enough of the
Russians, and only wished that the Turkish army might rout them, and I
could find myself once more in a harem. It was then that I first
lamented over my hard fate, and that of the sultan. It was then that I
first used the expression, when I thought of my condition, and that I
said to myself, "The time has been."

At last the army was ordered to march back, and being then the property
of a Cossack, he put me on a pony, and made me keep up with the
squadron, driving me before him with his long spear, sometimes sticking
the point into the rear of the pony, and sometimes into me, by way of a
joke. But I had not been more than ten days on the retreat, before he
sold me, pony, bridle, saddle, altogether, as a bargain, to an infantry
officer, who as soon as he had taken possession, made me dismount, while
he got in the saddle, desiring me to lay hold of the pony's tail and
follow him. When they halted, he made me wait upon him, and do
everything which he required. In the morning he mounted again, and I had
to walk after him, as before. This was hard service for one who had been
the favourite of the sultan. For a week I contrived to hobble after him,
but it was impossible to go on any longer. We passed through a town, and
as soon as we were clear of the gates and he did not watch me, I let go
the tail of the pony, and escaped without his perceiving it. I regained
the town, and faint with hunger and fatigue, sat at the steps of a large
house. A lady, dressed in rich furs and sables, came out, and perceiving
that my dress was foreign, stopped, and inquired of me who I was. I told
her in a few words: she ordered me to be received and taken care of. A
few days afterwards she sent for me, and I then narrated to her my
history. She was kind and generous, and I became her head attendant; I
was contented and happy, and hoped to die in her service. But my
misfortunes were not half over. My mistress was a lady of rank, and much
esteemed. Her house was always full of company: she was rich, and gave
most splendid entertainments. Her husband had been dead about two years,
but she was still very young, and exceedingly beautiful. One evening,
when there was a large party assembled in her rooms, the door was
opened, and an officer came up to her and whispered in her ear. She
coloured, trembled, and said that she would be ready in an hour. I was
near her at the time; she beckoned to me, hastened to her room, and
burst into a flood