d off to his harem.

His sons, following in his footsteps, kept also scandalous households,
and seemed to dispute preeminence in evil with their father, each in his
own manner. Drunkenness was the speciality of the eldest, Mouktar, who
was without rival among the hard drinkers of Albania, and who was reputed
to have emptied a whole wine-skin in one evening after a plentiful meal.
Gifted with the hereditary violence of his family, he had, in his drunken
fury, slain several persons, among others his sword-bearer, the companion
of his childhood and confidential friend of his whole life. Veli chose a
different course. Realising the Marquis de Sade as his father had
realised Macchiavelli, he delighted in mingling together debauchery and
cruelty, and his amusement consisted in biting the lips he had kissed,
and tearing with his nails the forms he had caressed. The people of
Janina saw with horror more than one woman in their midst whose nose and
ears he had caused to be cut off, and had then turned into the streets.

It was indeed a reign of terror; neither fortune, life, honour, nor
family were safe. Mothers cursed their fruitfulness, and women their
beauty. Fear soon engenders corruption, and subjects are speedily
tainted by the depravity of their masters. Ali, considering a
demoralised race as easier to govern, looked on with satisfaction.

While he strengthened by every means his authority from within, he missed
no opportunity of extending his rule without. In 1803 he declared war
against the Suliots, whose independence he had frequently endeavoured
either to purchase or to overthrow. The army sent against them, although
ten thousand strong, was at first beaten everywhere. Ali then, as usual,
brought treason to his aid, and regained the advantage. It became
evident that, sooner or later, the unhappy Suliots must succumb.

Foreseeing the horrors which their defeat would entail, Emineh, touched
with compassion, issued from her seclusion and cast herself at Ali's
feet. He raised her, seated her beside him, and inquired as to her
wishes. She spoke of, generosity, of mercy; he listened as if touched
and wavering, until she named the Suliots. Then, filled with fury, he
seized a pistol and fired at her. She was not hurt, but fell to the
ground overcome with terror, and her women hastily intervened and carried
her away. For the first time in his life, perhaps, Ali shuddered before
the dread of a murder.

It wa