty import ? 
Different frbni he^ mother, she would now have expressed her 
feelings by Words, had she met with any encouragement. She 
observed how much her mother's conduct was changed by this 
visit,' and remarked her silence and abstractedness with asto- 
nishment. She waited some time before she ventured to open 
her lips, but at length the desire to give vent to her spirits 
prevailed, and she exclaimed, " Mother, did yon ever see any- 
thing so charming as that young Frank ? ' I wonder if all the 
English are like him V 

To this Zabetta gave no answer. 

'' I wonder if they ever have beards like our Osmanlies I 
He had none, not even a mustache." 

Still Zabetta said nothing. 

^^ His hair i^as the colour 6f mine ; and then, he has such 
expressive eyes 1" 

" Hold your tongue," said her mother in a peevish accent; 
'' are you mad, child? How dare you look at a man? what 
are his eyes to you P" 

" Nothing," said Ayesha — " that is true ; but, as I have never 
seen much of Franks, I could not help looking at him. Be- 
sides, he is Osman Aga's friend, and I felt that he would 
protect us from that odious Cara Bey.'' 

Zabetta still maintained her reserve, and only seemed vexed 
by Ayesha's observations. The maiden remained silent, and 
turning away her head, she opened the window and looked at 
the confined view before her. As she east her eyes along the 
path leading by the rope-walk, she observed two grave Turl^ 
of respectable appearance, who, with slow and solemn gait? 
were making their way towards her, every now and then st<^- 



864 AYESHA. 

ping and looking aboat them, their eyes directed towards the 
row of houses in which she livedo as if in search of some spe- 
cific house. As they approached, the maiden first uttered a 
slight exclamation, as she looked intensely upon one of them. 
'^ Allah, can it be !" she said ; then again, '' By the Prophet ! 
it must be." In a moment after she cried out to Zabetta, 
" Mother, mother, it is — it is he ! — come here, bak — see.'* 

" Who ?" said Zabetta, sullenly 5. " are you out of your 
senses ?" 

" As you love Allah," exclaimed Ayesha,^ " it is my father — 
it is Suleiman Aga himself I and there is the Mufti with him.'' 
Upon which she thrust her head and hand out of the window, 
and, unable to restrain her fedings, exclaimed, whilst she waved 
her hand, " Bdbam — my father, hour da — here, gel — come.* 

The well-known sound of her voice caught the ear of the 
old man, for it was indeed Suleiman Aga; and straightway, 
scarcely altering his pace, he stepped up to the door with his 
companion and knocked. Zabetta, at this discovery made by 
her daughter, was suddenly and effectually roused from her 
previously abstracted state, and, having ascertained that it was 
her very husband himself, she was thrown into the greatest 
agitation. When anything unusual happened to discompose 
her mind, either sudden joy or sudden grief, she generally gave 
vent to her feelings in her mother-tongue. On this occasion, 
upon seeing the well-known heavy caouk bound round with 
white muslin, the thick grizzled beard, the round shoulders, 
and the phlegmatic bearing of her husband, she exclaimed to 
herself, " Na to ne o kakomeros — there he is, the miserable 
wretch I where shall I go now P May the evil one take him ! 
The man who said, * Welcome, Misfortune, if you come alone!* 
has spoken truth." She said this in a sort of bewildered state, 
half-conscious, half-demented, without making a step towards 
the door to receive her husband ; and when she saw Ayesha 
rushing from the room for that purpose, she stopped her 
with violence, and would have prevented her. " What arc 
you doing?" she angrily cried. 

'^ It is my father ;** said the maiden, '^ shall we not admit 
him? It is Suleiman Aga." 

The knocking at the door was repeated ; still the wicked 
woman remained in a state of hesitation, more alarmed than 



AYESHA. 3d5 

the wretch who fears the presence of an injured benefactor, 
or a just creditor. At length both mother and daughter, the 
one resisting and the other urging his entrance, were released 
from their suspense by hearing the door open, the maid having 
transgressed her orders on this occasion ; and soon after the 
heavy step of one ascending the staircase was distinguished. 
Ayesha would no longer be restrained, but rushed out to greet 
her father. The old man had just reached the head of the 
stairs, when his daughter met him. She seized his hand and 
the hem of his sleeve, to kiss it, as children are wont to do in 
Turkey, whilst he kissed the top of her head, and said, 
" Alhemdullilah ! — praise be to heaven ! Well found, O my 
eyes ! where is your mother ?" 

Ayesha conducted him into the room, where Zabetta stood 
a picture of defeated intrigue and indecision. 

** It is you, is it ?*' said she, with bitterness of heart and 
accent. 

'^It is I," answered Suleiman, '^ what do you want more? 
Khosh baiMk — well met !" 

A dead silence ensued. She could scarcely believe her eyes, 
as she looked at him from whom it had been the daily wish 
of her few last years to escape; whilst he, who was but little 
apt to indulge in much feeling, was struck by the coldness and 
repugnant manner of her reception. 

<^ We are come,'' said he (for Turks speaking in courtesy 
use the plural number ), " to look after the rascal who invaded 
our city and carried off our women; and our fate, Mashallah! 
has been to find you. Our friend the Mufti has shown us the 
way to your dwelling, and, please heaven 1 he will aid us in 
detecting the wretch, whoever may be his protector. May 
Heaven pour misfortunes over their heads I" 

" If you expect me to return to Kars,'' said Zabetta, ^' you 
are mistaken. You can't put dayfight into a bottle. We 
have got to Stamboul, praises be to the Prophet! and so no 
more of your Kars." Saying this, she shook the hem of her 
vest, and her head at the same time. 

^' Look ye, Zabetta," said the solemn Suleiman, with mnch 
determination in his manner. ^' You know me. I am a 
straight-forward man. My words are yok — no, belli — yes. 
Whatever has happened has happened. So be it. Allah is 



366 AYESHA. 

great, and man cannot oppose his decrees. The spoiler came, 
seized, ran off, and was successful. We were without help, 
and our house was ruined — be it so ! God he thanked fox 
all things. All has been communicated to me from beginniqg 
to end. I will not lookback; I look forward. This is Con- 
stantinople, and justice is open to every .one-r- if you choose 
to return with me, well— no more need bo said ; if not, opea 
your eyes. You know me." 

^' Are you come all this way," said Zftbetta, ^' to make us 
sickP If you have protectors — so h^ve we. You are not 
a man, if you look only to«your bwi| pleasure. Where is the 
place we are now in, and where that which we have left ! One 
is paradise, the other jehanum. I go not hence — this I have 
said, and never will I say otherwise." 

" Sen bilirsen^ — you know best, " said Suleiman, rising 
from his seat with a determined manner, as jif bent upon put- 
ting into practice some preconcerted scheme. ^^ I am a quiet 
man, and want but little; but I am a Mussulman, and, as 
Allah is great ! whatever is just that will I do-tr- so look to 
yourself." 

Zabetta, in this state of perplexity, was deprived of that active 
spirit of rebellion to all his wishes which she could so well 
exercise as long as her conduct in other respects was irreproach- 
able. In her own harem at Kars she felt that she could throw 
her«five fingers into her husband's face, and saLy^^Nahr 
with impunity; but to Uve out of his house, an aliea from his 
protection, and to reject him as a husband, she knew was more 
than she could venture to do, if she valued her life. She fek 
it necessary, therefore, to smother her violence for the present, 
in order that she might have time to concert measures for rid- 
ding herself of his presence. When he arose to. depart, she 
opposed herself to this step, and adopting a conciliatory tone, 
of which she was the com|dete wstriess, she seemed to take 
interesft in his welfare; made inquiries upon what had happened 
since she had left Kars, endeavoured to make him feel the 
miseries which she and Ayesha had ettdnrefd, and iinally coin^ 
cided with him in the view he took of Cara Bey's atrocities, 
and of the necessity of bringing him, if possible, to puni;&hnient. 
This, in great measure, softened him towards her; and the 
enjoyment of his never-failing chibouque, with an accompany- 



AYESHA. 367 

iDg cup of hot coffee, presented to him by Ayesha's fair hands, 
succeeded in restoring his naturally placid temper to its usual 
composure. 

Adopting this specious conduct, she made a show of cheer- 
fukies0 in meeting her husband's wishes ; but bitterness sat at 
^e bottom Qf her heart,^Iike a snake coiled up, only waiting a 
fit opportunity to emit its venom. She \fell kneyv; how en- 
tirely a Turkish woman is in the power of her h^sband if he 
chooses to CKercise it ; she felt that, with a man x)f the law at 
his elbow, Suleiman Aga, aided by the Mufti^ might insist upon 
her obedience, and that there was nothing to prevent his treat- 
ing her with every sort of cruelty. At the same time she 
hoped that the charms of her daughter might already have 
produced their proper effect upon the Capitan Pasha ; and that, 
whilst she broughhat part of her sche me to a happy conclu- 
sion through the agency of Cara Bey, she might also effectually 
ged rid of her husband. She, therefore, did all she could to 
ovwcome the violence which the presence of her husband 
had excited in her breast; and whilst she made a fair display 
of good intentions towards him, busying herself in the duties of 
the house, and adopting that appearance of bustle and loqua- 
ciousness so common to her, yet her mind did not for a notoment 
cease to revert to her situation, and to spin the never'-ending 
web of her thousand resolves. Her great object for the pre- 
sent was to get her husband to leave the house, in order that 
she might run to seek an interview with Cara Bey. 

*' We hear that the Padishah is to hold a great meeting of 
archery at the Ok Meidan to-^day," said she, as she passed her 
hnsband, with a coffee-pot in her hand, which she had been 
eleaanmg; ^^ why don't you go ?" 

^^ Bahalnm — we will see 1" said the passive Suleiman ; 
'* there is time for all things !'' 

Having once taken root in a comer of the sofa with a pipe 
in his mouth, be was not so easily dislodged. ^^ I will first bring 
my effects from the kha% or inn,'' said he ; '' and then, 
InskmltaJi ! ^«-« please God! we will see." 

This was exactly what Zabetta did not desire. She dreaded 
his establishing himself in the house, for that would effectually 
deprive her of liberty, and put a stop to her schemes. ''This is 



869 AYESHA. 

not our house, Suleiman Aga," said "she, '^ we are here only 
for a day. You cannot come here." 

'' Houses are plenty in Constantinople/* said he; *^we will 
procure another." 

" Had you not better go to the Mufti of Kars ?** answered 
Zabetta, throwing out a hint; '^ he is a man of understanding 
and knows thinjgs. Rogues abound here, and, before you make 
engagements, you must make use of other people's eyes as 
well as your own. You are a good man, that is true; but, 
Mashallah! you can no more make a bargain than I can take 
the Sultan by the beard. Come, go; the noon-day prayers 
are over, and he will have left the mosque."' 

^^Yavashj yavash ! — slowly, slow!" said Suleimian Aga, 
as he knocked out the ashes of hfs pipe, and fumbled into the 
recesses of his tobacco-bag, in order to replenish it. *^ Bring 
me some fire, Ayesha, my eyes!" said he to* bis daughter, who, 
since she had seen her father, felt more security and peace 
than she had enjoyed for a long time. As she placed a bit of 
live charcoal on the top of the well-tufted tobacco, which she 
did with the alacrity of affection, Zabetta turned her head 
towards them, with a frown of malignity and hatred upon her 
features, which seemed to say, 'Curses on you both! I will 
have my revenge !' 

In this manner did Suleiman keep the ardent Zabetta in a 
state of irritation, until she was almost ready to burst with im- 
patience at his dogged tenacity on the sofa — he seemed posi- 
tively glued to his seat. At length the evening prayer was an- 
nounced from all the surrounding minarets, when, as he was 
ever a devout son of the true faith, he thought it time to rise ; 
having duly washed himself, according to the most scrupulous 
forms, he sallied forth to make his devotions in one of the prin- 
cipal mosques. 

No sooner bad he left the house, than Zabetta was heard to 
sigh forth an audible ' Alhfimdullilah — praises be to Allah!' 
from the bottom of her heart ;and«traightway seeking her veil, 
without saying whither she was going, she took the path across 
the adjoining burying-ground, leading to the Capitan Pasha's 
palace, with the intention of seeking an interview with Cara 
Bey. 



ATESHA. 3C9 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

And tbe King loved Esther above all tLe women, and she obtained grace 

luid favour in his sight more than all the virgins. 

Esther, ch. ii. v. 17. 

About the time of this our history, it was a report univer- 
sally believed at Constantinople, that the present dynasty of the 
Ottoman Emperors was in danger of becoming extinct for 
want of an heir to the throne. There was not an old woman 
in the capital, nor along both the shores of the Bosphorus, who 
did not speculate, and wonder, and express surprise at what 
would happen for want of a chief, should Sultan Mahmoud, 
young as he then was, die without progeny. Some thought, 
should this calamity prevail, that it would be necessary to have 
recourse to the Tartars, and from among their tribes find one 
whose descent from the original stock of the Seljuks was 
undoubted, and thus revive the exhausted tree. Others ap- 
prehended that an old prophecy, often referred to, namely, that 
the seat of empire would, in the course of time, be transferred 
from the shores of Europe to Damascus, was about to be ac- 
complished ; but all were unanimous in laying the imputation of 
the evil at the doors of the dames of the seraglio, who were 
condemned, one and all, as unworthy of the proud distinction 
of being the associates of royalty. There were as many wise 
heads among them for discovering an infallible method how 
to meet this national misfortune, as there are among ourselves 
ingenious contrivers how to destroy the evil of the national debt. 
Every mother hoped that her daughter might be the fortunate 
person who was to revive the expiring hopes of the nation ; 
and every father speculated whether in his tribe the germ of a 
future monarch might not still lie dormant, awaiting only the 
fortunate hour to fructify. 

As soon as the Capitan Pasha had obtained a sight of Ayesha, 
his hopes almost amounted to a certainty that he had at length 
seen the individual upon whom this glory and distinction waa 

•24 



370 AYESIIA. 

about to devolve. Such purity, such appearance of health, such 
dazzling beauty, he never had seen, nor ever had imagined 
could exist ^mong the daughters of men ; and he congratulated 
himself that, through his means, his sovereign would become 
possessed of one who would reaUze every idea which he might 
have formed of the perfections necessary for a favourite sultana. 
He had been so smitten by her charms, her manner, and, more 
than all, by the superiority of her mind over everything in the 
shape of woman which he had seen before, that love would 
have prevailed over him, had not ambition maintained its as- 
cendancy. He dwelt with complacency upon the increased 
honours and powers which would not fail to be heaped upon 
him : already feeling himself, in fact, the ruler of the empire, 
he fondly imagined that, whilst the Sultan would be enthralled 
by the fascinations of his sultana, the lives and destinies of his 
subjects would be entrusted to himself. He determined without 
delay to seek a private audience, and disclose to his royal 
master the discovery which it had been his lot to make : and he 
made no doubt that, ere many revolutions of the sun, the lovely 
Ayesha would be installed supreme in her ascendancy in the 
seraglio, whilst his diminishing influence would at once be re- 
stored to its former greatness, only preparatory to still greater 
elevation. 

Leaving him to put into practice this fond scheme of ambi- 
tion, we must return to the irate and disconcerted Cara Bey. 
At the conclusion of the scene which had taken place in Ayesha's 
apartment, and upon his return with his patron to his palace, he 
felt, by the manner and mode in which he was spoken to and con- 
sidered, that his sun for the present was set. His sensations were 
those of the rapacious man who had divulged an important se- 
cret without having secured to himself any adequate compensa- 
tion.. Clenching his hands, he beat his head in agony at his own 
imbecility, and felt a disposition to wreak his vengeance upon 
every one but himself, for his own want of success. All his 
hopes of reward,, honour, and distinction had merged in the 
person of the Capitan Pasha; he had freely made over his ifi- 
terest in the perfections of Ayesha to one who did not show the 
least inclination to be grateful, and who, to this moment, had 
made no acknowledgment for the ^reat benefit which it seemed 
probable he ha,d received. 



AYESHA. 371 

He felt that his plans had been ill-laid, and, such as they 
were, that they had been disconcerted by a young and inexpe^ 
rienced girl, who, by a few words, had exhibited him as a liar, 
and had turned the trap which he bad laid to enslave her into 
an instrument of mischief against himself. The only feeling in 
his mind which could in the least mitigate his mortification, was 
the reflection that he had destroyed Osmond so effectually, that 
there was no chaiiee of his appearing against him. Apprehen- 
sions he certainly had, if it were known that he was existing in 
a state of prosperity at Constantinople, that, among his nume- 
rous enemies, some one might arise who would denounce him 
to the government; but he hoped, through the patronage of the 
C^pkan Pasha, which he still enjoyed, that no harm could 
accrue to him, and that, if he managed his future conduct well, 
he might still rise to eminence, notwithstanding the enmity of 
Ayesfaa, imd the imbecility of her impetuous mother. 

Brooding over these reflections, seated in one of the small 
rooms of the Capitan Pasha's palace belonging to the attendant 
officers, be was fotmd by Zabetta, when she called to see him 
in the evening of the day, the events of which we have before 
described. She could not in the palace indulge freely in the 
conomunications which she was about to make to him ; she, 
therefore, itivited him to follow her to the burial-ground, and 
there seating themselves each under a cypress-tree, near an 
ancient tomb, like two birds of iU-omen, they began their con- 
versation. 

" What cah you want with me?" said Cara Bey. " All my 
hopes are destroyed. We met in an evfl hour." 

** Well you say," said Zabetta, " the stars are turned against 
us. When I tdl yon what happened this morning, you will 
Bay something more than that the hour was evil when we 
met." 

** What has happened ?" exclaimed Cara Bey, always under 
the apprehension of something rising up in judgment against 

him. 

** May misfortunes overtake thiem!" said Zabetta, — " the ill- 
bom ! The day had not long begun its career, before we were 
visitied by a Frank, and several people from the Reis Effendi, 
headed by that Uttle cur of a Tatar, Mustafa, for the purpose of 
tuaking inqiruies concerning the Frank — Osmond ?" 

•>4* 



272 AYESHA. 



'' What say you?" said Cara Bey in alarm; " did Ibey 
enquire concerning me? did they assert that Osmond stili 
exists ? What did they say ?" 

