requested the presence
of the sultan's envoy, to whom he said, with much emotion:

"I have at length unravelled the infernal plot laid against me; it is the
work of a man in the pay of the implacable enemies of the Sublime Porte,
and who is a Russian agent. He is in my power, and I have given him
hopes of pardon on condition of full confession. Will you then summon
the cadi, the judges and ecclesiastics of the town, in order that they
may hear the guilty man's deposition, and that the light of truth may
purify their minds?"

The tribunal was soon assembled, and the trembling Greek appeared in the
midst of a solemn silence. "Knowest thou this writing?" demanded the
cadi.--"It is mine."--"And this seal?"--"It is that of my master, Ali
Pacha."--"How does it come to be placed at the foot of these
letters?"--"I did this by order of my chief, abusing the confidence of my
master, who occasionally allowed me to use it to sign his orders."--"It
is enough: thou canst withdraw."

Uneasy as to the success of his intrigue, Ali was approaching the Hall of
Justice. As he entered the court, the Greek, who had just finished his
examination, threw himself at his feet, assuring him that all had gone
well. "It is good," said Ali; "thou shalt have thy reward." Turning
round, he made a sign to his guards, who had their orders, and who
instantly seized the unhappy Greek, and, drowning his voice with their
shouts, hung him in the courtyard. This execution finished, the pacha
presented himself before the judges and inquired the result of their
investigation. He was answered by a burst of congratulation. "Well,"
said he, "the guilty author of this plot aimed at me is no more; I
ordered him to be hung without waiting to hear your decision. May all
enemies of our glorious sultan perish even as he!"

A report of what had occurred was immediately drawn up, and, to assist
matters still further, Ali sent the kapidgi-bachi a gift of fifty purses,
which he accepted without difficulty, and also secured the favour of the
Divan by considerable presents. The sultan, yielding to the advice of
his councillors, appeared to have again received him into favour.

But Ali knew well that this appearance of sunshine was entirely
deceptive, and that Selim only professed to believe in his innocence
until the day should arrive when the sultan could safely punish his
treason. He sought therefore to compass the latter's downfall, and made
common cause w