THE PRISONER.
In the meantime Ibrahim had ordered his prisoner, the young Italian
chieftain, to be conveyed to his tent; and when the renegade's slaves
had disencumbered the Christian of his armor, he began to revive. As
Ibrahim bent over him, administering restoratives, a suspicion, which
had already struck him the moment he first beheld his face, grew
stronger and stronger; and the apostate at length became convinced that
he had seen that countenance on some former occasion.
Ordering his slaves to withdraw, Ibrahim remained alone with his
prisoner, who was now able to sit up on the sofa and gaze around him.
"I understand it all!" he exclaimed, the blood rushing back to his pale
cheek; "I am in the power of the barbarians!"
"Nay, call us not harsh names, brave chieftain," said Ibrahim, "seeing
that we do not treat you unworthily."
"I was wrong!" cried the prisoner; then, fixing his fine blue eyes upon
the renegade, he added, "Were you not habited as a Moslem, I should
conceive, by the purity with which you speak my native language, that
you were a Christian, and an Italian."
"I can speak many languages with equal fluency," said Ibrahim,
evasively, as a pang shot through his heart. "But tell me thy name,
Christian--for thou art a brave man, although so young."
"In my own country," answered the youth, proudly, "I am called the Count
of Riverola."
We have before stated that Ibrahim was the complete master of his
emotions: but it required all his powers of self-possession to subdue
them now, when the name of that family into which he was well aware his
sister had entered fell upon his ears. His suspicion was well founded;
he had indeed seen Francisco before this day--had seen him when he was a
mere boy, in Florence, for Alessandro was three or four years older than
the young count. But he had never, in his native land, exchanged a word
with Francisco; he had merely, occasionally, seen him in public; and it
was quite evident that even if Francisco had ever noticed him at that
time, he did not recollect him now. Neither did Ibrahim wish the young
count to ascertain who he was; for the only thing which the renegade
ever feared was the encounter of any one who had known him as a
Christian, and who might justly reproach him for that apostasy which had
led him to profess Mohammedanism.
"Lord Count of Riverola," said Ibrahim, after a short pause, "you shall
be treated in a manner becoming your rank and your bravery. Such,
indeed, was the command of my imperial master, the most glorious sultan;
but even had no such order been issued, my admiration of your gallant
deportment in this day's strife would lead to the same result."
"My best thanks are due for these assurances," returned Francisco. "But
tell me how fares the war without?"
"The grand master has proffered a capitulation, which has been
accepted," answered Ibrahim.
"A capitulation!" exclaimed Francisco. "Oh! it were better to die in
defense of the cross, than live to behold the crescent triumphant on the
walls of Rhodes!"
"The motive of the grand master was a humane one," observed Ibrahim; "he
has agreed to capitulate, to put an end to the terrific slaughter that
is going on."
"Doubtless the lord general acts in accordance with the dictates of a
matured wisdom!" exclaimed the Count of Riverola.
"Your lordship was the leader of the Italian auxiliaries?" said Ibrahim,
interrogatively.
"Such was the honorable office intrusted to me," was the reply. "When
messengers from Villiers of Isle-Adam arrived in Florence, beseeching
succor against this invasion, which has, alas! proved too successful, I
panted for occupation to distract my mind from ever pondering on the
heavy misfortunes which had overtaken me."
"Misfortunes!" exclaimed Ibrahim.
"Yes--misfortunes of such a nature that the mere thought of them is
madness!" cried Francisco, in an excited tone. "First, a beauteous and
amiable girl--one who, though of humble origin, was endowed with virtues
and qualifications that might have fitted her to adorn a palace, and
whom I fondly, devotedly loved--was-snatched from me. She disappeared I
know not how! All trace of her was suddenly lost, as if the earth had
swallowed her up and closed over her again! This blow was in itself
terrible. But it came not alone. A few days elapsed, and my sister--my
dearly beloved sister--also disappeared, and in the same mysterious
manner. Not a trace of her remained--and what makes this second
affliction the more crushing--the more overwhelming, is that she is deaf
and dumb! Oh! Heaven grant me the power to resist, to bear up against
these crowning miseries! Vain were all my inquiries--useless was all the
search I instituted to discover whither had gone the being whom I would
have made my wife, and the sister who was ever so devoted to me! At
length, driven to desperation, when weeks had passed and they returned
not--goaded on to madness by bitter, bitter memories--I resolved to
devote myself to the service of the cross. With my gold I raised and
equipped a gallant band; and a favoring breeze wafted us from Leghorn to
this island. The grand master received me with open arms; and, forming
an estimation of my capacities far above my deserts, placed me in
command of all the Italian auxiliaries. You know the rest; I fought with
all my energy, and your sultan was within the grasp of death, when you
rushed forward and saved him. The result is that I am your prisoner."