Zabetta explained all that had taken place, manifesting an 
unusual degree of bitterness in what she said, and expressing 
herself with much agitation, whilst she apparently endeavoured 
to gain courage for the future from the words and observations 
of her confidant and adviser. He evidently was much struck by 
her communications, and cont'mued to meditate in silence, con- 
tracting his brow, and occasionally rubbing his broad forehead 
with his hand. 

She feared to increase his irritation by communicating what 
she conceived would prove a still more unwelcome piece of 
news ; but, when she informed him of the arrival of Suleiman 
Aga, to her surprise, after a moment's reflection, he appeared 
pleased. He immediately felt that this circumstance would 
throw an impediment in the way of the Capitan Pasha^s obtain- 
ing easy possession of Ayesha. However great may be the 
despotism of men in power, still he was aware that a true be- 
liever could not at once, by a blow^ be deprived of his wife and 
daughter; and he hoped that there would, in some manner or 
other, again be occasion for his interference. He felt quite 
certain that the Capitan Pasha was now so thoroughly in- 
terested in securing the possession of Ayesha, that he would go 
to any lengths in getting rid of Suleiman Aga; but, whilst he 
knew that there would be but little difficulty in securing this, 
considering the great means which he had at command, he still 
felt that Ayesha's love for her father might be an impediment. 
But, whilst he pleased himself by taking this view of the case, 
be was struck by the possibility that his own safety might be 
endangered by the representations which he and the Mufti 
might make touching his invasion of their city. 

" Did Suleiman Aga say anything concerning me P" said 
Cara Bey to Zabetta. 

'' What can I answer?" said Zabetta, not willing to excite 
her companion into anger. " He did say something." 

" What did he say?" exclaimed; the other, " speak — fear not.'' 

'' He said then," answered Zabetta, '^ that he was come to 
seek you out, and to bring you to justice. . The Mufti was upon 
the same errand." 



AYESHA. 37i 



II 



So," answered Cara Bey, io deep thought — *' So be it. 
1 will sell their fathers and mothei's — they will bring their 
beards to a bad market.^' 

They continued to converse until the shades of night bad 
completely closed in upon them, and then separated, with this 
result to their deliberations, that Cara Bey should without delay 
secure the means, through his patron, of getting rid of Sulei- 
man, and that until he succeeded, Zabetta should continue to 
treat her husband as if nothing had occurred. She was to 
behave to Ayesha in her usual manner, and to let him know 
should anything new take place. Upon this they separated. 

The Capitan Pasha's interview with the Sultan had been 
eminently successful. He returned to his palace with his head 
touching the skies, his mind teeming with hopes of future ele- 
vation, and full of the scheme by which he was to place Ayesha 
in the possession of his lord and master. He had succeeded \a 
exciting the Sultan's curiosity and raising his expectations^ and, 
moreover, had impressed him with the necessity of preserving 
the strictest secrecy, since there seemed to be much mystery 
in her history, which, if brought to light, might throw impedi- 
ments in the way of his wishes. He did not conceal from his 
royal master any part of her previous adventurous life-, and 
tiiought it right to state to what extent Osmond was implicated 
in it, showing how he had been disposed of, and urging the ex-^ 
pediency of throwing every impediment against the steps which 
the English Ambassador was taking to procure his freedom, 
and which would be productive of a delay, ultitnately of little 
consequence, whilst it would procure to himself an undisturbed 
possession of the maiden. He proposed a plan by which the 
Sultan mi^ht obtain a sight of Ayesha previously tpsending the 
Rizlar Aga, or chief superintendent of the seraglio, to lead her 
in state to her prescribed apartments; and he was pleased to 
find that all his proposals were accepted, and, moreover, tha 
be was lauded for the zeal which he had displayed in devising 
so agreeable a mode of administering to the pleasure and 
advantage of his royal master. r <*> 

Cara Bey had watched with impatience the best opportunity 
for an audience of his patron ; for he was anxious once more to 
make himself of importance, and to secure some share of the 
advantages likely to accrue from an event in which hg had 



374 AYESHA. 

been the principal agent The Capitan Pa»ba, who now 
wished to take all the credit of the discovery of Ayesha to him- 
self, was, on the other hand, anxious to keep Cara Bey from 
his presence ; to make him feel that he wa3 to expect no other 
advantage from its result than the solitary one of being aUowed 
to continue in his service; and to make him feel, moreover, s^ 
much dependence upon bis power and protection, that he 
would not venture to take a step in opposition to it, lest it 
should bring with it his entire destruction. However, iipoQ 
his request, Cara Bey was allowed to appear before bim. 

'' Ne oldou? — what has happened?'' said the Capitao 
Pasha* when he saw him. 

Cara Bey, with all humility, and with as much eloquence a$ 
he cQuld command, made a fuU communication of all he had 
beard from Zabetta; dwdUng strongly upon the circiunstanoe 
of her husband's aj^earance, and lowing how great was the 
love of Ayesha for her father, and of her father for her. He 
urged that point as very likely to prevent the separajtion of 
Csidier and daughter; since she seemed determined, let what 
might be the consequences, never to relinquish her love for 
the Frank, but rather to cfing to her father for protection* He 
then recommended that Suleiman Aga should be immediately 
disposed of in such a manner as to remove all further diiBculty 
on his account. 

The Capitan Pasha, at this disclosure, was thrown into utter 
dismay; for he foresaw that it would materially interfere with 
the plan already concerted with his sovereign. Thinking 
awhile^ he said, " Aferin ! — 'well done! Cara Bey. You are 
a good sei*vant — you have spoken in good time. We shall be 
mindful of you. What is to be done?" 

'' My lord!" said Cara Bey, elated with the thanks he had 
just received; " your servant is less than the least : whatever 
you may order, that will he do. We must send Suleiman 
away from Constantinople this very day. He has a friend in 
the Mufti of Kars, who is a man much esteemed and respected 
by the UUemah; and, if he be not prevented, may, with his 
assistance, destroy all our scheme. He will forthwith gain 
possession of his wife and daughter ; then, who can venture lo 
invade his harem? — none! — no, not even our lord and sove- 
reign the Sultan,^ upon whom be blessings !" 



AYESHA. 375 

" Yqu say right," said the Capiiao P^^ha; whea, after a 
pavse, he drew a piece of j^aper fr6m uoder a eitshioD, and 
writing a few words upon it with his own hand, he folded it 
up iBto^ a note, sealed it, and desired Cara Bey to carry it 
straight to his kiayaky or deputy, who would superint^id its 
dueex^ution. 

Cara Bey, upon receiving the note, instead of iRuaediatlely 
departing, lingered with hesitation tmprratedon his features; 
upon which the Capitan Pasha said, ^* Wherefore Ao you stay? 
Wliatisitr 

"Wyilord,'^ answered Cara Bey with much humility, "I am 
a pool* man : except Allah atid yourself, Cara Bey has no other 
prolHe^tion in th6 world. You were pleased to express your 
apipreibation of my services. Your slave waits your orders!" 

^^ Pezevenk! — wretch!" exclaimed the chief in a rage; 
'^ Wl^al abomination arc you eating P 60 and be abused ! 
What sort of a dog lire yon ? Go I" 

Uponithjs, the disootacertied wretch left his presence, with all 
the iierjce and uhavaliling wrath of a demon in Im heart. 
^^'Akh f akh /" said he, beating his breast at the same time, as 
h^ proceeded, islowly to execute hk errand; "when will tlie 
day comev when I may shed blood ahd say *• Thank God for ii !"^ 
But then reflecting ihaty by securing 1I16 expulsion of Suleiman 
Aga, be had rid himself o4' an enemy, his irritjktion was in some 
measure assuaged, and he straightway deUv«red the note, oi 
which he was the bearer, to the active and efficient deputy oi 
the naval chief. . 

The m^ott had now risen^ and was glancing her mild beams 
athwart the dark smd dijsmal ^oom of the cypress-trees in the 
cemetery: thtere was a solemn stilbiess throughout the air; 
silence began to reign in the great city; and nothing was 
heard save, here aild there, the distant diaunt of sailors prepar- 
ing their bark for sea. Ayesha had taken post at the open 
window, expecting the return of her father ; whilst Zabetta, 
who during the day had complained of indisposition, lay ex- 
tended on the sofa, her thoughts full of ambition, anticipating 
the result of her various schemes. Upon looking out, Ayesha 
saw a person walking slowly towsu'ds her, wfaom^she recognised 
to be her father. He was alone, and had nearly reached the 
door, when, to her dismay, she saw suddenly rush frcmi behind 



376 AYESHA. 

a projection of the opposite wall a gang of some five or sk 
men, who ran up, seized him, and forcibly compelled him te 
accompany them. She was so much frightened that, at first, 
she could only exercise her eyes, without being able to give 
vent to her fears by cries. Suleiman Aga scarcely made any 
resistance, so entirely was he overpowered. He looked towards 
his daughter, whilst she held out her hands to him. *' JBaham! 
— my father! father! where are you going? Here we are!** 
she exclaimed, crying and sobbing out his name, ^'stop, as you 
love Allah ! Whither are you taking him ?" These words, ut- 
tered in a piteous accent, brought Zabetta to the window. 
She scarcely exhibited any feeling, but, on the contrary, used 
her best endeavours to suppress that of her daughter,' who, 
seeing that her appeal was unheeded, now uttered the most 
piercing and heart-rending cries. 

Instead of endeavouring to soothe her by kindness^ the 
wicked woman, on the contrary, upbraided her in harsh and 
violent words, and shutting the window, in order to prevent 
her cries being heard, seemed determined to harden her heart 
against any soft emotion. There was a sort of dogged satis- 
faction in her manner, which beamed through her hard and 
perverse nature, and which formed a strong contrast with the 
soft and compassionate bearing of her daughter. — '* Where- 
fore do they take him from us ?" said Ayesha. ** What has 
he done? This place is full of bad men; let us run to save 
him." Upon saying which, she would have left the house, in 
pursuit of her father's persecutors ; but Zabetta interposed 
with violence, and said, " It is nothing, he will soon return — 
this is Constantinople. Here is a padishah, who dares to in- 
terpose against his authority ? We are women, what can 
we do?" 

A long interval elapsed, during which Ayesha, oppressed and 
overpowered by the events which had taken place during the 
day, retreated to a corner of the room, and gave way to her 
grief, full of despondency at her apparently hopeless situation, 
and of dismal forebodings at what might be her future fate- 
She saw in her mother one who, being opposed to her in every 
feeling, was evidently scheming to attain her own ends, en- 
tirely heedless of her happiness. Her father had been seized 
and carried away a prisoner from under her eyes, and her 



AY£SHA. 3i7 

lover perhaps, ere this, had fallen a victim to the revenge of 
his enemy, the monster Cara Bey. She felt herself utterly de- 
serted — her only trust was in the merciful providence of her 
Creator; and were it not for the constant resignation to his Al- 
mighty decrees, to which she had ever accustomed her mind 
to submit with faith and humility, she must have sunk under 
her misfortunes. 

This eventful day in her existence was not destined to close 
without the intervention of another circumstance of importance* 
Zabetta, who had been roused by the event which we have just 
described, had again thrown herself on the sofa, complaining 
of a racking head-ache, and of other symptoms of illness. She 
spoke little, though every noise appeared to agitate her. She 
rejected every advance which Ayesha made to give her relief, 
and only required to be left to herself. When they were think- 
ing of retiring for the night, which among Turks is usually at 
an early hour, several knocks were heard at the door, so loud, 
and struck with such an appearance of authority, that both Za- 
betta and Ayesha started up in dismay, and for the moment, 
each forgetful of their different causes of misery, listened with 
attention. Again the door was assailed with more violence 
than before, when they rushed to the window to see who might 
be the intruders. They discerned several well-dressed Turks 
at the door, and at some distance two others standing aloof, in 
observation of the result. 

" Who are you, and what do you want ?" said Zabetta. 
■ " Open quickly," said one of the men. 

" There are none but women here," she said ; " you have 
mistaken the house." 

" Open, and fear not," answered the other. Upon thi& she 
descended, and having again made inquiries in a low voice, one 
of the men said, it was the Capitan Pasha ; upon which, without 
farther delay, she opened the door. She then returned to her 
room, and immediately busied herself in lighting such candles 
and lamps as she possessed, and setting her apartment in proper 
order for the reception of her magnificent guest. Ayesha 
stood by, so bewildered and alarmed at the whole proceeding 
that all she could do was to cover herself with her veil ; and 
fearing that the other person might be Cara .Bey, she deter- 
mined to hide herself from his sight. She was about leaving 



3T8 AYESUA. 

the room, when &he was stopped by the appearance of the Ca- 
pitan Pasha, followed by his companion, whom she recognised 
not to be her so much dreaded persecotor. Zabetta then forced 
her to remain, and she found herself face to face with the 
vbkors. 

The man who accompanied the Capitan Pasha was of 
middle stature, about twenty-five years of age, wearing a pe- 
cuUarly black and tufied beard, with arched brows that over- 
shadowed eyes of great brilliancy and expressicm ; his com- 
plexion was pale, and his aspect severe. Theise was consi- 
derable dignity in his whole deportment, and evo^y look and 
gesture denoted ose accustomed to command. He sealed him- 
self withouft ceremony, taking the whole circumstapce of the 
visit apparently upon himself; whilst the CapiiaH Pasha seemed 
to pay him the most unbounded adulation and attention* 
Ayesba kept. herse¥ in the back-ground as much as she was 
able. She retreated to a corner of the room, closely covered 
with her viel; whilst Zabetta put herself forward in the most 
officious maimer, making complimentary speeches without end^ 
and a^ti^ how she miight best render her services agrefiable. 
The stranger tpok np notice of her, but kept his eyes steadily 
fixed upon Ayesha. He said nothii:^, hut there was thai in his 
appearadEice whi<^ made every one present uneasy, and full of 
undefined awe and apprehension. The Capitan Pasha stood, 
and said but little. 

At length the stranger, looking at Ayesha with a smile, and 
addressing her, said, '^ K&rkm^r—iestx not ; we are not come to 
do you harm — wherefore do you sit thus far from us ?'^ 

^' I am a Mahomedan maiden," said Ayesha, fearlessly; 
'^ this is a harem, and if you are men of the ims iaith, you 
mnst know that you sin in coming here. We want you not 
— i5v^ wish you to depart." 

It was impossible to hear jthe beautiful and touching tones of 
Ay^a^s voice WAi^PUt epiction, at^d coikiiiig^ ais they did, from 
under an impenetrable veil, the iipp^l to the ima^ation was 
irresistible. 

^* How came you here alone ai^ unprotected P" said the 
stranger. 

'* Ah ! we are strangers in this city," answered Ayesha, '^ and, 
nftoreovier,:We have been slrudi by misfortune. If yoaare men, 



AYESHA. 37Sr 

these circumstances alone should prevent you from insulting us 
— wc pray you to depart." 

'' What are your misfortunes ?" said the stranger ; *^ misfor- 
tunes may be averted when power is at hand." 

^' If power is at hand," exclaimed Ayesha, suddenly elated 
with hope, ^' and if you can command it, then may Allah shed 
blessings upon you, should you grant us your protection! 
This very evening, my father, our only support, has been taken 
from us — here, from under our windows! Restore him to us, 
and we will ever be your devoted slaves I" 

^' What is the meaning of this P" said the stranger to the Ca- 
pitan Pasha; '^ has the maiden a father?" 

The Capitan Pasha, at this question, for which he was evf* 
dently ui^>repared, was struck with dismay. Aitter a faltering 
explanation, he said, ^' I know nothing of this; we must inves- 
tigate the matter." 

The stranger was too much taken up with Ayesha to give 
great heed to this answer, and seemed only anxious to prolong 
the conversation. He led Ayesha on to converse, and every 
word she uttered, served only to make him anxious to hear 
more. She, at length, recollecting what was due to herself, and 
the impropriety, in her estimation, of this interview with un- 
known men, arose to leave the room, saying, '' It is shame that 
ye linger here: were our Sultan to be aware of thisindignity, 
he would protect us! What sort of goyemment can his be, 
when a harem is not secure ?" 

" Stay !" said the stranger ; " go not — I command you !" 

'^ You command me I" exclaimed Ayesha with indignation; 
— " and who are you that can command?" 

The Capitan Pasha seemed ill at ease, and wquI4 have sieized 
her by her veil. 

^' Touch me not !" said Ayesha with dignity, 

^^ Touch her not!" said the stranger; '' at your peril, touch 
l^notl" • 

'^ May Allah bless you for this !" cried Ayesha with grateful 
emotion ; '' then, let me depart !" 

" Stay, I command you !" said the stranger; " we can com- 
mand you ! — I am the Sultan I" 

On bearing these words, Ayesha remained fixed in utter 



S8e> AYESllA. 

amazement ; while Zabetta shook from head lo foot with ap- 
prehension ; — a dead silence ensued. 

*' Ayesha, fear not !" said the Sultan ; " we have heard of your 
perfections, and are come to ascertain the truth with our own 
«yes. Capitan Pasha," said he to his officer, " you may with- 
draw. We claim the privilege which no other man in our 
empire can claim." 

The Capitan Pasha, making the lowest prostration, left the 
room with an attitude full of humility^ when Ayesha, with a 
movement, in which the most exquisite grace was combined 
with the most unaffected modesty, drew Her veil from her face, 
and discovered to the astonished and enraptured monarch those 
charms which were well calculated to enslave his heart. 

" Too little has been said of youT said the Sultan, as he 
gazed at her with undiminished admiration : " You are our's ' 
By Allah ! too httle has been said. You are our's, Ayesha; by 
this, you become mine !" Upon which, he drew a costly ring 
from his finger, and, presenting it to her, said, '^ Take this as 
the token of your sovereign's love!" 

Ayesha instantly knelt down before him; and, with an humi- 
lity of action, and, at the same time, a decision of manner, 
which marked the energy of her character, said, " Let not my 
sovereign and master afflict his devoted slave, by making her 
do that which she cannot. She asks to be restored to her 
father, and to live in that seclusion from the world and its dan- 
gers, for which only she is fit. She asks this as the greatest 
boon which her sovereign can bestow. She is totally unworthy 
of his notice — grandeur was not made for her enjoyment. 
Oh, leave her to her insignificancy ! she asks nothing more !" 

