shed for ever. This was my punishment
also, and he asked me to prepare for the painful hour which awaited me.
I will not describe to you that terrible hour, when I laid my hand upon
the block in the public market-place and my own blood shot over me in
broad streams.

Valetti took me to his house until I had recovered; he then most
generously supplied me with money for travelling, for all I had acquired
with so much difficulty had fallen a prey to the law. I left
Florence for Sicily and embarked on the first ship that I found for
Constantinople.

My hope was fixed upon the sum which I had entrusted to my friend. I
also requested to be allowed to live with him. But how great was my
astonishment on being asked why I did not wish to live in my own house.
He told me that some unknown man had bought a house in the Greek Quarter
in my name, and this very man had also told the neighbors of my early
arrival. I immediately proceeded thither accompanied by my friend, and
was received by all my old acquaintances joyfully. An old merchant gave
me a letter, which the man who had bought the house for me had left
behind. I read as follows: "Zaleukos! Two hands are prepared to work
incessantly, in order that you may not feel the loss of one of yours.
The house which you see and all its contents are yours, and every year
you will receive enough to be counted amongst the rich of your people.
Forgive him who is unhappier than yourself!" I could guess who had
written it, and in answer to my question, the merchant told me it had
been a man, whom he took for a Frank, and who had worn a scarlet cloak.
I knew enough to understand that the stranger was, after all, not
entirely devoid of noble intentions. In my new house I found everything
arranged in the best style, also a vaulted room stored with goods,
more splendid than I had ever had. Ten years have passed since. I still
continue my commercial travels, more from old custom than necessity,
yet I have never again seen that country where I became so unfortunate.
Every year since, I have received a thousand gold-pieces; and although I
rejoice to know that unfortunate man to be noble, yet he cannot relieve
me of the sorrow of my soul, for the terrible picture of the murdered
Bianca is continually on my mind.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Severed Hand, by Wilhelm Hauff

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SEVERED HAND ***

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