Kondjé-Gul was shut up in her room; I found her sitting on her bed,
which was disarranged, and the pillows of which seemed to have been
rumpled up in a fit of rage and despair; she appeared like one
stupified, with her gloomy looks, and hands clasping her knees. Her face
and her neck bore the marks of Hadidjé's nails. The _kohl_ from under
her eyes had been smeared on her cheeks, which were smudged all over;
she looked just like a little savage, with however the gracefulness of a
child.
She did not stir when I came in; I walked right up to her, and in the
solemn tone of a judge, said--
"Wretched girl, do you know what you have done?"
She remained silent and motionless, fixing her eyes on the carpet.
"After such an act, will you not answer?" I continued.
"Why do you love her?" she said at last, in a wild voice.
"Say, why should I love _you_?" I replied, "when your bad temper and
your jealousy lead you to disobedience, to crime--when you stir up
quarrels and discords among us?"
At these reproaches Kondjé-Gul all at once drew herself up erect before
me, and exclaimed passionately--
"Then you do not love me any longer?"
My questions had not reached their mark.
"This is not the time for me to answer you," I said. "I am now asking
you to account for the act which you have just committed."
"Very well! If you love me no more, I want you to confess it, and I will
die! What have I done to you, that you should prefer Hadidjé to me?
Perhaps she is handsomer than I am, is she? If you think me ugly," she
added, in a tone of concentrated despair, "tell me straight, and I will
go and cast myself into the lake, and you shall see me no more!"
"But no! I did not say that," I replied, trying to cut short this
diversion.
"Then what are you reproaching me for? Hadidjé loves you better than I
do, perhaps?"
"Neither Hadidjé's sentiments nor mine have anything to do with the
question. I am asking you about your violence, and the wound you have
given her with the dagger!"
"Why did she tell me that you love her better than me?" she answered.
"She told you that?"
"Yes; and pretends that you swore to it. For my part, I do not want to
be loved like a slave. I have learnt from your books that women in your
country die when they are no longer loved. So if you have ceased to love
me, I wish to die! You have told me that I have a heart, a soul, and an
intellect, as they have, and that a woman's love makes her the equal of
her master. Do you mean to tell me, ungrateful man, that I do not love
you? Have I ever been jealous of Zouhra, or of Nazli? Why should this
Hadidjé be everything in your eyes? If you do not want me any more," she
added, in a transport of grief, "say so, then; crop my hair, shave off
my eyebrows, and place me among the servants!"
As she said these words, she threw herself down at my feet, which she
hugged in a delirium of passion. Her tears coursed down her cheeks, and
upon my hands, which she covered with kisses. In her intense emotion her
voice betokened such bitter distress, that in spite of my determination
to punish her, I felt softened towards her. In presence of these
transports of a passion, which admitted no other motive but that of her
jealous rage, I saw that it was in vain for me to attempt to awaken her
conscience to the sense of her guilty conduct. She could neither hear
nor feel anything but the echo of her own grief. I loved her no longer,
and I loved Hadidjé! These words returned to her lips over and over
again, amid sobs so heart-rending that, overcome by pity, and
forgetting my resolution, I could not help uttering a word of
protestation. I had hardly spoken, when she exclaimed--
"Is that true? Do you really love me? Will you swear it?"
I then understood the imprudence I had committed, but it was too late.
Kondjé-Gul, passing at once from affliction to joy, had clasped me in
her arms. I wanted to remain stern; but how could I contend by any
arguments with such outbursts of mad jealousy? She would not listen to
me: she implored me with all the frenzied entreaties and reproaches of
which an unreasoning nature is capable. At one moment I believed that I
had at last brought her mind to realise the actual situation between us,
and the justice of my complaints against her conduct.
"Well, yes!" she said, "I have been very foolish. I ought to have thrown
myself at your feet three days ago! Ah, if you only knew how wretched
your coldness made me! Listen: when you came in just now, thinking that
I had lost your love for ever, I was considering how I could kill
myself. But you have forgiven me, have you not?--No, no! don't speak to
me about _them_!" she continued, sharply, seeing that I was about to
answer. "You know very well that I am no longer like them; you have
formed my heart for a different love to that of the harem. I no longer
love you just as they do. No! As for you, you shall love me just as you
please--as your servant, if such is your will. Imprison me, if you like,
as a punishment; all I want is to see you, and to love you. Yes, I was
wrong in striking that Hadidjé. You know very well that I am still a
savage, for you have often told me so. Well, then, teach me your own
ideas, your religion. Tell me what you wish me to be?" she added
finally, in tones so soft and tender that I was quite overcome by her.
