g him
with fresh honours he dismissed him. I was delighted that in finding my
brother I had found one who was not unworthy of the sultan's regard, and
I considered it a most fortunate circumstance; but how blind are
mortals! My brother was the cause of my disgrace and eternal separation
from the sultan. I mentioned to your highness that the Georgian slave
who had preceded me in the sultan's favour had been sent as a present to
my brother. This woman, although she had always appeared fond of me,
was in fact my most bitter enemy. She was very beautiful and clever,
and soon obtained the most unlimited influence over my brother. Yet she
loved him not; she had but one feeling to gratify, which was revenge on
me. My brother had so often led the troops to victory, that he had
acquired an unbounded sway over them. Stimulated by their suggestions
and his own ambition, which like mine was boundless, he was at last
induced to plot against his master, with the intention of dethroning him
and reigning in his stead. To his new wife, the Georgian, he had
entrusted his plans, and she resolved to regain the favour of the sultan
and accomplish my ruin by making me a party, and then communicating to
him the treason which was in agitation. She proposed to my brother that
he should inform me of his intentions, alleging, that in all probability
I would assist him, as I cared little for the sultan; and at all events
if I did not join, my interest might save him from his wrath. For some
time he refused to accede to her suggestions, but as she pointed out
that if the plot were discovered, I, as his sister, would certainly
share his fate, and that she well knew that I had never forgiven the
punishment of the bastinado which I had received, and only waited for an
opportunity to revenge myself, he at last consented to make me a party
to his intentions. My brother had been allowed to visit me, and he took
it opportunity of stating to me his schemes. I started from him with
horror, pointed out to him his ingratitude and folly, and intreated him
to abandon his purpose. Convinced that I was firmly attached to the
sultan, he appeared to acquiesce in the justice of my remarks, confessed
that he was wrong, and promised me faithfully to think no more of his
treacherous designs. I believed him to be sincere, and I shed tears of
joy as I thanked him for having yielded to my intreaties. We separated;
and in a short time I thought no more of the