This appeal, which only a thousandfold increased the rap- 
ture and admiration with which she had inspired the Sultan, 
was received by him as words without a meaning, as expres- 
sions flowing from a heart struck by awe at his presence. Za- 
betta, however, who knew her daughter better, who was 
acquainted with the secret of her heart, and the resolution of 
her character, when she heard her speech to the Sultan, would 
have stamped with rage, and choked the words in their exit 
had she dared so to do. She made unavailing signs, and threw 
out hints by gesticulation, but they were unheeded by her 



AYESHA. 381 

daughter, who having risen and retired, she in her turn threw 
herself before her dreaded guest and said, '' Let not our Lord 
and master give heed to the words of the maiden : she is a 
child, and knows not what she says. We are your slaves I we 
kiss the dust of your slippers ! Our heads have touched the 
skies — do not heed her words. She has lived in the country 
all her life, and what can she know of the honour which has 
been done her P Let the shadow of your kindness be extended 
over us 1" 

These, and such like phrases, she continued to string to- 
gether, until she wa» stopped by a look from the Sultan, who 
new having satisfied himself thoroughly of the truth of what 
had been reported to him, without more words turned to leave 
the room, whilst drawing from his breast a purse of gold, he 
gave it to Zabetta, and straightway departed. 

When the whole party had quitted the house, and the 
mother and daughter were left to themselves, Zabetta, in the 
fulness of her joy, which had sustained her amidst the increas- 
ing symptoms of her indisposition, ran up to Ayesha, and, em- 
bracing her with an appearance of affection quite unusual to 
her, said, " Mobarek /-^good fortune attend you ! — Praise be 
to Allah ! it has at length come to pass ! You are a sultana, and 
1 am your mother ! What can we want more ? Whatever 
may happen, we are now safe ! Suleiman Aga may come ; 
Cara Bey may come ; — they cannot now molest us, seated as 
we are under the shadow of royalty. Well done, Ayesha ! 
well done ! you have performed your part to admiration !" 

''Desist r said Ayesha, '' do not talk thus: you do not know 
your daughter. What I have said, I have said ; the world may 
go round, our destinies may change, but the mind of Ayesha is 
fixed ! The Sultan may enslave my person, but my life is my 
own. I never will belong to any one, be he who he may, but 
him to whom I have pledged my faith !" 

She said these words with a fervour and earnestness that 
quite alarmed her mother, who, having lost the excitement 
caused by the presence of the Sultan, now so strongly felt the 
pressure of the illness which had overtaken her, that she could 
no longer combat her daughter's feelings, but sank down in a 
state of great exhaustion. Ayesha, forgetting every grief of 
her own in her anxiety to contribute to her mother's comfort, 



^B8 AYBSHA. 



gave herself up entirely to her ; and, administering to her such 
i^efreshing ccrdials as she could command, with the help of the 
servant succeeded in putting her to bed upon that couch from 
which she was destined never more to rise. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Taluno gia agonizzante e non piu atto a ricerere alimento riceyeva gU 
uUimi soccorsi o le consolazioni della religione. 

/ Prome8si Sposi. 

As soon as Wortley had paid the visit, described in a former 
chapter, to Zabetta and Ayesha, he turned his steps towards t^ 
dwelling of theReis Eifendi, accompanied bySignorTrompetta, 
and demanded an interview with that minister. He was so 
elated with the result of his visit, and with the success of his 
investigations, that he conceived there could no longer be any 
good reason for refusing to set his friend at liberty. Moreover, 
he had been so greatly interested by what he had seen of the 
lovely creature who had so much engaged the attentions of Os- 
mond, that he had received a new incentive to attempt his libe- 
ration, and longed to write to him a full and detailed account 
of every thing that had taken place. 

He was received by the Reis Efiendi with his usual urbanity. 
Wortley was too anxious to bring the subject of his visit before 
him to allow much time to be spent in preliminary compliment; 
and as soon as he had made the usual affirmation that his kief, 
or spirits, were good, and that his day had began under fa- 
vourable auspices, he requested the dragoman to inform his 
excellency of the whole proceeding of their visit to the women, 
and its result. 

Signer Trompetta then, in his very best Turkish, commenced 
an oration to the Reis EflPendi, in which he gave a full detail 
of Osmond^s adventures, from the time of his arrival at Kars, 
to the period of his seizure by the Rostangi Bashi : to which 



AYE8UA. 383 

the mioister seemed to give his undivided attentioD, never in- 
terrupting him but by such slight exclamations as these, *' Pek 
ayi — very well 1 hay^ hay — so, so I tchok, tchok — much, 
much t ajaib — wonderful !" He wound up his eventful narra- 
tion as follows : — '* The result is, that our Osmond Aga is a 
British subject, And not a Mussulman ; that he saved two wo- 
men from slavery, instead of making them slaves ; and that, 
consequently, he is entitled to every indemnification from the 
Turkish government for the miseries which he has endured by 
a false and unjust imprisonment." 

Wortley looked significantly at the Reis Efi'endi as these 
words were said, suiting the action by a nod of confirmation : 
when the minister, after a mementos consideration, taking his 
pipe out of his mouth, coolly said, ^' If your subjects will dress 
tliemselves up like ours, so that one cannot be distinguished 
from the other, is it our fault if mistakes happen ? If a horse 
chooses to put on the skin and horns of a bufialo, whose fault 
is it but his own should he be driven to the slaughter-house, 
and havo his throat cut, instead of being left free in the field? 
You ask too much." 

Wortley, who had studied the Turkish forms of speech as 
much from duty as for amusement, told the dragoman to re- 
quest his excellency not to throw cold water upon a dish which 
was already dressed and ready to be eaten ; but at once to 
agree, that an order should be issued for Osmond's release, 
and that an express Tatar should immediately depart with it 
for Rhodes. 

The Reis Efiendi smiled at the young negotiator's attempt at 
eastern figures of speech, and said, " Pek ayi dostoum — very 
well, my friend I May you live a thousand yearis ! and may 
you soon become an e/cAi bey — an ambassador! May your 
beard grow as plentifully as your wit !" 

The minister having made this concession, expected the 
whole question would be allowed to rest ; but Wortley con- 
tinued the subject by saying, that it was not enough to relieve 
the innocent firom oppression, — that it was necessary also to 
punish those who had been the unjust cause of oppression. 
^' We hear," said he, addressing himself to the Reis Efifendi 
through the dragoman, " that the cause of all this mischief to 
our friend and countryman, is a man whom it is a disgrace to 



384 AYESHA. 

any Dation io number amongst its sons — one who has~ been 
branded as an outlaw, a worshipper of the evil spirit, and one 
unworthy of life. This monster is now in Constantinople ; his 
name is Cara Bey, and he is a servant in the pay t>f the Capi- 
^an Pasha." 

When these words had been duly interpreted, the grave 
Turk stroked down his beard and looked very serious. After 
some moments of cogitation, he turned towards Signor Trom- 
petta, and said, '' Terjuman Bey — Mr. Dragoman, can one 
take two skins off one sheep ? Olmaz — that is impossible !^^ 

" How !" said Wortley, with eagerness. 

*' What does your excellency mean ?" said the dragoman. 

'^ Have you not made the Grand Vizir less than the dust?" 
said the Reis Effendi, with more animation than he had hitherto 
shown ; ^' and will you also attack our lord the Capitan Pasha? 
What proof is there that this Cara Bey has injured your coun- 
tryman ? We must have a fresh trial. We do not condemn 
our subjects without a hearing. It is unfair to kick an ass only 
on one side !^' 

Wortley felt that he was not strong enough in his proofs 
against Cara Bey to urge his complaint at present ; and having 
satisfied himself with thus feeling the minister's pulse on the 
subject, he determined to let the matter drop until he should 
better be able to follow it up. He therefore took his leave, but 
not without making an exclamation common in the mouth of a 
Turk, ^' God grant that none of his faithful servants may fall 
into the hands of doctors or judges !" This coming from the 
lips of so young a man, much amused the Reis Effendi ; they 
parted in very good-humour ; and, whilst Wortley returned to 
the palace to give an account of his proceedings to the ambas- 
sador, the Turkish minister felt delighted that a subject so de- 
licate, as interference with the servant of so great a personage 
as the Capitan Pasha, had been thus easily dropped. 

As soon as Wortley had reported to the Ambassador the 
progress which he had made in procuring Osmond's release, 
and the promise which the Reis Effendi had given to forward 
an order to the authorities of Rhodes to that effect, Mustafa 
was ordered to hold himself in immediate readiness for his 
departure. Wortley then sat down and wrote the following 
letter : — 



AYESHA. 3S5 

*^ At length, my dear Osmond, I am happy to be able to de- 
spatch Mustafa to you; and if we are to put faith in the pro- 
mises of that old fox, the Reis Effendi, he will take with him 
an order for your liberation from what, I fear, has been a 
miserable state of bondage. 

" Ever since we heard of your seizure, and the reception of 
your letter, I have not ceased to deplore the miseries which 
you must have suffered, and I have taken no rest in my endea- 
vours to alleviate them. The Ambassador has seconded me 
spiritedly, and has allowed me, armed with Trompetta^s elo- 
quence, to attack the wily Turk with a vigour that has brought 
on as speedy a capitulation as could be hoped for. Your great 
crime, it seems, has been, talking the language so perfectly that 
you could not be supposed to be anything but a true believer^ 
looking like one, and bearing a name which was never given 
but to the second in succession from the Prophet, and to those 
who chose to take his name. My dear friend, I expect to hear 
after this that you will be 43ntirely cured of your Turcomania ; 
that for the future you will return to Christian practices with 
undiminished satisfaction, and be happy to abjure a name which 
has brought with it imprisonment and suffering. Although I 
do not covet the discomforts which you have endured, yet on 
the other hand I must say that I do occasionally envy you your 
strange adventures ; for how rare is it the lot of a traveller to 
be so blessed ! No one is a hero now a-days. Everything is 
rendered so easy; the road to the top of the great pyramid is 
as open as the steps to the top of St. Paul's ; and a jaunt up 
the Nile to Cairo is made as agreeable as one up the river to 
Richmond. Let not your miseries, then, be esteemed as of no 
value ; for, believe me,, they will hereafter turn to pleasure and 
amusement, if not to yourself, at least to your friends. Mus- 
tafa has made me stare with his account of your hair-breadth 
'scapes during your confinement in that fiend Cara Bey's cas- 
tle ; although, were I to believe him, he was the knight and 
you the squire in that adventure. I have had a transient view 
of your dulcinea, and those brilliant eyes of hers, which beamed 
over the hem of her veil, are now before my imagination, 
whilst her silver-toned voice still thrills in my ears. I would 
with pleasure have followed your injunctions, and have taken 
her under my protection ; but, my dear Osmond, recollect that 

25 



3S(> AtESHA. 

I am no Imight-errant, whatever you may b<i ; and that m (his 
knd of haremd, of jealousy, and yatagans, one might as v^eH 
break the seventh commandment without ruinous consequences^ 
as attempt to hold converse with a Turkish maiden without 
some tragical result. The mother of your charmer, during 
my short visit to her, appeared to be nothing more or less than 
a skinfuU of wickedness. I never saw anything which promised 
so much beauty as the daughter's eyes, and which possessed s6 
indescribable a charm as her whole manner. Trompetta hai^ 
brought me many a strange report from the Turkish world of 
gossip concerning these ladies, which I will not repeat, fearing 
they might break your heart ; but of this be certain, that yOU 
have bought your freedom from the silken chains by which you 
were bound, at a cheap rate, by the iron chain of misery which 
has been inflicted upon you. 

" You know the hopeless situation of this empire, which fei^ 
the present is left without an heir, and which is likely to fall in 
reversion to some vagrant of a Tartar, who, seated on his rug 
in some corner of Cathai, is thinking more upon the means of 
getting a meal than of acquiring a throne. The Capitan Pasha, 
it is said, has cast his eyes on your blooming Turquessa as a 
fit subject to present to his sovereign ; who, poor man I having 
a whole continent of women at his command, is still hoping for 
an heir. His character has not yet been defined. Some thiidc 
him weak and frivolous, others look upon him as the sternest of 
Mahomedans — as one likely to revive the days of the Sulei- 
mans and Othmans. He puts in practice the old custom of th^ 
Caliphs, of going about in disguise ; and it is said, knows more 
of the manners and habits of his subjects than any other indi- 
vidual of his capital. Probably he may one of these day^ 
turn this knowledge to account, considering how much there is 
to reform in the horrid abuses incidental to this form of go- 
vernment. 

*' We have not been able to make out a case against Cara 
Bey yet — ^the villain ! Our eyes are upon him, and sooner or 
Jat^t* be assured he will be brought to justice. He possesses, 
i^e hear, great influence over the Gapitan Pasha. 

" I say nothing of European news ; the accompanying news- 
^^p'eirs wilt disclose everything, I envy you the luxury of 
reading over your letters, of which I send y(^ a carl-load. 



Ttilft^l^aB beeti«>me Mk W my ^mig h^me ^b ^^fipaiehes, 
but Hhil joy, I feaiT, h^ evufwated^ 1 ^eiid to tbkik Uiai I 
4im het^ for A (dig aiid indefinite period. Send us iback Mus- 
tafa as soon as you can ; let us hear of your welfare, afnd believe 
me, my dear Osmoiid, 

** Ever iaithfuUy yours^ 

"Edward Wortlby. 
^* P.S. A yoting Russnan officer, Ivaocfvitek by name, <faas 
just arrived at the Russian pahce widi deipalches from the go- 
vemor^neral of Geor^a. He bt*ings, among other thingsi, a 
ootoiplatnt against this government for harbouring and giving 
countenance to the wretch Oftra Bey, a branded outlaw ; and, 
it is said, demand satisfiiction for the injuries which he has 
inflicted upon Ha^ subjects of the Emperor. This is well. He 
tells me that he was j^natr fdlow-suflfer^, and talks in rii^ptures 
of you. He is to dine with us to-day. Never was man des- 
tined to be so pumped as he will be ! Once tuore adieu." 

Having prepared his letters, Wortley summoned Mustafa to 
hrs presence, in order to give htm direetiofis concerning his 
route. The Tatar appeared in his full travelling costume, 
having divest^ hivnself of tiie ianbsary^s dress whieh he wore 
wtten in Mtendance at^&e gate <tf the paiaeie. His conical cap, 
with its yellow doth cushion at the tctp, was on his bead^ 
his Tatar coat was fitted tightly to his person, by means of the 
great girdle of shawl bound round his Waist, in which were 
iflserted a huge pair of pistols and a yaila^ii ; his boots and 
heavy cloth stockings were on his feet, and his loi:^ whip, stuck 
bffhind his bac^, exhibited a heavy ihoiig pendant in winding 
Iblds. 

'* You are now to proceed with all hai»te,'' Said Wortley, 
*^ to seek your old master. Lord Osmond, and to discover him 
wherever he maybe. We suppose him to be 'at Rhodes; 
you will therefore go there first. You will tkke a bout for the 
si^Ie of Menemen, Aien proceed 4o Siatiyrn^,tb^iie^ 1^ Ep)xesus 
to Moglah, and so on to MarmolTioe on the coadt of Carar 
mania, where you wiH hire a vessd which wil} 'C^vey you 40, 
Rhfodes.'* 

*'Upon my liead k^ itf saed Miista&, ^eK^hted with the 
ffrbspect of die journey, and of once again seet^ Qsmond- 



388 AYESHA. 

^* We hear that there are some disturbances in the country 
of Elez Oglu,'^ said Wortley, " and that there may be robbers 
on the road ; but you are a wise man, and will use your own 
discretion;' 

'* I will sell their fathers and mothers V exclaimed Mustafa. 
'' My mustache has not grown to this length,'' at the same time 
touching his scanty sprouts, '' that I should not know how to 
deal with such rascals. Be you but well, and as for the rest, 
^llah kerim ! — God is merciful !" 

" Here then,'* said Wortley, "are the despatches for Lord 
Osmond, and here is a letter from this government to the go- 
vernor of Rhodes, which will secure his liberation. Now take 
them; go, and God be with you!" Mustafa took possession of 
the papers, folded them up carefully in his handkerchief, and^ 
making his selam, without further delay proceeded on his 
arduous journey. 

Wortley felt like a man relieved from a heavy responsibility, 
as soon as he saw his back turned ; and putting up a hearty 
prayer for his safety, and for the speedy emancipation of his 
friend, he was joyfully preparing to meet Ivanovitch at the 
table of the Ambassador, when his servant came in, and said 
that a Greek papas, or priest, apparently in haste, requested 
to see him without delay. Wortley ordered him to be admit- 
ted, when a man whom he had never before seen stood before 
him. 

" What may there be for your service ?" said Wortley, who 
had given himself pains to acquire the modern Greek language, 
and spoke it with some fluency. 

" Effendi — sir," said the priest ; " may you live many years I 
I come from a sick and dying woman, who insists upon seeing 
yoii ere she leaves this world. She says that it is upon a 
business of the greatest consequence, and intreats you, as you 
are a faithful servant of Christ, not to delay a moment in hast- 
ening to her call." 

"Do you know who she is?" said Wortley, extremely sur- 
prised at this message, and doubtful as to the propriety of 
acceding to the request, without a reference to his chief. 

" She is my sister, sir," said the priest; " I have ascertained 
her to be such by a miraculous and strange accident. She has 
been missing firom her family for several years,, having aban- 



AYESHA. 389 

doned her own faith, and adopted the Mahomedan. Terrors 
of conscience have visited her on her death-bed, and she sent 
for one of her own church to receive the avowal of her re- 
pentance and recantation, being determined to die in the faith 
in which she was born. As good-luck would have it, I was at 
hand, and went to her, and, in the dying and penitent Zabetta, 
I have found our long-lost sister. Hasten^ sir, ere death closes 
her eyes, to receive her parting confessions, for her breast 
tseems heavily laden with some important secret.'' 

Wortley was immediately stmck by the name and circum- 
stances of the dying woman, and concluding that what she 
might have to communicate must relate to Osmond, and would 
probably be the means of elucidating more facts connecte4 
with his late adventures, did not for a moment hesitatQ to 
accompany the priest; and they left the palace together. 