I was astounded by this language, by this impassioned eloquence which I
had never suspected in her, and which I now heard from her lips for the
first time. The butterfly of love had spread out its wings. Psyche was
born for love! No longer for that passive and vague love which was but
the awakening of the senses and of pleasure, but for that love of the
heart which is life itself, with its sorrows, its joys, and its
ecstacies. I contemplated it full of surprise, experiencing the
fascination of some new enchantment.
Louis, how can I describe it? Within an hour after I had entered
Kondjé-Gul's room; our quarrel, her jealousies, her offence, and the
punishment I had resolved upon, were all forgotten!
Nevertheless, appreciating more completely now the defeat to which I had
submitted, I could not fail to perceive the embarrassment which such
strange conduct would cause me. It would, at any rate, be remarkably
awkward for my wives to learn that the violent scene which had passed,
and poor Hadidjé's dagger-wound, had actually become the occasion for a
reconciliation with Kondjé-Gul. How could I show my face before the
victim to whom it was my duty to grant justice? It was really impossible
for me to show such contempt for _fas_ and _nefas_ as I should do were
I to reward her assault upon Hadidjé in such an extraordinary fashion as
by pardoning her. What in the world would Zouhra and Nazli say? It would
be all over with my authority and my reputation.
At any cost, therefore, it was necessary for me to conceal my very
imprudent weakness until their passions had calmed down, or until some
conciliatory advances on the part of Kondjé-Gul to Hadidjé had led to
the forgiveness of this deplorable folly. But directly I attempted to
appeal to her reason, Kondjé-Gul, full of pride at having won me back,
and even making use of my desertion as a weapon in her hands, would not
hear of humiliating herself before a rival. In vain I represented to her
that my own dignity, "the proprieties," and justice were at stake; she
held fast to her victory, and would not forego any of its advantages.
Finally, however, she comprehended the gravity of the situation.
"Well, do you know what we'll do?" she said; "it will be so nice! They
will all believe that you have given me a tremendous scolding. And so
you have, for you _were_ cruel when first you came in!"
"I suppose you did not deserve it then?" I answered.
"Hold your tongue, sir!" she said, putting her finger up to her mouth,
and pouting like a little child. "You're going to begin again! Let me
tell you my plan, which will settle all our difficulties."
"Let me hear your plan."
"Very well; you shall tell them that you have been inexorable, and that
you have treated me as an odious creature. For my part, I shall look
still more angry with you. Before them, we will scowl at each other, and
make them believe that all is quite at an end between us, and that you
have decided to send me away and have me sold."
"What a capital idea!" I said to her.
"Yes, do let us. It will be so delightful, so clandestine! And then I
shall feel that you love me better than them!"
"Because we shall deceive them, I suppose."
"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed, with a laugh; "because we shall deceive them!
Besides," she added in a tone of conviction, "you must know very well
yourself that there is no other rational course for us. In the first
place I swear I will never beg the pardon of this miserable
Hadidjé--never!"
For the present it was clearly necessary to agree to this compromise,
which at least provided for the exigencies of decorum. When I left
Kondjé-Gul I returned to the château from motives of prudence, in order
to avoid rousing the suspicions of my wives.
Nevertheless I must admit it was not without some apprehensions that I
returned the next day to the harem. But I was soon reassured when I saw
the amiable satisfaction which prevailed among my houris. The absence of
Kondjé-Gul, who remained in stoic seclusion, left no doubt in their
minds that she was in complete disgrace and would certainly be sent
away. I even gathered that the silly creature had shown Nazli some blue
marks which she had made on her own skin, and told her that I had beaten
her! Hadidjé, rather proud of her wound, continued to give herself
interesting airs as the principal heroine of this terrible tragedy. As
it was in reality merely a scratch, which hurt her very little, her only
object in complaining was to emphasize her caprices. After the stormy
days we had just gone through, this morning passed like an idyl. Their
spirits were all harmonious; and I left them firmly convinced that from
the way I performed my great act of justice they had no longer anything
to fear at the hands of a rival.
