late neglect."

"Oh! dearest mother, if thou canst accomplish this," exclaimed Aischa,
her countenance becoming animated with joy and her heart palpitating
with hope, "thou wouldst render me happy indeed."

"Trust to me, daughter," replied the Sultana Valida. "In the meantime
seek not to learn my intentions; but, on thy return home, send me by
some trusty slave thy pass-key to the harem. And thou, my son, wilt lend
me thine imperial signet-ring for twelve hours!"

"Remember," said the sultan, as he drew the jewel from his finger, "that
he who wears that ring possesses a talisman of immense power--a sign
which none to whom it is shown dares disobey; remember this, my mother,
and use it with caution."

"Fear not, my dearly beloved son," answered the Sultana Valida,
concealing the ring in her bosom. "And now, Aischa, do you return to the
palace of your haughty husband, who ere twelve hours be passed, shall
sue for pardon at thy feet."

The sultan and Aischa both knew that their mother was a woman of
powerful intellect and determined character; and they sought not to
penetrate into the secret of her intentions.

Solyman withdrew to preside at a meeting of the divan; and Aischa
returned to the palace of the grand vizier, attended by the slaves who
had waited for her in an anteroom leading to her mother's apartments.

It was now late in the afternoon, and the time for evening prayer had
arrived ere the Sultana Valida received the pass-key to Ibrahim Pasha's
harem. But the moment it was conveyed to her, she summoned to her
presence three black slaves, belonging to the corps of the bostanjis, or
gardeners, who also served as executioners, when a person of rank was to
be subjected to the process of bowstring, or when any dark deed was to
be accomplished in silence and with caution. Terrible appendages to the
household of Ottoman sultans were the black slaves belonging to that
corps--like snakes, they insinuated themselves, noiselessly and
ominously into the presence of their victims, and it were as vain to
preach peace to the warring elements which God alone can control, as to
implore mercy at the hands of those remorseless Ethiopians!

To the three black slaves did the Sultana Valida issue her commands; and
to the eldest she intrusted Solyman's signet-ring and the pass-key which
Aischa had sent her. The slaves bowed three times to the empress
mother--laid their hands on their heads to imply that they would deserve
dec