y say his love, for
me was every day increased.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, it _may be_ all true," observed the pacha, looking at the
wrinkled and hideous object before him. "What do you say, Mustapha?"

"O pacha! we know not yet her history. The mother of your slave, as I
have heard from my father, was once most beautiful. She is still in our
harem, and _pooh_," said Mustapha, spitting, as if in abhorrence.

"Right, good vizier--right--recollect, pacha, what I have said. Time
has been." The pacha nodded and the old woman proceeded.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once sure of the sultan's affections, I indulged myself in greater
liberties--not with him, but with others; for I knew that he would laugh
at the tricks I might play upon his dependants, but not be equally
pleased with a want of respect towards himself; and other people of the
harem were the objects of my caprice and amusement. So far from
preventing him from noticing the other women in the harem, I would
recommend them, and often have them in my apartments when he would visit
me, and wish to be alone. I generally contrived to manage a little
quarrel about once a month, as it renewed his passion. In short, the
sultan became, as I intended, so infatuated, that he was my slave, and
at the same time I felt an ardent attachment to him. My power was well
known. The presents which I received from those who required my good
offices were innumerable, and I never retained them, but sent them as
presents to the sultan, in return for those which he repeatedly sent to
me. This indifference on my part to what women are usually too fond of
increased his regard.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"By the holy Prophet, but you seemed fond enough of gold just now,"
observed the pacha.

"Time has been, replied the old woman. I speak not of the present."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

For two years I passed a happy life; but anxious as the sultan was, as
well as myself, that I should present him with an heir, that happiness
was denied me, and eventually was the cause of my ruin. The queen
mother, and the kislar aga, both of whom I had affronted, were
indefatigable in their attempts to undermine my power. The whole
universe, I may say, was ransacked for a new introduction into