During (he whole of the night after the Sultan's visit, the 
disorder which had manifested itself in the wretched Zabetta, 
had been gradually developed, and in the morning it was 
without hesitation pronounced to be the plague. The fatal 
and well-known symptoms were too decidedly evinced, to leave 
her state a matter of doubt; and all the horrors of speedy and 
inevitable death stared her in the face. Ayesha had entre^^ted 
the servant-maid to seek out the first doctor whom she could 
find ; and as she was a Turkish woman, and not in the least 
conversant with Franks, she straightway brought the only one 
of the sort whom she knew, namely, an aged and decrepit 
Jewess, who practised an art, if such it might be called, which 
every old woman might practise just as well as herself. How- 
ever, her knowledge was sufficient to distinguish the plague at 
the first glance : which having done, cautioning the disconsolate 
Ayesha against its deadly contagion, she took her leave, and 
never more returned. Little, however, did the heroic maiden 
heed the caution, although she well knew to what danger she 
was exposing herself. 

Strengthening her resolution and fortitude by mental prayer, 
she zealously applied herself with the most unwearied atten- 
tion to give relief to her mother; and as she contemplated the 
great probability of her speedy death, and thought upon the 
state of her mind, which, devoted to ambition and worldly views, 
never seemed to have turned to the awful event about to take 



390 AYESIIA. 

her from thb world, she determitied to aj^tsUci her of her iud^ 
Bment'diuiger. She approached beor with eautioa, and aeAtiog: 
herself by her hed-sidt, m. she took her haod betweem her ow^ 
said : *' Mother, denresliifeolher! are jioii ai9i^«re that tba Jewish 
woman has seen yoQp'V 

^ Has die ?-' said^Zdbetta, her ejres lighth}g ^ wiji^ aqima- 
tion. '* What says she? IShaU I fioou be eured ?'' 

Ayesha held her peace for souie tlHie, and a^ her eyes fiUed 
with tears, shook her head, and said : ^ God be^ merciful to hia 
miserable creatures! The issues of life -and death me im his 
hands. What can we do but submit?'' 

" What say you?" said her mother. ^' Submit ! Surely w« 
must submit; but why submit when the time is not yet come? 
Am I not at Constantinople? Are not you a sultana? Are not 
we both the Sultan's slaves ?" 

<' S^eak not thus, O my mother !" said Ayesha, her heart 
bursting with gnef at hearing such sentiments from one wbo 
she felt was condemned to death. '^ What is this world but a 
precipice on tdiich we all stand, and from which, from hour to 
hour, we each in our turn are certain of falling dowa ! Mother I 
do not despond ; but, as I am your faithful friend and daughter^ 
i must repeat to you what the Jewess disclosed to me — that 
your disorder is the plague, and — " 

*^ AM! the plague!" exclaimed Zabetta with a thrilling 
scream. " What do you say, Ayesha? Oh, God I" Upon which 
she fell inanimate on her pillow, and presently her whole frame 
seemed convulsed with the last throes of death. 

Ayesha applied her best energies to restore her to ani^mtion. 
She rubbed her hands, chafed her temples, poured a cordial 
into her mouth, and at length succeeded in her endeavoiu^s. But 
what pen can hope to describe the agonised state o( the unfor- 
tusale woman when she returned to a consciousness of her real 
and perilous situation ! Her expressive face, now livid and 
ghastly ; the mouth drawn down, the lips blue, her eyes bright 
with excess of fever, her brow overspread with wild and dishe- 
velled hair ,^— all wore a cast of such despair and mad excite- 
ment, that the most frantic of lunatics could scarcely be com- 
pared to her, as she sat in tortunes, both of mind and body, on 
this her last eouch. 

AyesA» Aid all she could to compose her, but with scarcely 



AYESHA. 391 

apy flFei^t. tier jniBd wandered from worldly ambiUon to Uiq 
fears of future puaidWneat 4' ' ^^ torments proipised to th^ 
wicked) b0t^ hjJhe doctri&es of Mabomet and tt^e denMnciationa 
of the phrifitian Gospel, were arrayed before b^r mind at one 
^lad tbe same time. Sbp Imew not wher^ to tprn for comfort* 
She felt herself culpable in her conduct towards Ayesha, y^t 
still at one moment she would recede from her with horror^ 
wbiUt at another she implore^ her pity and pardon in terms 
the most penitisnty aiad even alyect. At lepgthy as if struck by 
^n^ suddi9|i l|u>u0bt, a horrid smile broke o^t upon hejr d^ 
mented face; and she cried out, '' Ayesh^, as you love. me, a^. 
you* forgive me, let me see one of my own religion I-r-let m^ 
fsee a priest! Send for one immediately! he will teach m^ how 
to pray to the Holy Virgin! She ^lone can save met What e]^^ 
IP tber^ left for a foo^ s^n^e^P He will guide H(ie! He will re- 
£|iiv^ my jcofifess^ons r 

4yesha9 too happy to have any meaps pointed o^tto her by 
which she might give relief to ^er upf<)rt^I)ate mother, imme- 
diately de^er^iv^/i) tp go herself in search of a priest of tb^ 
Grjee^i chuneh ; and aUhougb ^he was pot ^t all versed in the 
W^^ of Cpfisl^iMlnople^^till she resolved to do this rather tb.a^ 
^t^u$t tbe undertaking to the discretion of her servant 
Wrapping herself \ip iflfc hjer veil, and leaviiig her mother und^r 
Ib^ cai*ie iOf the wodpo^^ she sallied C9r.tb> and soon found her 
way to a(|rr.eek jcl^urch ^nd convent, situated not far frppi the 
)ii^!t$ pf the Qejo^^ry. py the assistance of a Greek woman, 
whom ^he ^d m?t on the road a^ had enlisted ip her caj^i^e^, 
she gained access to a priest, and relating her story, persuaded 
hxm to 4U)compaiiy her, more by jlhe elocjueu^ of her voice and 
^fo^ner, tban by ^y impplse of duty on the part of the priest; 
for Grej^ are always backward in interfering with auy copcernf 
it^ wbich Mahomedau^ ar^e involved* 

The priest, the moment he ^nt^red the room which Zabett^ 
^occupied, would have retreated when he perceived her state; 
^ b^ soon djsGoyiered that she nought h^ve the plaguy; but tp 
l^s svirpris^, a^ Boq^ a^ sb^ }^ fi^ed her eye$ upon him, j^h^ 
jQ^)aimeid, '^ IV|ichdi ! Is it yQu^^' The astonisjb^^d man was 
5truc^ wftb awe at whatjhp supposed to be a supernatural ip- 
t^v^nti9iU, for ^s naan^ was really jyiicheli; but when be heard 
h^ P9^^ ^gain pi;QnOttnce j^ WW^ call k^m brother, and addj 



39^ AYESHA. 

'' Do you remember your sister Zabeita P" he came forward, 
and in her, in truth, discovered a long-lost sister. 

Zabetta, for a whilo, forgot her danger in the pleasure of 
having found a brother and a comforter at a moment when 
she most wanted him ; and the excitement had given h^r such 
animation, that she could fain hope that her danger was not 
imminent, and that she might still overcome it. Ayesha left the 
room to enable them freely to discuss their mutual concerns, 
and to afford her mother an opportunity to disburthen her 
^hole heart. She began herself almost to hope that a crisis 
might take place in the disorder, such as she had heard de- 
scribed as sometimes occurring, and that recovery might ensue; 
in consequence, perhaps, of the sudden revulsion which had 
been caused by her meeting with her brother. But such was 
not Zabetta^s destiny. After a short interval had elapsed, 
Ayesha was surprised to see the priest rush hastily out of the 
room and leave the house; and when she returned to her mo- 
ther's bedside, she found that a reaction from the former excite- 
ment had taken place, and that she had sunk into a state of 
almost entire exhaustion. She, however, appeared sensible of 
her daughter's jpresence, and taking her hand into her own, 
kept it fast locked therein, whilst her lips moved respondent 
to the thoughts that were passing in her mind. Ayesha re- 
mained thus until she heard footsteps ascending the stairs, and, 
as soon as she found that it was the priest who had returned, 
accompanied by a Frank whom she recognised to be her lover's 
j(riend, she left the room, and remained in attendance, ready at 
the least call. 

Micheli had brought with him the necessary materials for 
administering the last sacrament to his wretched sister, which 
he did whilst Wortley was in the room, who stood looking on, 
struck with horror at the whole scene, but, at the same time, 
little suspecting that he was incurring the danger of contagion. 
There she lay extended, almost without animation; her whole 
body overspread with infectious sores; her eye sunk; her mouth 
parched with fever; her look, one of approaching dissolution, 
though still full of consciousness. As soon as the sacrament 
had been administered to her, she beckoned to Wortley to ap- 
proach; and he having obeyed, she made a sign to her brother 
to leave the room, with which he compUed. She then re*- 



AYESHA. * 893 

quested Worttey to kneel down, which having done, to his as- 
tonishment, the wretched woman, whom ^e thought to be on 
the very verge of dissolution, arose, and leimingher head on 
her hand, her breath, which at first had apparently forsaken her, 
again returned, and she spoke. With great pain, she uttered at 
first a few words, which to him were inaudible; but when he 
heard her pronounce Osmond's name, he was aware of the sub- 
ject, and redoubled his attention. Little by little she became more 
animated; her sunken eye lighted up, and a small hectic colour 
came into her withered cheek, as one may sometimes see the 
passing verdure of a blasted field reddened by the rays of the 
setting sun. Evidently, what she had to say was of great con- 
sequence to the composure of her mind. She stopped to draw 
breath, and looked into Wortley's face, as if entreating for par- 
don and commiseration. She then said a few words which 
excited all his attention; and he drew in his breath, lest he 
might miss even a syllable of what she had to unfold. She 
spoke again — his looks became intense with interest; — again 
she went on — a chilly damp bedewed his forehead ; — he heard 
a slight agitation of the door; he turned round, and shook his 
hand, as if entreating not to be interrupted. Her eyes now 
shot out a bright, and, as it proved, a parting ray. She held 
out to him the locket which had so frequently been the object 
of Osmond's curiosity, and which she had held fast clenched in 
her hands. She would have said more; but her last words 
fell unintelligible on the ear. Worlley was so agitated that his 
senses appeared to be entirely suspended : he saw the poor 
woman dying; — he watched her looks — her eyes sunk — still 
there was life ; — he watched again, for he would have heard 
more; — her limbs seemed to stiffen down — when, all at once, 
she uttered one long and plaintive moan, and he saw her a 
stiffened corpse before his eyes ! 



384 AYE8HA. 



CHAPTER XXXVJ. 

Laud^buBt alii claraiq ^liodon.— ^oiiACS* 

It is high iioae to return to our horo, whopi* iB n (ofBi» 
chapter, we left on board a Turkij^ vessel wHh bis faitbfiil 
3tasso, puoibered iimong a gang of rogups and convicts, \)m 
off'-scourings of the metropolis) bound for Kbodes, to be depo^ 
^ited in the arsenal Ibare, and there to be employed upon tbo 
public works. Rhodes, from the earliest days celebrated ffHr 
the beauty of its climate, the offspring of Venus and Apollo, th« 
delight of the godsi abounding in wealth, and mistress of Ibt 
09as, is now a poor island belonging to the T«irks, usually under 
the ^uperintendenpe of thf) Capi^an Pasha, and art the timewt 
write wasi GonvertiBd inM> a plae0 of ea^iie for delinquent pashas. 
An ^n^^iial h^d r9CiBiit}y boea formed in the port of th» towa» 
in wbioh pcegsii^n^lly a mau-of-war was eonsitriieted; and 
hither it was fpwd ofiaessary, when die hagnio at Ceostaali^ 
90ple w^ d^v^ror^wd^ with priaoners, to convey ihe safer- 

,OB(M)fi4's fee)^gi|, ^Q fiadi^ himself mi«^d up wtfh a gang 
of |he most nefariousrlooking villains that could he seen, najr 
better be im^iued tfeim despribed. When he had peached the 
daek sK^mipMied by Hta^^o, he looked about him aloaost wilh 
^e m^im di^m^y jih«t ikfi wi^eteh who is brought 0ut for exr 
ecution beholds the face of natupte for the lost time. He seoMsd 
to have bid adieu to the world, as the world had apparently bid 
adieu to him. Every feature which met his eyes wore the 
character of villany : the dark brow of the murderer, the squalid 
cheek of the libertine, the sunken eye and emaciated form of 
the broken-hearted spendthrift, and the rude and clamorous 
bearing of the hardened ruffian — all in rotation met his observ- 
ation, and made his blood curdle at once with disgust and in- 
dignation. These wretches were admitted, by small numbers 



AYI8HA 393 

at a time, to work upon the de^k, with fetters on their legs, 
looking like detachments frona the infern^^l v^g^ns^ permitted 
to inhale the sar on the earth's sitrbee, and then doomed to 
retnm into the hof rid depths of their dreaded abode. Os- 
mond^s whole appearance, hia dress, his manners, so little lik^ 
a eriininal condemned to hard labour, spoke so much in bis fa- 
vour when he ean^ on hoard, that although the captain of the 
caravella had been enjoined to treat him as a convict, yet by 
a little negoiAation, in which ihMiey was ihe principal ag^nt, 
he forbore to put his commands into rigorous es^ecutioa. More- 
over, as good luck would have it, Osmond didcovered that the 
Turkish yiizbaahi^ or captain, who, wi& a small company of 
soldiers, had been put on board to guard the convicts, was 
the identical officer xdio had been a feUow-p^S^ngor with him 
on board the saique in his voyage in the Black Sea ; and this 
man, recollecting with gratitude that it was owing to Osmond's 
behaviour during the storm that he had been saved from a 
watery grave, not only treated him wWi great attention himr 
self, but caused others to do so likewise. Th^ captain of the 
caravella, who was no great proficient in navigation, felt ^ 
sort of security iu possessing an KnglifthMMn on boa,rd, who 
had already proved himself an experienced sailor,^ aind tber^r 
fore did not fiiil to consult him wh^n^ver there wa^ ^ liki^^t 
lifaood of danger. The weatber was fine £md the wind fi^ir, 
and nothing occurred durkig die fAemge which caVed i/^ih 
the exercise of much seamani^ip, TheeKSed Pasha, with bis 
attendants, occupied the cabin on the poop ^ and i^Uhongh bj^ 
was looked upon as one destined in the usual com^e of things 
to lose his head, still be was tre«tod with reject, and smoj^ed 
his pipe in peace. FellowHSuffererB m adveiisity bee^^me easily 
acqpiainted, and Osmond and the exile were StOCtn^Qeu^rwking 
their pipes together, each becoming the confidaiit of the o^iep^ 
The poor man^s misfortune proceeded from; a cause lochara4S'- 
teristic of the Turks, that Osmond could not hdp being i^'- 
tiBrested as well as amined by his narrative. lU foiled |h$t 
his companion had originally been a slave^mercbant trading t# 
Egypt and Alexandria ; that in the exercise of his 4;alling be 
had made several successful voyages, navigating ^p and down 
the Nile as far asGairo, httekwards and forwaiid^ between 4JeX' 
andria and Con^tantiiiople, wiJtbtfutiafmYePse; and.t^^ at Ifi^sjth 



396 AYESHA. 

having realised considerable wealth, he became ambitious, and 
wished to advance himself at court. Haying, as he conceived, ac- 
quired considerably experience at sea, he fek himself equal to take 
the command of a ship,and accordingly, by presents and adula- 
tion, making himself acceptable to the Gapitan Pasha, he suc- 
ceeded in being appointed to the command of one of the Sultan's 
frigates. He was sent to Alexandria upon public service, but, 
as he still had an eye to trade, could not resist taking advan- 
tage of his situation to buy a considerable quantity of slaves, 
which )ie took on board his ship, and which, on his arrival at 
Constantinople, he disposed of to considerable profit ; making 
presents of value at the same time to his chief, by way of pro- 
pitiating him in case this abuse of his situation should ever be 
brought up against him *, for he had taken the liberty to class 
his slaves among the ship's company, and appropriate their 
rations and allowance to himself. In a short time, he was 
made a Pasha of two tails, and appointed to command one of 
the Sultan's seventy-fours. Several of these fine ships were 
ordered to anchor off the place of Beshiktash, there to await 
the Emperor's pleiasure, becoming in the meanwhile the ob- 
jects of his daily admiration. For his misfortune, one fine day, 
when a fresh breeze was blowing, the Sultan, surrounded by 
his court, seated in the great kiosk, situated near the Seraglio 
Point, was pleased to give an order that his ships should get 
under weigh, and manoeuvre about before the place, in order 
to afford him and the ladies of his harem the pleasure of seeing 
his fleet under sail. 

As soon as this order was brought to Emin Effendi, for that 
was the name of Osmond's companion, the poor man streamed 
at every pore from fear and apprehensioii, and taking his tur- 
ban from his head, he threw it on the ground, exclaiming 
" Aman ! Aman ! — pity ! pity 1 what fate was ever like mine! 
Here am I ordered to manoeuvre, when it is as much as I have 
ever done to get my ship away without running ashore.'^ 
However, there was no help for him, he did his best, he tried to 
make a display of skill ; but in going about, the ship missed 
stays, fell on board another, ran aground, and at length was 
obliged to let go her anchor, with manifest tokens of confusion 
on board. His Awkwardness was soon noticed by the Sultan, 
and his enemies were open-mouthed against him. His delin- 



AYESHA. 397 

quencies were set forth, particularly that of setting part of his 
ship's company at the slave-marl^et; and from that moment 
the devoted man incurred the Sultan's displeasure. He was 
ordered into exile, his fortune confiscated ; and here he was at 
once an instance of defeated ambition and of the injustice of 
despotism. Notwithstanding this reverse, such was the strength 
of his philosophy, that he sat smoking his pipe with the indif- 
ference of a stoic, whilst every rising sigh was quickly sup- 
pressed by an exclamation of " Allah kerim der ! — God is 
merciful !'' and by a shrug of the shoulders, accompanied by 
the word kismet — fate. 