Satisfied at this termination of the incident, which had caused me no
small anxiety, I was returning to the château, when lo and behold! as I
was passing the bushes, who should appear but Kondjé-Gul, who ran up and
threw herself into my arms.
"How's this?" I said to her; "you here!"
"Yes, dear; I wanted to see you and kiss you," she exclaimed, bounding
with joy like a child; "and to hear you tell me that you love me still!"
"You mad creature, suppose anyone were to see you!"
"All right!" she replied; "I jumped down from my window, for they think
I am a prisoner there. I slipped under the verandah, so as not to be
noticed by Mohammed, and came here to wait for you. Now, don't scold me.
Now that I have seen you I am going back, for fear I should rouse the
suspicion of your _wives_. Tell me if I'm not clever!"
Then, just as she was running away again, she added in a little tone of
importance,
"And mind _you're_ careful too!"
Eight days have passed since the dramatic events, of which I have
related to you the singular termination. Here I am involved in a regular
conspiracy of deceit; I have a secret intrigue with one of my wives.
Kondjé-Gul plays her part of estrangement in a most curious fashion,
with an affectation of melancholy, combined with haughtiness, and the
silly creature is delighted with her efforts. After two or three days of
seclusion, she reappeared, talked cynically of her approaching
departure, and rejoiced over it. We treat each other like spouses
definitely divorced from each other, who are nevertheless paying each
other, as well-bred people should do, a final tribute of strict
politeness after the irreparable breach. Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra,
confident in a dominion which appears to them henceforth assured, admire
my great qualities as a dispenser of justice.
My dear Louis, do you wish me to confess to you the most remarkable
consequence of this business? Yes, of course you do. I promised that
this psychological study should be conducted with sincerity, and that
nothing should be shirked. Well then, in the course of my analytical
observations, this mystery with Kondjé-Gul, these tastings of forbidden
fruit, form certainly the most exquisite experience I have met with. You
may tell me, if you like, that I am a _pandour_, and that my taste has
been perverted by a life of unbridled Epicureanism; you may tell me that
the charms of duplicity, of falsehood, and of this connivance in the
guise of a childish deception, are exercising a morbid fascination over
my demoralized heart. You may be right. I would only ask you to express
yourself somewhat less bluntly. At any rate, you will not, I presume,
expect me to account for the frailties of our mortal nature. I guess
what you are thinking--out with it!
Notwithstanding my fine array of principles and the strict vows I made
to myself to distribute my affections equally between my _cadines_, it
certainly looks very much as if I have selected a favourite. Have I
fallen to this extent? I don't know. What is the good, moreover, of
arguing about it? Is it true that undisturbed possession is the rock
upon which love splits, and that constraint, on the contrary, acts as a
spur to it? Instead of arguing aimlessly about such inconsistencies in
human nature, it seems to me much simpler to recognise in them, as
Kondjé-Gul does, a decree of Fate. Can you blame me for sacrificing
futile theories to the higher motives by which I am guided?
The fact is that this necessity for dissimulation, these deceptions, and
these clandestine interviews, have produced between Kondjé-Gul and me a
sort of spring-tide of delightful expansion of the affections. You
should see us in the daytime, both of us as stiff as starch in the
presence of the others. You should see the manoeuvres we perform in
order to exchange a sly smile or a shake of the hands out of sight. You
should see also what pretty little airs of disdain she puts on for her
rivals, who are slumbering in their paradise of illusion! If we are
alone by chance, she says,
"Quick! _your wives_ are not here," and throws herself into my arms.
Those words coming from her lips, will reveal to you quite a new order
of sentiments, a strange form of love, which could only spring from the
education of the harem. Although civilised already at heart, Kondjé-Gul
being still backward in her ideas and traditional associations, does not
trouble herself about my other wives. She could not conceive of my being
reduced to such a singular state of destitution as that of a poor or a
miserly man, who abstains from the luxury of a few odalisques. In her
eyes, Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli, form part of my establishment, and of
my daily routine; while _she_ possesses me in secret. For her sake, I am
unfaithful to them, I enter her chamber at night by the window, which I
climb up to when all are asleep.
