ut, as I was saying ere now, Demetrius," resumed the grand vizier,
who, young as he was, had acquired all the methodical habits of a wise
statesman, "let us examine in detail the whole posture of affairs in
Florence, so that I may maturely consider the precise bearings of the
case, and finally determine how to act. For, although I have at my
disposal a fleet which might cope with even that of enterprising England
or imperious France, though twenty thousand well-disciplined soldiers on
board these ships are ready to draw the sword at my nod, and though, as
the seraskier and sipehsalar of the armies of the sultan, I am
responsible for my actions to his majesty alone, yet it is not a small
thing, Demetrius, to march an invading force into the heart of Italy,
and thereby risk a war with all Christendom. Therefore, let us pause to
reflect upon every detail of all those incidents which occurred two
months ago at Florence."

"Good, my lord," said Demetrius. "I will therefore begin with my arrival
in that fair city, to which I repaired with all possible dispatch, as
soon as I had received the instructions of your highness. It would
appear that the Lord Count of Riverola reached Florence the same day as
myself, he having been detained at the outset of his voyage home from
Rhodes by contrary winds and a severe storm. It was somewhat late in the
evening when I called at the cottage of the Signora Francatelli, your
highness' worthy aunt; for I previously passed a few hours in
instituting by indirect means as many inquiries concerning her
circumstances and welfare as could be prudently made. To my grief,
however, I could not ascertain any tidings concerning your highness'
sister; and I therefore came to the mournful conclusion that her
disappearance still remained unaccounted for. Pondering upon the sad
tidings which, in this respect, I should have to forward to your
highness, and having already devised a fitting tale whereby to introduce
myself to your lordship's aunt, I went to the cottage, which, as I heard
in the course of a subsequent conversation, Don Francisco of Riverola
had just quitted. Your highness' aunt received me with as much
cordiality as she could well show toward a stranger. Then, in accordance
with my pre-arranged method of procedure, I stated I was sent by a son
of a debtor to the estate of the late Signor Francatelli, to repay to
any of his surviving relations a large sum of money which had been so
long--so very