The chief eunuch turned into a burial-ground, through which a way led,
by an avenue of cypress-trees, to the quarter of the Seraglio. The
Armenian physician, accompanied by his page, followed him.
“Noble sir!” said the Armenian physician; “may I trespass for a moment
on your lordship’s attention?”
“Worthy Hakim, is it you?” replied the chief eunuch, turning round with
an encouraging smile of courteous condescension, “your pleasure?”
“I would speak to you of important matters,” said the physician.
The eunuch carelessly seated himself on a richly-carved tomb, and
crossing his legs with an air of pleasant superiority, adjusted a fine
emerald that sparkled on his finger, and bade the Hakim address him
without hesitation.
“I am a physician,” said the Armenian.
The eunuch nodded.
“And I heard your lordship in the coffee-house mention that the Sultan,
our sublime Master, had offered a rich reward to any one who could
effect the cure of a favourite captive.”
“No less a reward than one hundred purses of gold,” remarked the eunuch.
“The reward is proportioned to the exigency of the cue. Believe me,
worthy sir, it is desperate.”
“With mortal means,” replied the Armenian; “but I possess a talisman of
magical influence, which no disorder can resist. I would fain try its
efficacy.”
“This is not the first talisman that has been offered us, worthy
doctor,” said the eunuch, smiling incredulously.
“But the first that has been offered on these terms,” said the Armenian.
“Let me cure the captive, and of the one hundred purses, a moiety shall
belong to yourself. Ay! so confident am I of success, that I deem it
no hazard to commence our contract by this surety.” And so saying, the
Armenian took from his finger a gorgeous carbuncle, and offered it to
the eunuch. The worthy dependent of the Seraglio had a great taste in
jewellery. He examined the stone with admiration, and placed it on
his finger with complacency. “I require no inducements to promote the
interests of science, and the purposes of charity,” said the eunuch,
with a patronising air. “‘Tis assuredly a pretty stone, and, as the
memorial of an ingenious stranger, whom I respect, I shall, with
pleasure, retain it. You were saying something about a talisman. Are
you serious? I doubt not that there are means which might obtain you the
desired trial; but the Prince Mahomed is as violent when displeased or
disappointed as munificent when gratified. Cure this Christian captive,
and we may certainly receive the promised purses: fail, and your head
will as assuredly be flung into the Seraglio moat, to say nothing of my
own.”
“Most noble sir!” said the physician, “I am willing to undertake the
experiment on the terms you mention. Rest assured that the patient, if
alive, must, with this remedy, speedily recover. You marvel! Believe
me, had you witnessed the cures which it has already effected, you would
only wonder at its otherwise incredible influence.”
“You have the advantage,” replied the eunuch, “of addressing a man who
has seen something of the world. I travel every year to Anatolia with
the Prince Mahomed. Were I a narrow-minded bigot, and had never been
five miles from Adrianople in the whole course of my life, I might
indeed be sceptical. But I am a patron of science, and have heard of
talismans. How much might this ring weigh, think you?”
“I have heard it spoken of as a carbuncle of uncommon size,” replied the
Armenian.
“Where did you say you lodged, Hakim?”
“At the Khan of Bedreddin.”
“A very proper dwelling. Well, we shall see. Have you more jewels? I
might, perhaps, put you in the way of parting with some at good prices.
The Khan of Bedreddin is very conveniently situated. I may, perhaps,
towards evening, taste your coffee at the Khan of Bedreddin, and we will
talk of this said talisman. Allah be with you, worthy Hakim!” The eunuch
nodded, not without encouragement, and went his way.
“Anxiety alone enabled me to keep my countenance,” said Nicæus. “A
patron of science, forsooth! Of all the insolent, shallow-brained,
rapacious coxcombs--”
“Hush, my friend!” said Iskander, with a smile. “The chief eunuch of
the heir apparent of the Turkish empire is a far greater man than a poor
prince, or a proscribed rebel. This worthy can do our business, and I
trust will. He clearly bites, and a richer bait will, perhaps, secure
him. In the meantime, we must be patient, and remember whose destiny is
at stake.”