All this, you will tell me, is folly on my part. Ah, my dear fellow, our
pleasure in life is only made up of such trifles, which our imagination
generally provides for us. In those secret interviews I discovered in
Kondjé-Gul, who was certainly endowed with a frank and straightforward
mind, a number of graces which I had never been able to detect before
during our intercourse in the harem. Nothing could be stranger or more
fascinating than the love of this poor slave-sweetheart, still so humble
and timid, and dazzled as it were by the brilliancy of her dream. Her
oriental ideas and the superstitions of her childhood, mingled with the
vague notions which she has acquired of our world and of a truer ideal,
form within her heart and in her mind a most original collection of
contrasts. One is reminded of a bird suddenly surprised at feeling her
wings, but not yet venturing to launch out into the open. Add to all
these attractions the impulses of a passion, exalted perhaps by solitude
or by satisfaction at her victory over her rivals, and, even if you
blame my conduct, you will at least understand the seductions which
precipitated my fall.
At Férouzat we have great news: the camels have been discovered! A
letter from Captain Picklock informed us of this. My uncle is quite
jubilant; and we have planned a trip to Marseilles to meet them. Another
piece of news is that my aunt has undertaken with Doctor Morand, without
appearing to have a hand in it, a great philanthropic work. I must tell
you that a few years ago the doctor discovered here a hot spring of
ferruginous water, the effects of which upon the few patients whom he
was able to induce to visit this hole, have been simply marvellous. What
is wanted now is to establish there some sort of hospital for
convalescents. My aunt at once decided that she, my uncle, and I should
find the funds for it. A hundred thousand francs are more than
sufficient for the modest foundation which we contemplate. But from
motives of delicacy, and in order to avoid any appearance of
ostentation, we arranged with the mayor and the vicar to open a
subscription, in order that the enterprise might appear to be supported
by public charity, and that all personal liberality should be concealed
by associating the whole district with it. The consequence was that
Férouzat has had a visit from the Prefect of the Department, accompanied
by several members of the General Council, and that, in addition to
this, my aunt has organised a committee of the leading inhabitants of
the neighbourhood. Of course I am her secretary, and I leave you to
guess whether her activity overworks me. I assure you my aunt has in her
the making of a statesman.
My dear friend, an incident of noteworthy importance, and of quite
exceptional gravity, has just thrown me into the greatest perturbation
of mind.
The other morning my aunt started upon a round of calls on behalf of her
great enterprise.
"André," she said to me, "come with me like a good nephew; I need your
help."
So off we started in the carriage, down the great drive of the château;
I thinking that we were going to the doctor's, or else to the
Camboulions. When we arrived at the gate, Bernard asked from his box for
his orders.
"To El-Nouzha," said my aunt.
"What!" I exclaimed, "to Mohammed-Azis?"
"Yes," she replied; "His Excellency's name will look very nice on our
list. It will be a sort of pledge of our excellent foreign relations."
"Have you forgotten? A Mahometan!"
"Certainly: an infidel's charity is quite as good in its effects as a
Christian's."
"But he lives a very retired life. Such a visit will take him very much
by surprise."
"You are intimate with him; you introduce me. Nothing could be more
correct; that's why I brought you with me."
In truth nothing could be more correct; I was caught in her trap, and
could say nothing more, for fear of exciting suspicion in her alert and
penetrating mind. I had no doubt in my own mind that my aunt's real
object was to satisfy a curiosity which she had cherished for a long
time past. How could I oppose this tenacious purpose of hers? By what
plausible pretext could I divert her from taking a step so natural, and
so cleverly justified? I was caught, and my only hopes rested in
Mohammed's behaviour, and in his gibberish dialect, which would at least
render conversation so difficult, that it would be easy for me to
intervene. We rolled on in the carriage; my aunt was delighted. I
succeeded pretty well in concealing my apprehensions. After all, the
chief danger seemed to be over directly my aunt stopped at the official
entrance of El-Nouzha. The "selamlik," inhabited by Mohammed, where we
were received, is according to the Turkish custom, entirely separated
from the harem, the gardens of which are walled off from it, and hidden
from sight.
In a quarter of an hour we arrived in front of His Excellency's abode.
The gate was shut, as it always is. The footman got down and rang, but
no one answered the bell. For a moment I had hopes; but at the third
ring of the bell (which my aunt ordered), one of Mohammed's servants, a
Cerberus stationed on this side of the house, showed himself at the
grating of the inner door.
"His Excellency Mohammed-Azis is at home, is he not?" shouted my aunt.
"Tell him that Monsieur André de Peyrade has called to see him."