Osmond endeavoured to drive away all desponding thoughts 
from his mind upon the misery of his present situation, by in- 
teresting himself as much as possible in the extraordinary 
scenes, so characteristic of the people of Asia, which daily took 
place under his eyes. He felt that with patience his misery 
might be endured, for he knew that his cause was in good hands 
at Constantinople, and that in the course of time he should not 
Sail to be relieved ; but the great difficulty was to keep his 
thoughts from dwelling upon Ayesha. The whole history of 
his acquaintance with her now appeared to him as a dream ; 
and when he considered what might be her present situation, 
and to what temptations she might be exposed, suspicious as he 
was of the intentions of her mother, and of her association 
with Cara Bey, he became almost frantic with complicated 
emotions. He had no one to whom he might open his heart, 
but Stasso, who was himself so overpowered with despondency 
at the turn which their affairs had taked, that he could scarcely 
be induced to move from the spot upon which he had seated 
himself when he arrived on board. 

There were many in the ship, however, infinitely more 
worthy of pity than either our hero or his valet. One morn- 
ing, as Osmond was seated near his friend the Yiizbashi, 
smoking a soothing chibouque, and talking upon those nothings 
which make up a Turk's conversation, on a sudden they heard 
a great outcry, accompanied by a tumultuous gathering on the 
forecastle. It was occasioned by the attack of several Turks 
belonging to the crew, upon a miserable-looking Jew, one of 
the convicts, whose appearance of abject wtetchedness was 
well calculated to GaH up every feeling of commiseration. 



dOH AVBSHA. 

The Jew was an ni^y^ uXboWj hopeltei^ookiiig fellow, 
wearing his face bandaged up by a piece of rag, wJiilst die 
whole of his dress consisted of little else than a pair of blue 
troWsers and a blue shirt, his miserable starved limbs peeping 
through a succession of curiously situated holes. The words 
which he uttered, or leather mumbled, struck Osmond's ear as 
importing a story so strange, and at the same time so comical, 
that he could not help lending his whole attention to the 
scene. 

'' I am not a dentist, by my faith 1 I am no dentist,"' ex- 
claimed the Jew. 

" You are — you are," roared out the assailants. " Strike 
him ! break his head ! dog of a Jew, he is a dentist !" 

" Here," said Osmond to himself, " here, in truth, is a mS- 
decin malgre lui. Would that I were a Moli^re !" The noise 
still increasing, he rose from his seat, in order to lend his as- 
sistance to the unfortunate wretch who so eraphaticaHy dis- 
claimed being a dentist. 
" What has happened P" said Osmond. 
"What has happened 1 do you ask ?" said one. "Why, here 
is a chijbut, a Jew — pig^-dog that he is, who is a tooth-drawer, 
and who asserts that he is not T' 

" But in the name of Allah, why strike him?" said Osm<md. 
" Js it a crime not to be a dentist ?" 

" A Jew not to be what a Mahomedan wishes, not a crime I 
say you ?" said another ; " we will make mince-meat of his 
father. But he is a dentist. He refuses to pidl out a tooth for 
our ^ostruomo^'* — so they called the chief oiBcer. 

Osmond was so much amused with the whole scene, 4hat he 
could scarcely refrain from unbounded laughter. " Skip, stay 
your hand, I will be your dentil^," $aid he, wishing to release 
the unfortunate Israelite from what he apprdiended might be 
his death, should he persist in denying his profession. This 
diversion in favour 6f the poor Jew proved effectual, for evwy 
one's attention Was now directed towards Osmond, anxie«is to 
observe how he Would extract a to<yth wlvich was raickiBg the 
Nostruomo with pain. "Bring me a ball of twfaie," said he, 
with all the scllf-confidence of >an experienced practitioner; 
then, recollecting a story which he b«d read ii^tiom^ book of 
school-b6y jests, he gravely went up to his i^^dn&i^ a coarse 



AYSSHA. IS99 

rouj^ti Algertne, uni asking pertnisaion to inspect his aching 
tooth, ordered the twine to be tied rodild it, which having been 
done, was fastened, or, as the sailors would say, belayed to a 
giih. Oh a sudden, brandishing a yatagan, he made a feigned 
blow at his patietit, who, ad suddenly d^awing back his head, 
extracted his own tooth in the neatest manner possible. This 
feat filled the Turks with surprise, and increased Osmond's 
reputation among them for sagacity and ingenuity. They 
looked iipon him as a miracle of a man, and on all occasions 
he was called upon to decide in cases of difficulty. He took 
advantage of his ascendency to protect the forlorn Jew, who, 
bnt for his help, must have become a prey to accumulated ill- 
treatment. The unfortunate wretch willingly told his story, 
which was as follows : — 

" He was, in truth, a tooth-drawer, and a leech, by profes- 
sion. Having been called upon to draw a tooth for the Bos- 
tangi Boshi, unfortunately he extracted a sound instead of the 
decayed one. Discovering his mistake, he secreted himself 
fot* several weeks, fearful of the vengeance which might be 
wreaked upon him, and when at length he ventured to leave 
his house, he always kept clear of the great thoroughfares, and 
skulked about at night-fall. Some six months had elapsed, 
when, hoping that all was forgotten, to his dismay, one day 
crossing the Bosphorus m a boat with a pair of oars, he saw 
the great barge of the Bostangi Bashi rowing towards him. 
He lay down in the bottom of the boat, occasionally turning his 
eye over the gunnel. To his horror the barge still followed, 
and, ere he could look round, it darted alongside, and imme- 
diately two men seized him, and dragged him before the 
<)readed comptroller of the Bosphorus in^ person. 'Dog of a 
Jew r said he, ' Do you think I have forgotten ? look at 
this,' shaking his tooth at him at the same time. ' I will pay 
you in your own coin. Here, men, draw out all this wretchV 
teeth.' — ^Upon which," added the Jew, " I was thrown upon 
my back, and a ruffian, strong as a lion, drew his dagger, anrf 
by thtusts, knocks, and tugs, succeeded in pulling the few teetb 
— and God be praised that there were only a few!-^out of my 
devoted head. He almost killed me in the attempt, and then, 
by Way of husihing up his cruelty, conveyed me hither a pi*i- 
soner and a convict. Wh^t more can I say ?" Lord Osmond 



400 AYESHA. 

consoled the unfortunate man as well as he was able, and he 
bad the satisfaction to find that through his influence he was ho 
longer molested. 

A short time after this event, the ship anchored in the har- 
bour of Rhodes. Every one on board was anxious to see the 
place of his future abode, and the sides of the vessel were 
thronged with the motley groups of those who composed its 
passengers, eyeing with curiosity the numerous buildings which 
reared their heads in picturesque outlines around them. Os- 
mond was surprised at the apparent strength of the jJace, the 
fortifications of which were evidently not of Turkish construc- 
tion, and he was not long in discovering that they must date 
from the time when the island was the principal seat of the 
Knights of St. John of Acre, who took possession of it in the 
year 1308. He thought he could trace the treble wall with 
which it had originally been fortified, strengthened by turrets. 
One very lofty tower was conspicuous among the rest, at the 
base of which several large guns peeped through their heavy 
embrasures. At the mouth of what he supposed must be the 
arsenal, he observed a sloop of war on the stocks, almost ready 
for launching ; and here he was not slow in remarking the 
manner in which the convicts were intended to be employed, 
and what probably would be his own fate should he not be for- 
tunate enough to make interest with the authorities to pre- 
vent it. 

In the course of the day the convicts were all landed. The 
YAzbashi, whose office was now at an end, promised Osmond 
that he would immediately use his influence with the governor 
to obtain from him a dispensation from labour among the com- 
mon herd ; whilst his friend, the exiled Pasha, assured him that 
he would exert himself with the same view, and he hoped with 
success, since by good fortune the wife of the governor was his 
own sister. 

The Arsenal was a sorry abode, surrounded by walls ; at 
one end of it were open sheds secured by bars, and in these 
places at night the convicts were enclosed. The intervention 
of Osmond's friends proved successful, and, making a liberal 
use of such money as was left in his purse, he secured for him- 
self and Stasso a small separate lodging, to which he might 
retire from the noise and turmoil of the ponvicts and their la- 



ki O^DSlttMiiiopte M M» fclvotir. f^p pi^^mA stWiiy ; mirte^ 
tttlfjs^ bi^i&pirttjl Were Hot p)^6&( agttiti^t des)Miil4ei^y, aivA tw 
\t;^6«Ad ^A^dt^ \^%6)e hti/iH*s to s^liial^ meditaitiok, HtretfgfthdHldg 
bii^ mittij b^ pi'ayer, l^ttd fuHl% bis thoughl»ifaitt ll^elbiAgs t^ 
^i& >M6Vid t6 ^^ tvf etentitf . At i>tb^i$, h^ m^M mhm4ii 
lAtfl^fi^'^h tKe1to]y6 IfaAf his t*^)^s^ lilWi^l 1^ MattikHkanHi 
^ttSihen ht! WouM eoklve^^6 wi^ fhe »«foni»ni$»e iHeir %tl9 
felteiij^^siiffeM*s iti ^lifttt^ito^ ift^tyiM^ fblftti r^«t« m^hM^ 
<bMr hii^t<^i^s, fthd the c^tises which httd led i^ tl^Hit* oeiiii^]toj\^ 
He had ^^blle^ted h t^ufflclefit Atimhef^ attei^fe!^fdrtit^;9oii»^ 
MhM^ ^fec6rd taH the Newgate Cate«^v netafiiirgto et^m^ 
w^thybfth^ severest t>taishch€^r ; whilst^ utthe sam^j^nfei^ 
«^ ift the htstbry ef 4hie{yMr Jew, ihef« apt)ettiied easeit tcl 
ttMat, thatv e^idlBiitfy^ ^vate i^v§&ge, dr'eaptibiotis^dtoifdtl&lnv 
Without ady ref^riuce to jtistie^y hsid alonit heen mm^iB^i^ 
Thei^ Was otie tftse whieh w«lftl faij|My M^h^JidtMtlii^ bf tKe 
1hM4[S. Osmond bad bbservl^ amoiig tire i^cinvicte i 9 Tonus 
Tvri'k Whb^e spiHf^ seemed neK^er I0 flag^ whb wiem fdrenoBtiht 
^rt^kaSW^l as iki faoy and whos^ gyeMrai fiqppearance-ike^ 
rested him iti hi» fiiivoar. He mad^ Um' dequainlinirey' awl 
le«^to^U»^^yvWbieli Was a6 follows;-^ ^ 

<< He W^ k ytLtimgi^ br sn^bf. He had testn^ ^res^ed inb 
tbe^ service bf ther fleet ^ Constantihopte^ ^nd Was allowed »1v 
W^l^ MUCl^, wbieb is bthefwlse ititerdicled i» the leapftat ' IMng 
lih^t bf iftotieyf he A»d a cotiipatii^Mi^^ifi the sM*i»icei del'^ised 
ti)M iyijenioua ittidde of aequirkig some. Having toougbt: a M^ 
hehi they weftt into tfae stthtirb of Gaktta, which is stt^iAeA 
06 tmbVen groixtid; aad one staiMKng at the top of a; str«et^ 
the bthe^ at the bottotn, when a passenger went by^ the man 
hk the ^p bf the Street obliged him to bay the heii for a givat 
pHce, hn^ when he had got to the bottoniy li)e other took k 
ftWd:y fiom him fey forbe : thus selKng and sb^alii^ Ibe ben by 
iut^fis, tbey i^arped an easy haurveat Tbey kad stixjDeeded 
beybnd their exp^otalaoBs on the first day, and dielermiMd to 
e^a^lnue flieir speoalatton. On the neiLt^ heivitig taken posl as 
btlfore, 41 slow aftd solemn Turk^ looking like a mercbasrt^ W£» 
seen making towards them, i The man at the tpp of Ibe street 
immediately 'fftopipedhkn, and exdiaimed^ ^Here^ £?iead^ here 
is a fowl*'-^^ So be it,' said the «ierbh»it.^-^ You must b«y 

26 



40t AYE8HA. 

it, in the natne o( Allah !' — ' In the name of Allah I I will not/ 
—You will not,' said the armed man, then we shall see.' Upon 
whidi, he drew his yatagan, and with his hand uplifted, sai^^ 
' Buy, or you die!'— ' If such is the case,^ said the merchant, 
not in the least discomposed, ^ then I buy.' — Upon which he 
puid his money, took the fowl in his hand, and walked down the 
bill. When he had reached the other rogue» he was agam stop- 
ped. — To my surprise," said the narrator to Osmond, '' I saw 
the merchant turn round and make a sign, as I thought, to me ; 
buit lo I a body of three or four men rushed down the hill, and 
seiging my companion^ one of them drew his sword, and before 
the poor devil could look round, his head was cut off as clean as 
a pumpkin might be from its stalk. I immediately took to my 
heels, and ran for my life^^the.race was one of life or death, 
until I came to the sea, when I immediately plunged in, and 
saved myself by damberibg up the side of a boat and rowing 
off. I found Uiat the supposed merchant was the Sultan in 
person ; he had been informed of our trick, and had himself 
Gome in disguise to punish it. Orders were sent to the fleet 
to discover me-^an offer of pardon was announced if I would 
give mysdf iq^— I did-^— here I am — ^^What can I say mpre ?" 

Weeks had now elapsed, and still there, was no appearance 
of relief. Couriers arrived to the governor, and no mention 
was ever made of Osmonds His money was now nearly ex- 
pended ; misery stared him in the face ; he saw that he should 
shortly be doomed to the fate of a common malefactor, that 
he must enter among the ranks of the convicts, labour like 
Axm^ eat their food, and make one of their filthy community. 
TIm lH)mptroller of the arsenal had hitherto treated him with 
maore leniency than he could have expected from a rude man 
aocusjtomed to scenes of violence; to his sorrow he heard that 
another had heea appointed to fill that office. The sloop-of- 
war which we have before mentioned, was now ready to 
be launched, and it was announced that, on the day appointed 
for this ceremony, the new comptrolleo was to be installed. 

Few events disturb the dull monotony of a life at Rhodes; 
a launch, therefore^ became one of importance. On the morn- 
ing, the whole population was astir to see the jsigbt i The go- 
vernor of the city, with all the dignitaries, had a place assigned 
tolhem. The walls, the towers; and the fortifications, were 



AYESHA. 403 

lined with people : tbe women oojdspieuous by their white Toik, 
the men producing a ^rpleasing' variety by the brilliant colours 
of their^^ess. The moment had arrived. Expectation was 
alive; every eye was directed to. the gallant vessel, covered 
with; flags and filled with an»ous passengers. A signal-gun 
was fired; the hammers were heard; she began to move ; a 
murmur of delight ran through 4he assembled crowd ; when lo, 
on a sudden she stuck in her progress. Apprehensions were 
BOW excited ; the whole arsenal was in motion ; a cry was 
heard to summon all the convicts. Every one ran to the spot; 
Osmond and Stasso were not spared, they were forced to lend 
their aid on the emergency. A hawser was immediately 
drawn from tbe launch to a capstan; the bars were fitted to it; 
they were manned by the colayicts, and with shouts and cries 
unceasing, they began to heave with the intent of drawing back 
the ship to the spot whence it had started. Great was the la- 
bour^ and little the result. Every man applied his shoulder 
to the bar with his whole strength, not a muscle or a sinew was 
thrown away; still the exertion seemed useless. The comp- 
troller, wishing to distinguish himself in his new situation, 
stopped the proceedings for a moment, and taking a heavy 
cudgel in hand, mounted the capstan; having seated himself 
thereupon, he ordered the heaving to begin again, and, by 
way of qiiidcening the exertions of the convicts, did not cease 
to belabour their backs with his cudgel. He was a most so- 
lemn-looking personage — this new comptroller. Slow and 
deliberate in his motion, wearing a long grizzled beard, and 
covered with an ample cloak, whilst his head was fitted with a 
caouk of vast dimensions, his whole appearance, seated aloft 
on the summit of the capstan, surrounded by the hundreds of 
closely-packed heads of the convicts, might be compared to a 
huge ^^^ather-codc, of which he was the vane, they the points 
of the compass. He uttered no other word than " cAe^," 
which answer to our *' give way.," after the repetition of which 
he let taXL an indiscriminate blow of the cudgel. Whenever 
the blow fell upon some prominent head above the rest, a shout 
lof laughter was set up by the convicts, which did not in the least 
discompose the phlegmatic man, who, without let or hin- 
4jRance, persevered in saying " chek," and administering his 
Mow. Osmond, who was stationed the outermost at one of 

26* 



404 AVBSHA. 

Hub bans, was at fii«t gve$^j affeelM by fiiiditt^ hirtiddf plat)^ 
in BO flegrading a sitvatten; ^hildt 8tasso, his neighbour^ iras 
{perhaps more so. But after the first atigUlsh had |>a9sed orer, 
little foy little he caught the prevaiHtig spirit of faitarit j, kai 
the yiAo\e scene appeared to him so ludierous, that he felriji 
laughed outright at his own thoughts. 

He then turned his eyes up towards the prineipai eatt9<^ ef 
the merriment, and to his surprise, whom should he is^e httt 
aid Suleiman Aga of KarS) the supposed father ^t his Ayesh^, 
and one of the principal causes of his misfortunes? He lookdl 
at him with anxious and curious scrutiny to satisfy hims^f that 
he was not mistaken, and the more he gazed, the more hi^ ift^ 
terest was excited ; for there W^s the solemn man going round 
and round, saying ^Vchdk/' and giving his blows, with th^ sam^ 
doggedness that be exhibited in saying his prayers, or in per- 
forming any other act of every-day life. At length a decided 
stop was put to the whole proceeding; all the heaving in th^ 
w^U couM not stir the vessel; the groaning capstan moved 
not an inch; all further eflforts were in vain. Upott this Su'^ 
leiman Aga stayed his hand, in order t6 hear the words df Mii 
of the principal officers, who recommended the baws^ to h^ 
let go, in order that it might be tried in some ^her posittcm. 
The convicts were ordered to crouch down, the woinSs *♦ tet 
go" were given, when all at once, with the rapidity df th^ swiftest 
coach-wheel in motion, the capstan was left to its own evolu* 
lion, and it went round, bearing Suleiman oti iis summit. With 
tsuch ^x.cess{ve velocity, that all traces of the man were loM^ 
and all that coiiild be seen of him Was an undefined lump, ^up^ 
{lotted by two arms that were holding on on either sidie. The 
shouts of merriment tfaait were set up by the convicts, on seeing 
their goverif^Qr pet*fo^ming so extra(»rdinary a caper, apparently 
in the air, were reverberated in echoes all round the scores «f 
the harbour. Sio intense was the kughter which it prodneedv 
thfit the wret^he9 absolutely roUed one over the ol^r as they 
4^^,ge4 in the (pasm^dic exoilem£At; and indeed ih% oonta- 
j|j^|9> was| siM^pi that the whole town of Rhodes might at on« 
i(iB^ ^ve h^m s^m) ta bQ afflicted with a horse^ang^. Whett 
the capstan at length cMue to a full stop, the crrompMtanee 
proved anything bMj^ 9 source of merriment to poor $uleimaii; 
lie aff)^arc4 i^^^HTQ dead! than ativei be Was sick at Stomach; 



AYE8IU. 406 

\km factt Mfm ptl^; hii beard was ntteriy diwompoie4; he wai^ 
^bUgisd. to b^ lifted off his percb; aad bis lemcM as A conlp^ 
IroUer for sonie days were rendered uselefs bf th^ mmxam^ 
^mkness with wbidi he was visited. 

