The Irish standard., 1915-09-18

agitation. Finally he recovered him.
SELF sufficiently to relate the circum,
stances.
"Mehemed Ruslrdi gave me tina
story, as nearly as can recollect it, in
these words:
"'You cannot be ignorant Of the in.
tense feeling which prevailed against
'Abdul-Aziz in this capital, a feeling
which is sufficiently shown in the de-
meanor of the mob since his death has
been announced. But like most forj
eigners, you have perhaps attributed
this feeling to political motives. The
truth Of the matter is. however, differ.
ent.
During the last years of his reign.
the sultan was guilty of outraging his
subjects In the Mussulman's most ga.
cred feelings. He had acquired the
custom of going out from his palace at
night, dressed in some mean disguise.
and wandering through the streets I'M
search Of adventures. In SO far ha
may have proposed to himself the
model of the caliph Of Bagdad, but uni
like Harun the just. his adventures
were all Of q certain kind.
although this was known to MEL
and had frequently rendered to HIM
my respectful warnings on the SUBJ
9ect, had, nevertheless, done my best
to repress the seditions which his con1
duct continually provoked. My COLI
leagues in the ministry will bear Will
ness that have on all occasions stood
between Abdul-Aziz and the conse{
quences Of his folly. Had l listened to'
the solicitations which were addressed
to me, he would have been dethroned|
long ago. But l was loyal to my mast
ter, and up to last night had believed
that he was not ungrateful.
ga month or two ago 1 made AM
addition to my harem in the person Of
Georgian lady. of distinguished birth
and brilliant accomplishments, and
who was. besides, strikingly beautiful.
Knowing the disposition of the sultan,
had imported her with the greatest
precautions, through a merchant who
is devoted to me. She was brought
up the Golden Horn in covered gal.
ley, and carried to my residence in a
closely curtained litter. carefully re-
Trained from boasting of my acquisi.
ton to my friends, and warned Deka.
DONlous (the merchant) to he equally
sffeX /!
Having nanueu over my treasure
to the care Of my head eunuch, who
possessed my entire confidence, I I'm.
agined myself secure. For some weeks,
indeed, all went we'll. The Georgian
was submissive and affectionate, and
my wives were not unduly Jealous Of
my new purchase.
"'But at the end Of this time be-
gan to perceive a change in Zara's
manner. She became exacting and
naughty. and had frequent fits Of tenn:
per. in one of which she even threat.
ened to leave me. These words caused
me the most profound alarm. sus.
pected that she had been approached
from outside. and racked my brain to
discover the manner in which had
been betrayed. !;
"'You know how things are when
one is no longer able to depend on
ones eunuchs. They are all in a league
together. and 1t requires torture to ar.
rive at the truth. am naturally hu.
mane, and rather than resort to those
cruel measures which are usual In
such cases, resolved to employ STRAIT.
Pgy. affected to have become tired
of the Georgian's society. and even
dropped hint that I thought of be,
slowing her on friend. At the same
time loaded the chief eunuch with
favors, and pretended to let him into
my Utmost thoughts.
Meanwhile was engaged in Sc.
cretly collecting. through various
sources body of fresh slaves, who
could have no communication with the
old ones, and on whom, therefore,
felt I might rely. AS soon as l had OBJ.
tanned the number thought sufficient,
armed them, and introduced them Sc.
fretly into the garden at night. There
posted them behind some shrubs,
with Instructions to watch for the en-
trance Of any stranger. and IL any such
-, ~, ~ Instantly seize him and de.
ttin him till arrived.
These arrangements COMPLETED, I
gave out to my regular household that
] was going to sup with friend and
should not return for some hours.
took my departure. spent an hour away.
and then returned by way of the gar.
den.
las I approached the postern I
heard loud cries, and a group of men
came rushing away down the road. I
noticed that they were supporting one
in the center. who was closely wrapped
up, and who appeared to be unable Ia
walk by himself. / also observed that
fine gate from which they were hasten.
ing was standing an inch or two ajar.
The next moment 1t was flung wide
open, and my men streamed out in
pursuit of the fugitives.
ga secret intuition warned me to
restrain them, and to let that yelled
figure go in safety. Filled with vague
forebodings. l led the way inside, and
as soon as the door was closed and
locked, I made them tell me what had
taken place.
! "It appears that Immediately after
my own departure the head eunuch, on
whom had 80 blindly relied, had gone
out by the postern gate alone. At the