Recognising me in the carriage, Cerberus hesitated. He was actually
going to open the gate to let the carriage pass through. I sharply
commanded him to do as my aunt told him. To give Mohammed warning, was
at once to put him on his guard.
"There is no need for taking the carriage in," said my aunt; "we will
cross the lawn on foot. The lawn is there still, I suppose?"
"Yes, aunt."
"Well, then, give me your hand to get out, and now forward! If His
Excellency will not receive us, I shall at least have had a glimpse of a
corner of the park. What a funny idea it was of the Captain to let him
this place!"
She led me on without any more ado, and we entered.
"Oh! the sycamores have grown splendidly," she said.
At that moment we noticed Mohammed coming down the steps, and walking
towards us.
"Ah, His Excellency has not forsaken his old ideas!" said my aunt; "he
still wears the costume of the true believers. As he is coming, let us
hurry on, to be polite."
The danger was impending, nothing could now save me from it. I summoned
up all my self-control. When I was a few steps off His Excellency, I
slipped away quickly and ran up to him.
"Be careful," I said to him in a whisper; "it is my aunt. Keep your
counsel, and don't let her suspect anything."
Then I went through the formal introduction, delivering it in the famous
_sabir_ which I told you of. Mohammed in the same idiom was fashioning a
compliment as profound as it was difficult to understand, when my aunt
all at once answered him in the purest Turkish.--I felt myself quite
lost.
A minute afterwards we were ensconced in the drawing-room of the
"selamlik." My aunt described the object of her visit. I must tell you
that this rascal Mohammed played his part with the most affable gravity
imaginable, albeit somewhat timidly, as if he felt whizzing through the
air a shadowy reminder of the stick with which, no doubt, my uncle had
trained him. I kept my eye on him all the time, and his eye wandered
from me to my aunt with a distressed expression. Great drops of
perspiration started from his face. Finally, at a sign from me, he
generously promised his subscription, and on the whole got through the
ordeal very well.
My anxieties being now removed, I was beginning to breathe more fully,
when my aunt, just as the interview was coming to a close, expressed to
him, in the most gracefully delicate manner possible, her desire to pay
a visit to his daughters, whose acquaintance she would be delighted to
make.
I was stupefied. To have refused the _entrée_ of the harem to a lady of
my aunt's rank would have been an offence to her; she was too well
acquainted with Mussulman customs for it to be possible to put her off
with any pretext. Mohammed, still maintaining his dignified attitude,
replied without any hesitation, by a gesture of delighted acquiescence,
and without the least embarrassment got up, saying that he was about to
inform them of their good fortune. I felt rather reassured. From the
manner in which the old fellow had acted "His Excellency," it was clear
that this was not the first time he had been called upon to "save the
situation."
"You would like to follow me, I daresay," said my aunt with a laugh, as
soon as he had left us.
"Why, of course," I replied, in a careless enough tone. "Still, if his
daughters take after him, you will admit that it may be better to
content myself with my illusions."
"You dear innocent boy! Why, with a Turk, you never know what to
expect!"
Mohammed came back to tell my aunt that her visit had been announced,
and then, preceding her with a dignified bow he opened for her the gates
communicating with the harem. I remained behind. What would happen?
Although the remarkable self possession of my eunuch had set me more at
my ease, it was a critical moment. It was evident that there would be
great excitement among my houris. They would feel at home gossiping with
my aunt, as she spoke Turkish, and they would very likely let out
everything. If one of them mentioned my name only, my aunt would guess
it all.
I waited in a state of suspense such as you can imagine. Finally, after
half-an-hour of cruel anxieties, the sound of the closed door in the
neighbouring room informed me that I was about to know my fate. My aunt
came in, and I did not dare look her in the face. Fortunately I gathered
from her first words that I had nothing more to fear; she complimented
Mohammed upon his good fortune as the father of such charming daughters,
promising often to return to spend a few hours with them, and then at
last we said "Good-bye" to His Excellency.
On our return, my aunt persisted in her eulogiums upon the young Turkish
women, chaffing me about my long solitary period of waiting for her,
separated only by a few walls from those pretty birds shut up in their
golden cage. During the whole of luncheon she regaled my uncle with her
description of these wonderful beauties. He kept looking at me from the
corner of his eye with a furious expression.