OfliiiOnd determilied t6 make bim^lf ImOwa to^ol^imab, 
asd to break throiigh tb^ pr^adtees aad cimtoras of the Turiis, 
wbi^h prevent iaquiries cotte^ming theii^ wdmeiif by askii^ 
bim whether be wati acquainted with the fad« of bis wife and 
daughter. Upon tb^ first Qt>portunity bd acoosted btaiv and 
tdd him who he ymn. The old man, ht the first time in hia 
life, almost started when he saw him. He cqdld scai^y btr^ 
li^e his ey^; but as bd was unhappy hims^, be easily sbeoK 
off the first feeling of disgust upon seeing one wbo in truth wan 
the origin of his misfortunes, and communicated freely with 
him, seeing that he also was a companion in adversity. Os- 
mond began by soothing his mind, and showing him that, but 
for Cara Bey, who had so forcibly invaded his house, he would 
never have become a prey to such accumulated misery. He 
gave him a detailed exposure of his adventures since the day 
when he had fled from Kars, showing him how destiny, and 
not any preconcerted plan, had made him the protector of his 
wife and daughter; aad exposed in its fullest light the infamy 
of Cara Bey*s proceedings. He dwelt strongly upon the doubts 
whioh had be^i raised in his mind concerning Ayesha's pa- 
rentage, attributing to those doubts the great interest which he 
had been led to t^e in her fate. 

Whilst he was making these observatioi^s, Oitt^nd obaeryjsd 
ibat the old man looked very much disturbed s and as be 
eonceived that through him some disoovery HHgli^ be ma4e^b« 
pressed him so bard with qvestion^, that at lengU^r be ^etdoM 
OA the point of i^^aking a eonfessMHi. He, however, waved thf ^ 
snbjeot, and screened himself &*om farther importuni^ by re- 
lating all that had bapfei^ked to bijKiself, how and in what 
manner he bad r^o^y me^t Zabetta and Ayesha^ and deseribed 
ibe violent und abriApt mmo^r in ^hioh he^ bad been Ibc^rn fbom 

ibem at €ons^?ii^naple- < 

Osmond listened to bis narr^Uii^ wiUi breathless attention > 
lor in Suleiinaii be saw one who ^te hini a$ recent intolli- 
^#ge as qould be atta^aed ^ her whom he held dearer than 
iifo. Thc^ie w^ m end t9 bis (yi^tions *, jsnd »^ he eideavoKired 



4tfa AYESttA. 

to connect the course of events, he plainly saw that she wa^ 
still under the influence of the intrigues of Cara Bey and Her 
mother, and his heart smote him with the fearful aj^rehension 
lest, excepting indeed by some miraculous intervention^ his 
adored and unfortunate Ayesha should fall a prey to their in- 
fernal raachinatioin. He returned to his confinement wkh such 
an accumulated load of despondency weighing upon his spiritS) 
that his life became indifferent to him, and he would willingly 
have laid it down, but for that high and invigorating feeling 
of resignation to the decrees of the Almighty, which never left 
him, and which, upon great emergencies, always brought with 
it rest and peace, and every other blessing attendant upon a 
good conscience. 



CHAPTER XXXVir. 

The thoasand shapeless things^ all, drly en ; 
In clond and flame athwart the heaven 
Bj that tremendous blast. 

The Siege of Corinf^. 

OsMOND^s situation had now become so hopeless and wretch^ 
ed, that, in order to keep soul and body together j he felt he 
must submit to the fare and fate of a common convict. His 
money was entirely, gone; little by little he had sold his arms, 
his clothes, his wateh, and every valuable which he possess- 
ed; his faithful Stasso had done the same, ^md without some 
one to whom they could have recourse, it was plain that they 
must either eat the black bread of the convict, or starve. 

They had slept their last sleep in the small hired apartment, 
and on the following day it was determined that they were to 
take up their abode in the sheds, when, to their infitiite sur- 
prise, they were visited by Suleiman Aga, accompanied by se- 
veral dignified-looking Turks, servants of the governor of the 
city, who approached Osmond with every mark of respect, and 
announced to him, on the part of their master, that he was 



AVBSRA. 407 

free : an express Tatar, they affirmed, had just arrived from 
the Porte with the news, and they were ordered to conduct 
him forthwith to the presence of the governor. Whoever has 
watched the countenance of a sick friend when told aU at once 
that he is out of danger-; or has observed a prisoner when about 
to die he receives his reprieve, may perhaps form some idea of 
the delight which broke out in the heart of Osmond on hear- 
ing the annonncement of his deUverance. His first impression 
was that of unbounded gratitude for the kindness of Providence 
so manifested in his favour, and he offered a mental prayer 
expressive of his feelings. The effect upon poor Stasso was 
quite different ; from a downcast, broken-hearted man, he burst 
forth into all the exhilaration of a merry madman. He begaii 
to talk faster than any Greek had ever talked; he could -scarce- 
ly refrain from clasping his master in his arms. He straight- 
way hurried to busy himself in his usual manner, to pack up 
and arrange, to fold and unfold, notrecoUecting that there, was 
nothing left either to pack or to arrange. No other words were 
heard to issue from his mouth than, ''May the fiend take Gara 
Bey I I will break hb head, God willing I^ May anathemas 
fell upon him 1" 

It was soon rumoured throughout the arsenal that the Frank 
was about to leave it. Osmond had proved himself the friend 
of the prisoners, by doing all in his power to alleviate their 
miseries; occasionally giving them money, helping them in 
sickness, and soothing their minds in distress. When he was 
about leaving its walls, they formed a lane for him to walk 
through, and he received their expressions of regret, made after 
the Asiatic manner, by assurances on his part of the interest 
which he should ever take in their welfare. As he stopped to 
speak a few words of consolation to the poor tooth-drawer 
(the Jew), telling him that he woi/ld do his utmost to procure 
his freedom,* he suddenly encountered a pair of eyes beaming 
upon him with peculiar expression, the eyes of one whom he 
had not before remarked among the convicts, which were im- 
mediately averted, but which he felt were familiar to him. He 
thought no more of this circumstance at the moment, but pro- 
ceeded on his road to the governor's, where he arrived, at- 
tended with all the respect due to a man of consequence. 

The governor of Rhodes was a dignified Turk, bland and 



m AY*si,iA. 

Whm Oflmwd W^ec^ ih^rQpnn, be rm^ feop ^«s.^€^iI^siMT 
^.upoi^ bi^ taking tl^ pUca of hofiAUF,^ ^i^d ii;f^t^ biw ^tb 

f op0«ii^. ACijer Ibia *ism4 C(Wpli>W§»*^ were pv^, tb^ gPY»riw» 
««^4f *' Our emperor ba3 or4are4 u^ tp Q}(fr;0^: bU cegcfst.^^ 

tbfi^nwai^iby tr««iwnf wbiab uwnt^tip»^ ypw bay^ rewive4 
in bi#,^H»try, I iipi pri?pju:e4 ta wakq yQi*, 0^w*« Aga,,ftverj; 
iwpw^Upp wbipb ypw m^v 4emwd, MfmRyi 4Qtk^t * y^epwl 
t^ b«i9r yw a]Bv^y if you cequwr^ it, are ajt your dii^pcMial. We 
uk noibiw 9i you, h\4 that yov agree to forgave tbe ^^ mi 
tbMyou ftfito^wliQdgp you wlf j^ti^f>«4 witb my tivw^t««9^^ o( 

^^ to the Britisb Aj^abifiwdqr ^t qwv Subliui^ Pqrte," 

Wbat eould our h^ro do but i^^e hi$ re^y acl^uYwlf^g^ 
mmVk for a procefsdiog SQ stri^igbjtfprward ? Hi« first im^ls^ 
wm iwme4iately tp retujpn. tP Cpu^tantinople, in V^ b^pe oi 
hmg able to v^gm pos^e^isipa of, Ayesba* With tb§ w- 
tuipty before hw of prpviug that she wa3 ivpt a, Mabpmp4a«^ 
born* b0 hope4 iu 4efl^»«e of every difficulty, tp ^Uhdf^w her 
^^Om the protpotion of ^ahett^, and iq time to Q\$\pf. hfr as hb 
own. In the meanwhile, delight at this happy cb^uge iu bii>) 
fyjTtMC^at di*Qv^ from bis mind his ma^y pa^t miserieis^ aod he 
f C^pf^ted h^ acl^^iowl^dgmenjts tp the governor for his^ kiftd oCr 
fers^ who o» bi^ part did notresjt until be bad fuUy put inpi^Q- 
tfpe every prolesf ion which he had made, lodging him Ja bi^ 
bpi^e, fiMiii;^ him put w\h clothes, and givii;ig him wch mwey 
1^ h^ might require* An Austrian vessel w^as on the very point 
of Pii^Ung for Trieste, and by ber the governor urged Osmond 
io tal^e bis departure, and in a manuer so pressing that it wai 
evident he bad strong reasons for so doing- When Oanwrndt 
however, n^ifested |io desire tp ^cfde to his wishes, biM 
tallfpd pf an immediate return to the capitali the gpyernori dvi- 
m^jng; ey^ryipnjei fromi his pj^eseAce, in Qpnft^enti^l term^^ 
showed Osinon4 th^M- there wa^,an impwou^ j;i^w^ity tbat be 
should opt retm n ; jhif^iflg, i^idee^, that be had receiYe4 striet or- 
d^« to prevenf^ai^9)ij,a step^;and rocammei^4^bw»^*b^valu^ 
his life, not tp,attemp* it. Osmond took fire pi tbifii iirU.terdMip«, 
wbicb b^terjmed au-iml^acji^j^ of the fripndsfl^B b^t\i^eep tbo two 
countries, sintjf?, the suhJ99f^ pf Turkey haviuslree,egf-e#s,fii<w». 
apd iiy,o %gl^d, with lihprty oJT IravelJiMPg abput A^bi^^PiTspfver 



ih0f mghi fksmi Amt of &tt|^a»A Oi^t to ^t^ tk^ #ailie 
pnwilbsfi9 in Ttrkeyu--.'' My frieod,r ;s9id the p^ii^ Turkr 
^Mbal b tirili^; you taiy f igbti bnt ihare is aa Mceptiotl ii dur 
<te«^ md aitob.aii 'emiaptioB lis t^toiaoi be omciieMiie," 

^ What oaa be the MceptiofL?'' said Oteoad widi somi^ 
wamatii : ^ I have date iui«^rm^" 

'^ I hairid lieeR ti^Uied nai tanlwiilitm it,'' said thd goivser^ 
aai^,, M lullaas) I aeo:a potilfira SMoessily. Knoitf llien,.tlMiit the 
maideli; vbomiyMMi.ieek (for ydwt liiitory iii not uvkaammio 
lae) daims'oar soweceiga lord the Sultan as bar master and 
{MWitaGteri Yott ane aiR^are e£ the atriotoesa of our laws con*^ 
oaniiiag wMmb, ^vd of tha saorad natlinadf our barems ; monk 
]^0u muat also be aware, that the Siiltan w<Hild iieveriR«UiR|$ly< 
allow of jrouraipprtedi to a spot whena your appearaaoe Kught 
produde miaatttef. Do jlot pafdi^t iip<« going to Gonsiatiti^- 
Bople, either hy< land ar aea. By land, I must prevent yonr 
gadBg;> sod should you return by aea^ yon will be taken feoai 
the ahip.by fopcewfrnx yoni* arrival there, and made toanfautt 
tl» tin pmaUy* of being a vxwfX to die Sultaa.** 

TJm informatiaa east a ^oom)of despair over the mind of 
dur hero. He now. saw that Ayesha waa lost to bin for ever. 
What oould.he do butsubniitto Htm orders: of the. governor? 
hviaiibe deviaed firiieHoes for evadiilg them ; his whole cont' 
dpot'wns now strictly watebed, and he had no reswferce left 
but to embark in the proscribed ship< Instead ; of ibat akcrity 
£ffid happiness whieh he had at first ^eneoced^ his whole 
raannerwaa ohaoi^i and he beoame odOttrnlul and pensive. 
He seemed to be left withouit an object initbe world. 

The day be£6re his embarkation, he detortnitied onoe more 
to visit the arsenal, in order to take leave of die convieti^ his: 
foraaer eonffiniom inmiseryv and tot administer to their several 
wants, by making them a donation in money; a liberaUty whieh 
he eould now exercise, stnee^ owing to the iaterftrenoe df the 
^ovimor^ hie!had been dde to niegociiite bills wkh a aaerahant^ 
at t Rhodes^ ^pon . bis banker at ConstaflKl'm6plei FoUaiwedvby 
Stass4, and aaoompaniied fay ^^afeiman, be entered dve ^isaUs<y^ 
thlai dreary abode^ at a time when £J1 the gang were at wm4i. 
By SnleimatiiS orders, d^eir labours were suspended, and they 
were ealled togeibt r to > aUdnd i in « a^ body. Osmond's ivear^ 
ismQte him with oam^siaeration ^ben dbe^ saar so niuqb miaery^ 



410 AYBSHAr. 

and when he compared the state of the poor wretches who 
stood before him with his own free position. They hailed him 
with delight ; they were permitted to gather round him ; and 
as he distributed money to each, he received the expression of 
their gratitude with feelings well becoming one^of his excellence 
of heart and liberality of sentiment He again promised to 
interest himself in favour of those who had been uiqustly im- 
prisoned. All the squalid, wretched, and care-worn faces, for 
a moment seemed divested of their misery, and were clothed^ 
in smiles. The young Turkish thief exclaimed ^^ Allah es- 
marladek P^ The poor Jew kissed his hand, others wero 
pressing around to bid him adieu, when on a sudden, an up- 
lifted arm, brandishing a short dagger, was seen to raise itself 
in the crowd, and anon fell with a quick and violent blow upon 
the breast of the unsui^ecting Osmond. He was almost beaten 
down with its violence. He staggered, but was not hurt; for 
most providentially a thick sk^ch-book, which he always wore 
in the breast-pocket of his beniche, intervened, and warded off 
the blow, which, but for that circumstance, must have proved 
btal. Stasso's quick eye had seen the action, and no sooner 
was the blow struck than the murderer^s arm was fieist clenched^ 
in his grasp. A terrible struggle ensued. A yell of indignation 
burst from the assembled crowd. The murderer would have 
fled ; Stasso still held on with inevitable strength ; and having 
at length mastered him, he threw him down on the ground, 
whilst at the same time he wrenched the weapon from his^^ 
hand. All were eager to see who the villain might be. He 
turned his face to the ground, anxious to conceal it He was 
a strong, broad-shouldered man, wearing a thick and ample 
beard, and dressed as a sailor. 

'^ Who is it P"* roared out old Suleiinan, firing up into ani- 
mation uncommon to him. 

*^ It is the Devil T' said Stasso between his teeth, as he kepi 
struggling on the ground, and dealing some awfully-sounding 
blows upon the head andtemples of the culprit As soon, how- 
ever, as he had caught a glimpse of his eye, he roared out, 
" Did not I say so ?— it is he I— it is Cara Bey, the Yezidi P 
And there, true enough, lay extended this man-fiend I He had< 
disguised himself by allowing his beard to grow, but his eyes^ 
no one could mistake who had ever seen them. 



AYESHA. All 

^^ It cannot be," said Osmond, who, having recovered front 
the blow, now stood forward and looked down upon him. 
** How came the villain here ?" 

'^ You say it is not he, O Effendi T' exdaimed Stasso ; 
** then look at this !'^ Upon which he drew up his turban aikl 
large red skullcap, which were drawn down tightly as low a& 
the eyebrows ; and there the print of the horse-shoe was seen 
almost as fresh as if it had been stamped but the day before. 

V ^^ If you want to see your real enemy, Suleiman Aga," said 
Osmond, addressing himself to the old Turk, '^ there he is. 
This is Cara Bey ; look at him I" 

Suleiman Aga opened all his eyes, and exclaimed with re^ 
verehtial gravity, ^^ La itlaha i/fa//aA /—there is but one 
Allah I" and then added, <' Dog without faith !" AU the con- 
victs, in turn, came and spat upon him, some saying, ** Dog!'^ 
others, by way of taunt, " Lahnet be shaitan ! — Curse upon 
Satan r others^ ""^ Pezevenk P^ and " Cfiaaur T 

The murderer, having been caught in his own toil, remained 
absorbed in dogged and moody silence ; he eyed Osmcmd with 
the looks of a wild animal deprived of its prey. With bis arms^ 
strongly pinioned behind his back, he was dragged forcibly on 
towards the house of the governor, whither Suleiman Aga in- 
vited Osmond to follow him, whilst, occasionally looking at the 
prisoner, he mumbled to himself, '' As Allah is great I I think 
that fellow came here in the same ship with me. Great are 
God's works !" 

