e by which the
affections of a despot are held, and I resolved to part. Still I loved
him, loved him in spite of all his cruelty; but my resolution was made.
For six weeks I refused to see the sultan, although he inquired every
day, and sent me magnificent presents. At the end of that period I had
recovered, and all that remained from the effects of the bowstring was a
slight wrinkling of the skin from distension, and the deep blue mark
round my neck which I have just shown to your highness.

When I first admitted the sultan, he was much affected. "Zara," said he,
mournfully, "I swear by the holy prophet that I meant not to give the
signal."

"I believe you, my lord," replied I, calmly.

"Neither did I intend that your brother should suffer. I meant to have
gained your favour by his pardon."

"He was a traitor, my lord, an ungrateful traitor, and deserved his
death. So may all like him perish."

"And now, Zara, may I hope for your forgiveness?"

"On one condition, sultan; and swear that you will grant what I
require."

"I do, by Allah!"

"It is, that you send me back to my own country."

Not to detain your highness by dwelling too long upon what passed, it
will suffice to say, that notwithstanding the entreaties of the sultan,
and the pleadings of my own heart, my resolution was immovable. Every
arrangement was made for my departure, and during the preparations, the
sultan was continually with me, persuading me to abandon the idea. The
magnificence and liberality which he showed in the costly presents
bestowed upon me, that I might return with honour and wealth to my own
country, more than once made me waver in my resolution. The evening
before my departure he made a last attempt, but in vain. My refusal was
at least softened by the tears which I shed, for now that the time of
departure was so near, I felt how truly, how devotedly I was attached to
him. We parted; I threw myself on the couch, and wept till the dawn of
day, when I was summoned to commence my journey.

As your highness may be aware is the custom, when my brother was
executed, all his property was seized by the sultan, and distributed
among the favourites. The new capitan pacha who succeeded my brother was
called Abdallah, and was said to be an excellent soldier. Part of my
brother's property was made over to him, and among the rest the Georgian
slave, who had been the ruin of my brother, and had so fatally destroyed
my happiness. To show me e