My fortune is not large; but see, I have
divided it into three parts, of which one is yours, one shall be for my
support and wants, but the third shall be sacred property, and devoted
to the purpose of saving you in the hour of need." Thus spoke my aged
father, and tears trembled in his eyes, perhaps from a certain
presentiment, for I never saw him again.

Our voyage was prosperous; we soon reached the land of the Franks, and
in six days' journey, after landing, we came to the great city of
Paris. Here my Frankish friend hired a room and advised me to use
proper discretion in laying out my money, which in all was two thousand
thalers. I lived for three years in this city, and learned what every
skilful physician ought to know; but I should not speak the truth were
I to say that I liked the place, for the manners and customs of this
people did not suit me. Moreover, I had but few friends, though these
were indeed noble young men.

The desire of seeing my native country, at length, became strong; and
having all this time heard nothing of my father, I seized a favourable
opportunity to return home.

This opportunity was afforded me by an embassy from the land of the
Franks to the Sublime Porte. I engaged myself as surgeon in the suite
of the ambassador, and was fortunate enough to return to
Constantinople. There I found my father's house closed, and the
neighbours were astonished when they saw me, and told me that my father
had died two months since. The priest who had instructed me in my
youth brought me the keys of the now desolate house, which I entered
alone and forsaken. I found every thing as my father had left it, only
the money he had promised to bequeath me was not there. I inquired of
the priest about it, who, with a bow, told me that my father had died
as a holy man, since he had bequeathed all his money to the church.

The latter circumstance has ever since been inexplicable to me. Yet
what could I do? I had no witnesses against the priest, and could not
but consider myself fortunate that he had not also claimed as a legacy
the house and goods of my father. This was the first calamity that
befel me, but from that time misfortunes succeeded each other. My
reputation as a physician spread but slowly, because I was ashamed to
play the quack, and I wanted everywhere the recommendation of my
father, who would have introduced me to the wealthiest and noblest
persons, who now no longer thought of poor