The whole party reached the governor's house, followed by 
an immense crowd : Osmond was invited to be seated ; Sulei- 
man Aga also took his place on the sofa, and the culprit was 
placed before the governor, divested of his turban, his hair 
streaming wildly about his ears, whilst his horse-shoe scar stood 
revealed in the strongest manner. When the whole murder- 
ous proceeding had been related to the governor, he turned to 
Osmond, and said, " What can I say for my countrymen ? 
We have bad men among us,— that you know, to your cost ; 
but I hope you will also acknowledge that there are some 
good. lat least will do my duty ; and, jtherefbre, I place this 
wicked man's ear in your hand : do what you like with him — 
pound him in a mortar ; impale him ; bake him in an oven ; 
bowstring him ; or simply cut his head off; only speak the 



Hi AY£«U. 

wwir md a dball ba done. We ape Maisulitiaaii, imd the eer- 
vimls of the Prophet r 

Stasso, who was standing near tbcf prisoner, every now aidd 
Uiea givilig his arais an extra twist with bis boads, looked as if 
W wouU have preferred the adoption at one and &e satne time 
of aU the di6Eierent modes of kilUsg proposed by thi^ governor) 
so great was the impulse of reven^ whiibh raged in his heart* 

Qamond atiswered^ *' Sir Governor, iiay yoar shadow^ev^ 
be less I I will not deprive your law of its victim. Whaiever 
your law ordains, Chat do. This wreteb is too wieked to Uve : 
I do not oppose his death, however mUch I abhor Uoodsbad- 
I am now about to leave your ooualry, perhltps for lever*, 
tberefoi^e, were he even permitted to live, we never more 
might nteet again. But as the same evil passion which has 
iftipeiled him to seek my life, may be e^iercised. against the life 
of another, I repeat that, in justice to the public good, I ought 
not to oppose, and I dd not oppose myself to his death. I leave 
him entirety in your hands." 

'^ But what do I see ?'' said the goVerndr^ as he turned Ui 
ejiestiottfards Cara B^; '^ that marft on yout forehead, villain, 
ytronioiuiees your &te, whatever 4lse xitight interpose to prevent 
it." Then referring W hia scrihe, he ijsqiiired whether opd»n 
bad not h6e«i tildiaimitted froiti Constantinople, to keep an eye 
upon ene of the conVictSi wfigae forehead wi»s branded with a 
heirscHsboe, and, should be be ibund transgriessing< instautly to 
put him to death. Such were, in fact, the order$ reeeived ; 
anci sMob vra^ the wMed man's do^in. 

The governon after again <^doUng wiih Osino»4 for tb« 
eenstun^ ttlrti!^tmfint whi^b he seemed deiti»edle reciSiveae 
long a8f !he> remained in the qoutiiry^ would ha^ve oongratuiat^ 
him up(Hi the presf^di of bis speedy d^pedrtun^, had he net 
observed bl^w ^Ubose OfftligratiiJdUieiis wauld bereoeiti^; wi 
the(y 4hMi 'Si^parnted^ 

Tb& neaU morning beuig fued upou iorOilmonid's ddpar(4ire» 
be-v^s^es^orted with ail due ceremony io the waiter's edge by 
the goiv^nar and Us ofl^ters. Upon taking an affectionate 
)li|]ireofithatfieihio«ilge(he delivered l4l him a letter e^fn9r 
sive^of ItijEieni^eaatinfaolie* with the treaAment which tie hieMl 
remired at' hia hands^ to b^ S^warded to the ambaiasadeir a^ 
Geviillaiifinetile, atibotighrhe didttot/oevieeal that he qowpjbin'- 



AYESkA. iii 

^ of the rtetfaml whteh kttcA been j^ut U|)6n his ))eR$bti. A 
bout frdm the sUp was in readiness t6 c<mvey faim on bodrd ) 
iSutoim^n Aga ae^mpanied tiim. Ostnond was about taking 
leftve of bim also, when the grave man, with more feeling 
than be bad ever before exhibited towards him, took liiiti 
aside and said, '' Osman Aga^ (jrddis grieat, and sees into the 
boatrts of me^ ! If I bd^^ ^^r don^ yoii barm, tot^lrt me. 
i have only one word more to say.;" and then, evidently witfc 
a i^v^e mental strnggte, he adJed, ^ 3%e maideti is tiot m^ 
daiiigbter— nor \i she Zabetta's : more I cannot s^y,, fbr more 
1 k*ow bot. And now Alkb proted: you !" i ^ 

Osmond was so struck by this piece of int^igence, tbiit b« 
Would have detained hi^ Informant ; but be turned away, and 
Walked with a bnrried step from bim. T?o bave delated hhg^t^ 
bo saw was impoi^slble; stepping, tberefbre, into thfe bbatj ib 
iinotber second be fouiid himself on board. Ideated On tte 
poop, deeply pondering <yver what bo had Jti^ be^tid, and btk 
eye glancing over the Si6eni(!^y of the harbour, bis attention Wdis 
fluted by the appearan(;e of several men in the embrasure ^f 
one of tht^ lATgegutts situated at the foot of the high towei*, 
iipparently preparing 10 fire Jt : be sa^ the ^havgib of powd^t 

tirst rammed down, then a ban introduced, and hi'st of all, h^ 
perceived ^ man i}nth bii^ arms pinio^efd bebittd bis bacl!,, 
brought forward and plAced before- it« muzrio. tVith a spy^- 
glass, he dOondisreoveredth^ intent of tb^ wbdte prbcet^ding. 
The pris(mer was Cara Bey! There wto to mistaking hW: 
pale and haggard^ be Stood With bii» face outwards, apparently 
already more than half dead^ awaHing the dri^adfiil ^ermiMi^ 
tion ofhiswiekedKfife. " ' 

Tbe governor bad ev^en^y intended this seeno an, \h Mk 
mitid, tbe best mode of doing honour to 0^m<)M. It WAi» oek 
tainly an original mode, and indeed one pOroty Turicisb, dC 
^liowlng *a piece of delicate attention^- Tbo podr ^i^f^dk^ 
with outstretched bandd^ seemed to im(rfote the foi^glveheiii^itf 
tbe departing vessoL He bald so ^ften beenMib^^pdint 6f 
death, and stiU bad be#n pei^mitted to live^ tb^l^ fla'ftering' Hi^ 
self w4th th<e hope of craping on tbi^ deca^ioti, b^ hkd relbmn^ 
ed arrogabt and ooi^em totbela^li bnt noW b^ fekthat 
all bopo had vanbbed, and, b^ottitikg pr^o^tiob^bly Abj^, 
bis cries Wero audibly beard. As his eyeii looked toWa^ii tb% 



414 AYBSHA. 

harbour, he could perceive Osmond on the deck of the ship: 
he entreated, he implored. There never was, in the whole 
catalogue of crimes and punishments, an execution more awful 
in its termination, and so striking in all its circumstances, both 
as forming a great moral lesson, and an exhibition worthy of 
being recorded by the painter's art. 

The ship had already weighed anchor; the; topsails began 
lo fill ; she was slowly beggming' to glide out of the harbour, 
when suddenly the gra was. fired, a, fladi 'Ufa^ seen, an im- 
jnense explosion took place, the murderer was launched into 
eternity, and his miserable remains scattered unto the four 
winds of heaven! ; 

A sensation of awe ran through every heart, as the echoes of 
the shock reverberated throughout the harbour, A shout of 
mingled pity and execration came from the assembled convicts. 
The mangled pieces of the wretched man's body fell here and 
there in splashes in thesea, and attracted the birds of prey that 
hovered about the city. A dead silence ensued: those who 
were at work stopped to reflect; those who had assembled 
from curiosity walked thoughtfully away. The death of a 
fellow-creature must ever be a subject of deep and awfiil 
iiliport to the survivors ; and on this occasion, where the guilt 
was undoubted, the exercise^of the power which punished was 
applauded, because its decrees were indisputably just. 

The last emotions; which filled the breast of our hero, as 
the ship left the island, and slowly turned towards the broad 
expanse of the sea, were deeply . tinged with melancholy. That 
the last honours which lie should receive from the hands of 
the Turks, as a sort of compensation for the miseries which he 
liad endured at their hands, should have been a discharge of 
t^e whole person of his enemy almost into his very face, was 
a, circumstance which struck him with horror. At any other 
laoment (putting out of the question the odium of spilling hu- 
D9an blood), this act, so characteristic of a semi-barbarous 
nation, mi^thave apomsed him; but now it inspired him with 
an undefinable feeling of gloom and dreariness, particularly as 
it was mixed up with the feeling that he was leaving his che- 
rished Ayesha, who he now knew for certain was not a 
Turkish maiden bora, to drag out her existence among a 
people to whom by birth she had never belonged. These 



AYESHA. 415 

thoughts entirely occupied his mind during his passage, almost 
to the exclusion of the joyful anticipation of seeing his country 
a^n, and being restored to his friends and relations. 

Stasso, on the Oth^ hand, Was- i^U life, joy, and alacrity. 
When the catastrophe of Gara Bey's death had taken place, 
he was standing near his master, watching for the moment of 
seeing the villain receive the death so long his due,, with a sort 
of credulous anxiety, as. doubting whether it were in the 
power ^f man ever to compass the destruction of one whom 
he really thought to be the evil 4spirit in person. When the 
gun at length was fired, and he saw the extinction of the poor 
wretch^ between wonder and excitement he could scarcely 
draw breath), at la^t, when he could speak, he exclaimed^ 
**' Wdll God be thanked ! I really thought it had been the 
devil— God be thankedr 

. The passage was prosperous. A steady breeze earried the 
ship in suci^e^ion along the shores of Candia; then, skirting 
Cerigo, she made the coast of the Morea, steered close by Ce- 
phalonia and Corfu, and, running up the Adriatic with a strong 
easterly windy, cast anchor in the harbour of Trieste^ the tenth 
day after her departure firom Rhodes. The morning after, she 
warped into theiazaretto, where Osmond was installed in the 
possession of eertaiin ro6ms,tp perform the prescribed qua- 
rantine. 

Who that has ever returned to Europe after having passed 
a long time among Asiatics, does, not enjoy exquisite delight at 
the transition, feeling that he retuiDS.'to take his place in the 
civilized world, after having been exposed to, the vicissitudes 
and vexations of an intercourse with semi-barbarians I Although 
Osmond felt this in a high degree, for, in setting foot on shore 
at Trieste, he was in fact almost restored to his family, still the 
image of Ayeshai which was ever before his eyes, seemed to 
reproach him thait he had not attempted to return to her, and 
that, in quitting Turkey withopt at least ascertaining what had 
been hec fate, he had forsaken and abandoned her to hopeless 
misery. But he coupled himself by the reflection that he was 
obliged to cede to necessity ; and he could not dismiss from his 
mind a lurking hope that she was not lost to him for ever. He 
determined that he would leave no stone unturned to discover 
who might be her parents, and, should he be so fortunate as to 



asceHain thflt foet, tti^sft tliAt^ ivIiiAlM i^ ^miglit h^ A ^plive 
wrthin the Siritan'd serftglio or a trtf^ #tMnim «lM<«i^k«rn») sb^ 
should be r^stOr^ «0 theiii. 

He heard of ships Effing ^moi^ Ad^ tto^ Triei»le to Ihe 

LevdHt, and was s^rioui^ly c6n!elikfrlatjtrg a f^f^m to OotMaiii- 

tinopTe^re fae pfoce^ded to Ehgkiid, m »p[^ idt Dm gi»f^tmt 

of Rhodesi^ d^ntiAciatfOn, ^heti he was visited by the EtigHik 

Consul, who, ahhough Without itows df cm^t^nem^ t(f ebitH- 

inunicate, still had it in his power to dissipate tnuoh of the etttttti 

6f quarantine, by sendtng him a loAg series of new^papetis^ V&dMl 

would give him a general history of ttie world i»ittt^ti bin 19^^ 

dusibn from it. Osmond h^d so long been deprived ol Mm 

ftiottt his own family, that his first 0%j6ct was to require isotnte 

intelHgenc^ concerning them; and, as sev^ai mettibers of it 

were persons in office, in parliament, and attached tO the KMg\ 

f^ersoti, h^' d^L^yi^cted to find mewtioii mi^e of tbem in ikome 

banner or olh^r. One of tb^ fir$t pajragrapiM whicAi met hii 

eye was as follows ! — 

" We regret io fiionOffne^ that a noUe family has bet^a ^kimti 
ihto the deepest dist^ss, owii^g to intelUgenee jtist reo^y«d 
(him Constantinople that its heir is supposed to have fiiMen a 
Victim to Mahomedan jealousy. The young aikl ^tinfnfi^hed 
nobleman in question was knoWn to have formed an tcmMi^ 
ment de coeur with a beautiful Turkish woman, and this en^ 
t^nglement is said to have led to the aboremeiitio^ed ever«to- 
kfe-tegretted fintal rfeiwwrcwiewr." 

H^ Wfts itimost ehoked ^(ilth emiM^OB afs he readtbis< Loving 
his pjiitents wilh the mmi ardent j^eeeion^ h« siiw at 6w» the 
miiM^ry i^to which they must have boon pim^d hj fai» liMig 
jibsekc^. This eir(mmstaiiee put to flighit all ideuis bf rMinM% 
to Ttirkey: had he been dt liberty, he would net haved^yeda 
moiheni in pt^ee^ing to England x«4th alt haste, a^d be made 
instant appli^alion that the iettii of Mi quii^aht^ liilgin be 
abridged as mndi aspbssible^ 'He reserved, fittst, l# aee Mi 
p^r^ts, and then, ac^oi^ditig to^the iMi^imce whieb he ^ghf 
i^^ive from Wortley, ^ return and ^ed^ hh toV^. 

Attimf; up to this reiM4»tton^ as soon ag the mMoin^e of hii 
^6hfm^ment \m^ over, he purebased a ^fitrrii^, and siit off by 
Ih^ shortest rotit^ having previously Wfitten a lelter i». hte 
fothtei", ant!6tMic4iig tbe probability of his spf^edy artrNUi. 



AYISISHA. 417 

StasdO) vrho had never beefi in Europe before, was in the 
seventh heaven at all he saw. The transition from the back of 
a lean post-horse to the cushions of a dicky-box, was one of 
unceasing delight; and although he had no means of making 
himself understood but by signs, still he seemed to comprehend 
everything almost intuitively. 

Osmond travelled day and night in a straight line to Eng- 
land, and did not allow himself to take rest, even in the great 
towns. Stopping in the cafe of a small place in France, whilst 
his carriage was being repaired, he took up a French news- 
paper, mi passing his eye over its columns, came to the fol- 
lowing paragraph : — 

'* Selon les derni^res tionveUes de Constantinople, il parait 
que la civilisation y fait des progr^s rapides. On nous assure 
qu'il s'y debite un roman, dans lequel le chef supreme de cette 
nation hautaine joue un vtAe tr^marqu^, et dont les details 
piquans et int^ressans feraient homieur aux tempd les plus che^ 
valeresques de notre belle France. 11 parait que le Suhan eDt 
devenu amoureux en vrai troubadour. Parcourant les rues de 
sa capitale k la belle ^toile, il vit une jeune et charmante per-^ 
sonne k sa fen^tre, avec laquelle il eut un entretien des pluil 
interessans; de propos en propos Tentretien s'echauffe^^le son- 
verain amoureux veut se fjiire reccvoir-— la belle refusc-^voilk 
des sermens, des voeux, qui sont ^cout^s favorablement: nn 
enlevement s^ensuit, et voilit notre Sultan le plus heureux des 
mortels. Le roman c^endant ne finit pas. Ill , car il parait que 
la belle 6tait d^j^ promise ^ un jenne lord anglais, qui I'avait 
enlevee h un voleur de grand chemtii dans quelqu'endroit, ^ ce 
que Ton assure, entre TEgypte et la I^erse. Le Suhan, par 
droit de son caract^re administratif, a 'Salt d^es^ter le jettrie 
lord, et, par une esp^ce de coiqi d'^tat^ s'est mis en possessibfi 
legale d^me de ses^ujettes, pendant qu'il exp^dte eelui qiti avait 
usurpe des droits qui n'etaient aucunement les sicns. Le jeune 
lord, dit-on, s^appd^it Lordosmon." 

This paragraph, however fiiU of absurdity it might be, did 
not fail to produce a serious impression upon Os!tt6nd, and he 
now felt that all his hopes of ever possesring Ayesha were in- 
deed totally, utterly blasledw His duly dei^re Was to reach Eng- 
land^ he was Hapidly approaehing Its ilhores, add at every step 
bis heart beat in anslious antioip^it^ of once again embr^dng 

27 



4 IB AYE6HA. 



his parents ; in whose society he resolved he would endeavour 
to forget her who so long had held the first place in his thoughts 
and affections. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII, 



AND CONCLUSION. 



Lo mas dificultoso para la postre. 

CEiVDOf Rejranet Castellanow^ 

It was early in the morning of one of the last days of Sep- 
tember, when, descending one of the hills above Boulogne, Os- 
mond caught the first view of the white cliffs of Dover: — his 
heart glowed at the sight, although the general tone of his 
feelings was full of melancholy. A few hours after, he crossed 
the channel ; and as the day closed, he found himself safely 
landed, and in an hotel at Dover. 

It was some time past midnight before Osmond could proceed 
on his journey. He had in part preserved his Turkish costume^ 
not having been able to renew his European attire ; his ap- 
pearance, therefore^ which was a mixture of the Oriental and 
the European, both odd and original, was highly picturesque. 
His Tatar pelisse, the pendent sleeves of which hung behind 
after the fashion of the Hungarians, was fastened before by 
thick braiding and tassels, whilst it entirely enveloped his per- 
son ; and instead of a hat, he wore a fur cap, which gave to his 
head an Asiatic character. Stasso also preserved his Oriental 
dress. 

A little before noon his carriage stopped at his father's door, 
in Grosvenor Square. The town was a perfect desert, and 
the loneliness of the streets suited the mood of his mind. As 
he drove through them, he thanked his stars that he had ar- 
rived at the present moment; for he was in no wise prepared 
to meet the rush of friends, and those numerous inquiries which 
would have awaited him had he arrived when the town was 



AVE8HA. 410 

full. The knock wkich the postilion gave at the door, re- 
sounded throughout the square in faint echoes, like the ghost 
of the many thousand knocks which had been heard during 
the departed season. A noise of bolts undrawing and chains 
removing, and other symptoms of solitude, were heard ere the 
door was opened. Then, as it slowly turned upon its hinges, 
it discovered an astonished individual in the shape of a bourse- 
maid, /^ho, half surprised, half in doubt, seemed to be thrown 
into a state of uncertainty as to the propriety of admitting such 
outlandish-looking people into the house. As soon, however, 
as she heard the questions put in quick and anxious succession, 
" How is my father? How is my mother? Where are they ?" 
her muddy complexion reflected a variety of hues ; and sup- 
posing there '* might be some mistake,'' and that her young 
lord had not been dealt with so hardly by the foreigners as 
reported, she dropped her curtesies in rapid succession, and, 
opening shutters, which threw light upon broad gleams of dust, 
ushered Lord Osmond into his father's library. Having dis- 
charged the postboys, and finding his parents were at the fa-* 
mily place in the country, he ordered a fresh set of horses, 
being determined to continue his journey without a moinent's 
delay. 

