To show me every attention and respect, the sultan had
ordered Abdallah in person to escort me to my own country, with a picked
body of cavalry. The cavalcade was magnificent--treasure had been heaped
on treasure--present upon present; twenty women of my own country, and
numerous slaves had been permitted to attend upon me, and the procession
wore the appearance of a pageant. I ascended my litter with an aching
heart; and, journeying by easy stages, arrived at the land of my
nativity. The borders were passed, and Abdallah requested me to write an
acknowledgment that he had done his duty, which the sultan would require
of him upon his return. I gave him the paper, and, professing many
wishes for my future happiness, he assembled his troops, and the escort
turned the heads of their neighing steeds towards the city, where my
heart had truly been left behind.
It will now be necessary to revert to the Georgian slave, who had been
presented to my brother by the sultan, and had afterwards been made over
to Abdallah. When she heard that I was about to depart for my own
country, loaded with presents, her rage was without bounds. Already had
her beauty and talents made great impression upon Abdallah, and she soon
won him over to a plot which would be advantageous to him, at the same
time that it would throw me, whom she distrusted, into her power. She
proposed to Abdallah that, after having escorted me to the frontiers,
and received from me the acknowledgment required by the sultan, he
should follow my small escort of slaves, cut them to pieces, take
possession of me and all my treasure, and return with it to
Constantinople, where I might be immured in his harem.
Pages:
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486