"So young--and yet so early acquainted with such deep affliction!"
exclaimed Ibrahim. "But can you form no idea, Christian, of the cause of
that double disappearance? Had your sister no attendants who could throw
the least light upon the subject?" he asked, with the hope of eliciting
some tidings relative to his own sister, the beauteous Flora.
"I dare not reflect thereon!" cried Francisco, the tears starting into
his eyes. "For, alas! Florence has long been infested by a desperate
band of lawless wretches--and my God! I apprehend the worst--the very
worst."
Thus speaking, he rose and paced the spacious tent with agitated steps;
for this conversation had awakened in his mind all the bitter thoughts
and dreadful alarms which he had essayed to subdue amidst the excitement
and peril of war. A slave now entered to inform Ibrahim that the sultan
commanded his immediate presence in the imperial pavilion.
"Christian," said Ibrahim, as he rose to obey this mandate, "wilt thou
pledge me thy word, as a noble and a knight, not to attempt to escape
from this tent?"
"I pledge my word," answered Francisco, "seeing that thou thyself art so
generous to me."
Ibrahim then went forth; but he paused for a few moments outside the
tent to command his slaves to serve up choice refreshments to the
prisoner. He then hastened to the pavilion of the sultan, whom he found
seated upon a throne, surrounded by the beglerbegs, the councilors of
state, the viziers, the lieutenant-generals of the army, and all the
high dignitaries who had accompanied him on his expedition. Ibrahim
advanced and prostrated himself at the foot of his throne; and at the
same moment two of the high functionaries present threw a caftan of
honor over his shoulders--a ceremony which signified that the sultan had
conferred upon him the title of beglerbeg, or "prince of princes."
"Rise, Ibrahim Pasha!" exclaimed Solyman, "and take thy place in our
councils, for Allah and his prophet have this day made thee their
instrument to save the life of thy sovereign."
The newly-created pasha touched the imperial slipper with his lips, and
then rising from his prostrate position, received the congratulations of
the high functionaries assembled.
Thus it was that in a few months, protected by that secret influence
which was hurrying him so rapidly along in his ambitious career, the
Italian apostate attained to a high rank in the Ottoman Empire; but he
was yet to reach the highest, next to that of the sovereign, ere he
could hope to receive the fair hand of his mysterious patroness as the
crowning joy of his prosperity, for her image, her charming image, ever
dwelt in his mind, and an ardent fancy often depicted her as she
appeared, in all the splendor of her beauty, reclining on the sofa at
the dwelling to which he had been conducted with so much precaution, as
detailed in a preceding chapter. On the following day peace was formally
concluded between the Ottomans and the knights of Rhodes, the latter
consenting to surrender the island to the formidable invaders. An
exchange of prisoners was the result, and Francisco, Count of Riverola,
again found himself free within twenty-four hours after his capture.
"Your lordship is now about to sail for your own clime," said Ibrahim,
when the moment of separation came. "Is there aught within my power that
I can do to testify my friendship for one so brave and chivalrous as
thou art?"
"Nothing, great pasha!" exclaimed Francisco, who felt his sympathy
irresistibly attracted toward Ibrahim, he knew not why, "but, on the
other hand, receive my heartfelt thanks for the kindness which I have
experienced during the few hours I have been thy guest."
"The history of thy afflictions has so much moved me," said Ibrahim
Pasha, after a brief pause, "that the interest I experience in your
behalf will not cease when you shall be no longer here. If then you
would bear in mind the request I am about to make, gallant
Christian----"
"Name it!" cried Francisco; "'tis already granted!"