Osmond scarcely asked a question beyond ascertaining the 
state of his parents' health : he looked' over the house, feeling 
the approaches to their presence, as it were, by the inspection 
and touch of those objects of daily use which were seen through- 
out every room, and which reminded him of their habits and 
daily avocations. 

Stasso eyed everything around him with astonishment; and 
wben he had ascertained that he was in the paternal mansion 
of his lord and master, looked upon it with an interest which 
seemed to imply that he also was a sharer in its possession. 

The horses were now at the door. Osmond got into the 
wayworn carriage, Stasso ascended his seat, and away they 
went, driving across the, square, intending to make their way, 
through Upper-Grosvenor-street and the Park, to the high 
road. Osmond recollected that the house of Sir Edward 
Wortley, the father of his friend at Constantinople, was the 
corner-house of the square; and as the carriage drove along, 
naturally cast his eyes towards, it Instead of being closed like 

27 * 



420 AYfiSHA. 

the, others, every window and every shutter was open ; flowers 
and shrubs were disposed in profusion throughout the baleo^ 
nies; a fat porter stood picking his to^th at the door, dressed 
in the gayest of liveries, and there was an appearaBoe of ha* 
bitation about the house which nobody could mistake. Oft^ 
mond could not refrain from asking a few qucBtions oanoeming 
the family, and particularly with respect to bis friend. H^ 
ordered the postboys to stop, aiid alighting inquired whetki^ 
Sir Edward Wortley was in tpwn. 

^' Yes, Sir,*' said thei porter, with a face beaming with con* 
tentment, as if he was happy to say ' ye$.' 

'' Is there any late news from Mr. Wortley at Constanti- 
nople?"' said Osmond. 

" Oh yes. Sir," said the porter, " there is." 
"What news?" 

'' Why, he is only here, that's all* sir," said the janitor, with 
a sort of happy chuckle that evidently was intended to intimate 
more than it expressed. 

'' Is he indeed I" said Osmond in a rapture of delight. " Is 
he at home ?" 

'' Yes, I believe he is, sir," said the porter; upon wbicb he 
sent for the proper servant to show Osmond into the drawing- 
room. 

There was such a marked expression of satisfaction in the 
faces of all the servants, that (>smond could not help feeling 
that Wortley's return must have caused it; and well it might, 
since his amiable qualities were calculated to attract universal 
regard. Osmond was introduced into the drawing-room, 
which bore the marks ojf having been recently occupied by Lady 
Wortley ; for her writing-table was spread with letters and 
books, and work and eyery other accessory lay scattered around. 
He stood for some time looking ahout bim, when, turmng 
towards an open door which led inte> an a^oining room, his 
attention was caught with the reflection of a femate head in H 
mirror which fronted him^ It was not dressed aoeording to 
the English fashion; he could not weH define how it was 
dressed. The face» which was partly concealed by a hand on 
which It recUnedy wa^, by its position, looking downwards. 
He could have wishi^d to see more of it ; for what he did see^ 
was emiuently beautiful : besides, the hand was fairer than any 



AYESHA. 481 

jbe had ever before beheld. The hair fell down in profusion, 
but in a manner new to hi3 eye in Europe; still, somehow or 
other, it was not altogether strange to him. He gazed on for 
some minutes without daring to make the least noise. At length, 
tired of standing in one position, and impelled by curiosity, he 
advanced some steps towards the open door. The noise he 
made, caused the object of his attention to look up; and when 
the full face was disclosed to him, he started with an emotion 
almost amounting to terror. She, upon seeing him also re-- 
fleeted in the glass, suddenly stood up, trembled from head to 
foot, put her hand to her temple, and, uttering one long, thrill- 
ing, searching cry, fell down senseless on the floor. — In another 
second, Osmond was at the feet of his long-lost Ayeshal 

Who can venture to describe what followed! Surprise was 
the feeling which principally filled the breast of Osmond, when 
first he saw before him (me whom he firmly believed to be 
shut up within the walls of the seraglio. This was succeeded 
by such raptures of joy, love, and gratitude, that he was like 
one demented. In the excess of his joy he probably would 
have forgotten to alarm the house, or to seek help in the di- 
lemma in which he was placed; but the cry which Ayesha 
uttered had reached the ear of her mother, who, without delay, 
rushed to her assistance. When Lady Wortley saw a man of 
Osmond's strsmge appearance standing over her daughter, she 
also uttered a loud cry, and at the same time rang the bell vio- 
lently. Presently the room was filled with servants; a report 
ran thf^Migh the house that Mi^s Wortley was dying, and a sen- 
sation, ofalai*m set every 4ane> in motion. Sir Edward was 
called from his own room, and his son, socm hearing wha^ had 
happened, also rushed to the drawing-rooni. No one^doiild 
make out who Osmond was, or how he had got there : some 
conceived that he was an evit-intestioiied person, and had 
frightened Miss Wortley into fits: others thought he might be 
some Turkish Blue-Beard come to take her away ; — but the 
moment Wortley appeared^ throwing himself into the arms of 
his friend, he pronounced his name, and the whole mystery 
was cleared up. 

Slowly the astonished and bewildered Ayesha (for we must 
still caU her by that name) came to herself: but it was only to 
swoon away ag^in, so great had been the concentrated shock 



Att AYESUA. 

of joy and surprise. She was removed to her bed, and evertr 
restorative having been resorted to, and Osmond being no 
longer before her eyes, she gradually recovered. It was then 
that the history of his return was cautiously disclosed ; and 
when she was really assured of her happiness, her whole being 
seemed to dissolve itself in tears of joy and gratitude. 

Never was there such a scene of unmixed delight as that 
which took place between the lovers. As it defies the power 
of description — for what words can ever paint the eloquence 
of loversMooksand lovers^6ighs? — we must for the present 
leave them to themselves. In the meanwhile we will en- 
deavour to afford those explanations to the reader, which he 
may, or possibly may not, wish to seek at our hands. 

Sir Edward Wortley in early life had devoted himself so in- 
tensely to the study of classical literature, and particularly of 
Greek, that it became his ruUng passion. His first wish was 
to visit Athens, to reside in Greece, and to collect every- 
thing that could throw a light upon his favourite studies. He 
married young ; and after his son was born, the times being 
propitious for such an undertaking, he determined to put his 
project into execution. 

Accompanied by his wife and family, he reached Athens in 
safety. Shortly after their arrival, Lady Wortley presented 
him with a daughter, and the most beautiful Greek maiden that 
could be found was procured from Tino to act in the capacity 
of nurse. The infant was Ayesha, the nurse Zabetta. When 
the child was above a year old^ and Sir Edward aii^ Lady 
Wortley were about to return taE^gland, they one day became 
alari^ed at the absence of the nurse and child. They had 
be^^seen walking towards the close of day under the columns 
of Jupiter Olympius, and from that time all traces of them were 
lost. Sir Edward immediately set on foot every sort of in- 
quiry, offered large sums, despatched messengers throughout 
the country, — but all to no purpose. In the meanwhile Lady 
Wortley, who at first had borne up against the calamity, fell 
ill, under the thousand conflicting emotions with which such a 
misfortune would naturally fill her heart. She lived in hope 
again to see her child ; but, as time wore away, that hope was 
changed to despair. At length it was clearly ascertained that a 
boat ha(d been wrecked on the rocks of Sunium; fragments of 



AYEBUA. 4i» 

dress were found which were called European; aud, in short, 
so much was said and done, that there was no doubt that th« 
child and its nurse, and whoever might have been their con- 
ductor, had perished in the sea. 

Sir Edward, alarmed at the drooping health of his' wife, 
thought it much better at once to cut off all hope, than allow 
her mind to remain in hopeless uncertainty ; and he was right. 
Although it was long before she recovered, yet Time, the great 
assuager of grief, eventually restored her equanimity. Any 
allusion to the loss of the child was strictly prohibited; no one 
ever mentioned it in the presence either of Sir Edward or his 
wife; the son was brought up in ignorance of it : in short, the 
whole event remained buried in oblivion. 

Things continued in this state,«when, at no long period be- 
fore Osmond^s arrival, a carriage drove up to the door of Sir 
Edward Wortley's house in Grosvenor-square, and fi-om it 
alighted the heir of his name and wealth, leading a young 
person dressed in a costume which had never before been seen 
in England in civilized life. As it was the season for gaiety, 
some thought they might be returning from a fancy-dress ball; 
others, that the fair Circassian had come again into the world. 
But who can ever express the emotions which filled the breasts 
of Sir Edward and Lady Wortley, when they received their 
son and their long-lost daughter at one and the same moment? 
Lady Wortley, and indeed her husband, had scarcely recovered 
from the effects of the sudden joy, when they were called upon 
to administer relief to their daughter in the same manner, on 
the sudden apparition of Osmond. 

Young Wortley had so often related the story of his inter- 
view with the dying Zabetta to his own family, as well as to 
their numerous friends and relations, that he was considering 
whether it would not be advisable to print a short account of 
it, to save the trouble of further repetition. However, he was 
obliged again to narrate the whole story to his friend, from 
the moment of Mustafa^s arrival to his own departure from 
Constantinople. He made a faithful report of all the circum- 
stances, many of which being already known to our reader, we 
will not repeat, but take up his narrative with the event which 
brought him to the knowledge of his sister, namely, his inter- 
view with Zabetta. 



484 AYESHA. 

'' I found the unfortunate woman," said Wortley, ^< «s:tended 
on a bed, and death painted on her feee in colours not to be 
mistaken. When we were alone, raising herself upon her 
hand, and evidently making a violent effort over herself, she 
said, ' You are Edward Wortley ; I know you ; I knew your 
parents at Athens : I nursed you; I nursed your sister too/ As 
you may imagine, I started at this intelligence ; for, although it 
had ever been supposed that I knew nothing of the loss of my 
sister, still I had in fact received some intimations of it from 
different people. * Your lister lives,' she continued; ' I am a 
wicked woman ! — oh, will you ever forgive me? Protect her, 
take her away from this place, lose not a moment, I am dying 
— there, there she is,' pointing to the next room — 'And take 
these things, they belong to her and you — there, go!' She con- 
tinued to talk by short snatches, until I saw her gradually sink 
and die. She held a locket in her hand, and some coins, which 
I took from her. As you may suppose, I did not lose a moment 
in rushing to Ayesha, and, as it was night, I conveyed her at 
once to the palace. I consuhed with the Ambassador what 
was to be done : he advised me instantly to hire a swift-rowing 
boat, to proceed in all haste to one of the king's ships at anchor 
off Tenedos, and there to take refuge; until that was done, he 
assured me, I could not call my sister safe. Accordingly we 
acted up to his injunctions; we embarked that very night, she 
under an European disguise, and reached the ship in safety. 
The ship soon sailed for Malta, and from Malta to Portsmouth, 
whenca we reached our home without the smallest accident. 
The only drawback to our happiness was anxiety about you ; but, 
as I had despatched Mustafa a short time before to Rhodes, I 
concluded that there could be no doubt of your speedy libe- 
ration." 

" And you and Ayesha escaped the plague, my dear Wortley!** 
exclaimed Osmond with great emotion. 

«* It was indeed a wonderful interposition of Providence in 
our favour," said Wortley; — ►«* escape it we did, and most mi- 
raculously; for, by a letter which I received from Trompetta 
the other day, it appears that every one else who approached 
that devit^ed house, fell a saorifiee to the fatal disorder. But t 
must read you that letter; it will give you the history of what 
took place after our departure, and also throw some tight 



AYBSHA. 425 

upon the fate of your enemy Gara Bey. Accordingly, taking 
from his pocket Signor Trompetta's letter, he read as fol- 
lows: 

" Dear Sir, 

'^ I HAVE the honour to inform you, that the day after your 
departure from the British palace, his Excellency the Kislar 
Agassi, or chief of the black eunuchs, went in state, on the 
part of his Majesty the Emperor, to the house of Zabetta Kadun, 
for the purpose of bearing off with him her supposed daughter, 
your amiable sister, that she might become the favourite sul- 
tana. You may guess, sir, the surprise and dismay of that 
officer, when, instead of a young and blooming bride, he found 
nothing but death and putrefaction. Zabetta lay dead in her 
bed, and her servant-maid in the last agonies beside her. The 
Kislar Aga immediately retreated from the scene with horror, 
apd went to his imperial master to make a report of what he 
had seen. As there was nobody in the house to say whither 
the supposed daughter had gone, although a very active search 
was instituted, no discovery was made. The whole circum- 
stance produced a great sensation throughout Constantinople 
at the time, but I am happy to say it has entirely subsided so 
far as regards your sister, although it has excited the Sultan's 
wrath against the Capitan Pasha^ who has utterly lost the good 
graces of his Majesty, and may perhaps also lose his situation, 
if not his head. 

" I am happy to inform you, that the Cara Bey question has 
been agreeably settled. In consequence of the application of 
the Russian Ambassador to the Porte, in which that minister 
complained of the insult offered to his imperial master, in allow- 
ing so great a deUnquent to go about: with impunity as the 
accredited officer of one of the high dignitaries of the state, and 
in consequeni^e of our representation also, the said Cara Bey 
has been ordered to leave Constantinople, and has been sent to 
work as a convict in the arsenal at Rhodes. In this case we 
cannot complain of the want of good faith in the Reis Effendi ; 
but I am sorry to hear that Mustafa Tatar has, been detained for 
some time at Guzel Hissar, and that, I fear, by the ord^ of the 
government. , But now, as there can be no object in his de- 
tention, he will be allowed to proceed, and I hope that, ere this, 

28 



426 AY£SUA. 

the letters of which he was the bearer^ have produced Lord 
Osmond's liberation. 

*' I have the honour to be, Sic. 

" Antonio Trompetta. 
" P.S. — We hear that the Greek priest, brother to Zabetta, 
is dead of the plague : this fatal disorder is daily gaining ground 
here.'^ 

The whole town was very soon apprised of the circumstances 
which we have just recorded. It became as great an object 
to obtain a sight of the beautiful Ayesba, as it ever is to see 
any curiosity imported into England. Luckily, the principal 
lion-hunters were out of town, or else she might have regretted 
the seclusion which she had enjoyed as a Mahomedan; indeed, 
as it was, so strongly had the practice of keeping the face con- 
cealed from the gaze of man t^en root in her mind and habits, 
that throughout life she never entirely overcame it. Osmond 
was soon blessed with a sight of his parents, who, under 
the circumstances in which he was placed, eagerly hastened 
to him ; and, the hearty sanction of all parties having been given 
to his union with his lovely mistress, nodiing but the necessary 
formalities delayed the comjdetion of his happiness. The foun* 
dation which Osmond had laid for Ayesha's conversion bom 
Mahomedanism to Christianity, had not been in vain ; her mind, 
as it were by instinct, threw off its errors, ^d became renewed 
by truths which were congenial to it. She had originally been 
christened by the name of Mary, and to that name she reverted, 
although she insisted upon undergoing a second time the serious 
and imposing form of baptism. 

It was intended tbatWortley should return to Constanti- 
nople, as soon as the marriage ceremony should be Over ; and 
he was charged by his friend to seek out those who had been 
in any way interested in his fate, and to advance their fortunes 
in the best way he could. To Mustafa he sent so large a present 
i n money, that he could not fail to secure a handsome pelisse 
to his back, and an amber-headed chibouque, not to mention 
pillau and kabob, for the rest of his days. But it was for 
Hassan, his deliverer from prison, the preserver of his life, that 
he was the most solicitous. Be gave Wortley minute direc- 
tions how to discover his place of abode, and recommended 



AYESHA. 427 

that, whenever he could procure for him some situation, Mus- 
tafa should be despatched with the intelligence. And for the 
satisfaction of the reader we must tell him, that, not long after, 
Osmond was rejoiced to hear that his friend had been taken 
into great favour at the Porte, and from having been made the 
kiayah, or deputy, of the Pasha of Kars, was in the course of 
time invested with the pashalft itself, and had the proud honour 
of seeing two horses^ tails carried before him for the rest of his 
days. As (oc old Suleiman, although he had been a principal 
agent in the tragedy of Ayesha's abduction, still, in consideration 
of the affection with which he had always treated her, Osmond 
entreated Wortley to take him also under his protection ; and 
he was in time, after having made his pilgrimage to Mecca, 
installed in the situation of chief of the law in his native place. 
The poor Israelitish tooth-drawer was liberated from the ar- 
senal at Rhodes; the life of the Pasha who had been so unskilful 
in nautical evolutions, was saved ; and every person who had 
been, directly or indirectly, concerned with either Osmond or 
Ayesha, was rewarded and protected. 

As for Stasso, he became a sort of foreign major-domo in 
his master's establishment, or, as we might say, the foreign de- 
partment was placed in his hands; and whenever he was tired 
of England, he went to Constantinople, where he was always 
sure to find an asylum in the Embassy. 

A more brilliant marriage-ceremony had never been seen in 
London than that which will bring our narrative to its close. 
A series of fifttes succeeded. One of the principal dancers, and 
he who was specially appointed by the happy bridegroom to 
lead off the dance with the bride, was a handsome young Rus- 
sian, — no less a person than our old friend Ivanovich, who was 
attached to the embassy in England, and had arrived just in 
time to witness his friend's happiness. That happiness, which 
had been preceded by so much misery, let us assure the gentle 
reader, was as great and as lasting as the instability of so frail a 
possession in this world would allow it to be ; and in drawing 
our history to its conclusion, we feel that we may fairly say, few 
were ever so happy as Osmond and Ayesha. 

THE END. 



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