As soon as I could escape, I ran off to El-Nouzha to question Mohammed
about what had happened in the harem. He related the whole scene to me
in detail. Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra were alone when he went to
prepare them for my aunt's visit. As Koudjé-Gul was reading in her room,
she had not been informed of it. At the news of such a great event my
houris screamed with joy. Trained as he had been by my uncle never to
forget his part as the father, he had taken care to remind them that, in
accordance with French usage, they must not allow it to be in the least
suspected that they knew me. They promised to do as he wished them,
swearing faithfully to keep all his commands. My aunt was then
introduced. When they saw her, my houris rose up rather frightened, but
she soon set them at ease with a kind word, and then conversation began.
Needless to say, the countess's toilet formed the chief topic of
discourse.
I will not try to depict for you the state of excitement in which I
found my sultanas, nor the accounts which they had to give me themselves
of this great event. Their sanguine imaginations were already occupied
by the absolute necessity, as they deemed it, of returning my aunt's
call. Her kindness had very naturally charmed them to the point of
believing that no obstacle could arise to hinder the continuance of
friendly relations so well inaugurated. They went on chattering all the
evening about the incidents of this lucky and delightful event, taking
particular pleasure in repeating before Koudjé-Gul who had been absent
(and whom they confidently hoped to exclude from their new relations),
all the kind things which the pasha's wife had said to them. It was
certainly a splendid revenge upon their rival for that evening escapade
which she had boasted so much about.
Poor Kondjé-Gul, disappointed as she was already at having had no share
in this unexpected treat, listened without a word, her sad eyes
questioning me all the time. I reassured her with a nod, letting the
silly creatures prattle away in their glee, and amuse themselves with
sanguine projects of such a revolutionary character that it would have
been impossible to discuss them.
I began to consider for myself the best way to cut short these
unforeseen complications. Although I was out of danger for the present,
the veil which concealed the secrets of El-Nouzha was only supported by
a thread. My aunt was not the woman to remain long deceived, and with
her quick mind, the slightest imprudent word, the slightest clue, would
suffice to arouse her suspicions. I did not even feel sure but what my
aunt, impelled by her curiosity, might be only too eager to exchange
visits with His Excellency's daughters, and the very thought of this was
enough to make me tremble.
The result of my cogitations was a resolve to take decisive measures for
putting a stop to such extremely delicate and critical complications as
I apprehended. It might, indeed, have been possible for me, while
carefully mystifying every one, to have continued unabashed my oriental
pursuits and avocations under the secure shelter of the walls of
El-Nouzha. They represented, after all, nothing worse than one of those
intrigues in the neighbourhood with which my aunt had herself credited
me, but after this visit to the Kasre which had brought her into contact
with my houris, the most ordinary respect for the proprieties required
me to prevent such conjunctures from recurring. Moreover, our time at
Férouzat was drawing to a close, for we were to spend the winter in
Paris. I therefore determined to anticipate our departure, and to remove
my harem immediately. Once lost in the crowd and din of Paris, my secret
would be safe.
The removal is now settled. A talk with my uncle simplified matters. As
you may imagine, I had to explain to him the risks entailed by such an
occurrence as my aunt's visit, which might lead her mind to revert to
some incidents in the Captain's past life which had so far remained
unintelligible. Barbassou Pasha did not trouble himself very seriously
about it, but he approved of my decision, and, contenting himself with a
few growls at me by the way, affectionately proceeded to give me the
assistance of his experience. It seems that he has--or rather I have--a
house at Paris, which was furnished expressly for the use of His
Excellency Mohammed Azis during my uncle's visits there. Orders have
already been sent to have it ready. Then plausible reasons for my
departure have been invented; some pretended business of importance,
which we have been discussing several days past before my aunt, and
which "might necessitate my presence in Paris." Truly my uncle's
composure is wonderful!
As to my houris of El-Nouzha, I need hardly tell you that the coming
journey has been the subject of a most extraordinary enthusiasm on their
part. The idea of seeing Paris has quite turned their heads, and caused
them to forget their proposed visits to Férouzat. In order to put all
conjectures off the scent, Mohammed is going to start to-morrow
ostensibly for Marseilles, as if he were returning to Turkey. The cool
November weather having set in, nothing could be more natural than this
return to his native land. The end of his journey, however, will be the
Faubourg St. Germain, to which he will direct his course by a circuitous
route, and where I shall rejoin him on my arrival at Paris next week.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]