"Write me from Florence," added Ibrahim, "and acquaint me with the
success of thy researches after thy lost sister and the maiden whom thou
lovest. The ships of Leghorn trade to Constantinople, whither I shall
speedily return, and it will not be a difficult matter to forward a
letter to me occasionally."
"I should be unworthy of the kind interest you take in my behalf, great
pasha, were I to neglect this request," answered Francisco. "Oh! may the
good angels grant that I may yet recover my beloved sister Nisida, and
that sweetest of maidens--Flora Francatelli!"
Francisco was too overpowered by his own emotions to observe the sudden
start which Ibrahim gave, and the pallor which instantaneously
overspread his cheeks as the name of his sister thus burst upon his
ears--that sister who, beyond doubt, had disappeared most strangely.
But, with an almost superhuman effort, he subdued any further expression
of the agony of his feelings, and, taking Francisco's hand, said, in a
low, deep tone: "Count of Riverola, I rely upon your solemn promise to
write me, and write soon and often. I shall experience a lively pleasure
in receiving and responding to your letters."
"Fear not that I shall forget my promise, your highness," responded
Francisco.
He then took leave of Ibrahim Pasha, and returned to the city of Rhodes,
whence he embarked on the same day for Italy, accompanied by the few
Florentine auxiliaries who had survived the dreadful slaughter on the
ramparts. The hustle and excitement attending the departure from Rhodes
somewhat absorbed the grief which Ibrahim felt on account of the
mysterious disappearance of his sister Flora.
Solyman left a sufficient force, under an able commander, to garrison
the island, which was speedily evacuated by Villiers of Isle Adam and
his knights; and by the middle of May the sultan, attended by Ibrahim
and the other dignitaries of the empire, once more entered the gates of
Constantinople.
Not many days had elapsed when, at a divan or state council, at which
Solyman the Magnificent himself presided, Ibrahim Pasha was desired to
give his opinion upon a particular question then under discussion. The
renegade expressed his sentiments in a manner at variance with the
policy recommended by the grand vizier; and this high functionary
replied, in terms of bitterness and even grossness, at the same time
reproaching Ibrahim with ingratitude. The apostate delivered a rejoinder
which completely electrified the divan. He repudiated the charge of
ingratitude on the ground of being influenced only by his duty toward
the sultan; and he entered upon a complete review of the policy of the
Grand Vizier Piri Pasha. He proved that the commerce of the country had
greatly fallen off--that the revenues had diminished--that arrears were
due to the army and navy--that several minor powers had not paid their
usual tribute for some years past--and, in a word, drew such a frightful
picture of the maladministration and misrule, that the grand vizier was
overwhelmed with confusion, and the sultan and other listeners were
struck with the lamentable truth of all which had fallen from the lips
of Ibrahim Pasha. Nor less were they astonished at the wonderful
intimacy which he displayed with even the minutest details of the
machinery of the government; in a word, his triumph was complete.
Solyman the Magnificent broke up the divan in haste, ordering the
members of the council to return each immediately to his own abode. In
the evening a functionary of the imperial household was sent to the
palace of the grand vizier to demand the seals of office; and thus fell
Piri Pasha.
It was midnight when the sultan sent to order Ibrahim Pasha to wait upon
him without delay. The conference that ensued was long and interesting,
and it was already near daybreak when messengers were dispatched to the
various members of the divan to summon them to the seraglio. Then, in
the presence of all the rank and talent in the capital, the sultan
demanded of Ibrahim whether he felt sufficient confidence in himself to
undertake the weight and responsibility of office. All eyes were fixed
earnestly upon that mere youth of scarcely twenty-three, who was thus
solemnly adjured.
In a firm voice he replied that with the favor of the sultan and the
blessing of the Most High, he did not despair of being enabled to
restore the Ottoman Empire to its late prosperity and glory. The
astronomer of the court declared that the hour was favorable to invest
the new grand vizier with the insignia of office; and at the moment when
the call to prayer, "God is great!" sounded from every minaret in
Constantinople, Ibrahim Pasha received the imperial seals from the hand
of the sultan.