ed was not to be allayed, and he had consulted with
his favourite wife, Fatima. A woman is a good adviser on cases of this
description. The only danger which could threaten the pacha was from
the imperial court at Stamboul, for the troops were devoted to him, and
the people of the country had no very serious cause of complaint. By
the advice of the favourite, the pacha sent as a present to Mustapha a
young and handsome Greek girl, but she was a spy in the service of the
favourite, and had been informed that the vizier had been doomed. She
was to discover, if she could, whether there was any intercourse between
the renegade, who commanded the fleet, and the vizier, as from that
quarter alone danger could be anticipated. The Greek had not been a
week in the harem of Mustapha, before she ascertained more than was
sufficient. The fleet had been sent to Constantinople, with presents to
the sultan from the pacha, and its return was hourly expected.

It was on the afternoon of this eventful day that the fleet hove in
sight, and lay becalmed a few miles in the offing. Mustapha hastened to
report it to the pacha, as he sat in his divan, hearing complaints, and
giving judgment, although not justice. Now when the pacha heard that
the fleet had returned, his heart misgave him, and the more so, as
Mustapha was more obsequious and fawning than ever. He retired for a
short time from the divan, and hastened to his favourite, Fatima.

"Pacha," said she, "the fleet has arrived, and Mustapha has already
communicated with the renegade. Depend upon it you are lost, if you do
not forestall them. Lose no time. But stop," said she, "do not alarm
the renegade by violence to Mustapha. To-morrow the fleet will anchor,
and if there is mischief, it will not arrive until to-morrow--but this
evening, you will as usual send for coffee, while you smoke and listen
to the tales which you delight in. Drink not your coffee, for there
shall be death in it. Be all smiles and good humour, and leave me to
manage the rest."

The pacha smoothed his brow and returned to the divan. Business
proceeded as usual, and at length the audience was closed. The pacha
appeared to be in high good humour, and so was the vizier.

"Surely," said Mustapha, when the pipes were brought, "his imperial
highness, the sultan, will have sent you some mark of his distinguished
favour."

"God is great, and the sultan is wise," replied the pacha. "I have been
thinki