The rage of the pacha was excessive; and the head of the maniac would
have been separated from his body, had it not been for the prudence of
Mustapha, who was aware that the common people consider idiots and
madmen to be under the special protection of heaven, and that such an
act would be sufficient to create an insurrection. At his intercession,
the man was taken away by the guards, and not released until he was a
considerable distance from the palace.
"Allah Karim!--God is merciful!" exclaimed the pacha as soon as the
maniac had been carried away. "I'm glad that he did not think it was me
who had his wife."
"Allah forbid that your highness should have been so treated. He has
almost ruined the beard of your slave," replied the vizier, adjusting
the folds of his turban.
"Mustapha, make a memorandum never again to accept an offer. I'm
convinced that a volunteer story is worth nothing."
"Your highness speaks the truth--no man parts readily with what is worth
retaining--gold is not kicked up with the sandal, nor diamonds to be
found glittering in the rays of the sun. If we would obtain them, we
must search and labour in the dark mine.--Will your highness be pleased
to hear the manuscript which had been translated by the Greek slave?"
"Be it so," replied the pacha, not in the very best of humours.
The Greek made his appearance and made his salutation, and then read as
follows:--
MANUSCRIPT OF THE MONK,
RECORDING THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA.
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