The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-04-18

"oulu nave become PUBIC property. AS
it is, provided that you take me fully
into your confidence, l may be able to
propose a bargain to you | will en-
gage to keep the affair a secret from
every living soul, merely asking in re-
turn that you will use your influence
on behalf of French interests in the
questions which are now under discus
sion between the powers
He heard me out with great atten-
ton, looking at me all the while as If
to ascertain how much | really knew
or suspected. When had finished he
observed:
But suppose | tell you | am in
reality as ignorant as yourself of the
cause Of this strange mutilation?
Il returned a sarcastic smile.
I should answer that myself am
not altogether ignorant on the point,
as you will perhaps believe when l
show you this object which l discov-
cred under circumstances you will
hardly ask me to explain
And l produced the slipper, which
| had brought with me from the en-
bassy.
"'When l found this slipper, l add
ed, it contained human foot.
And this foot l continued, with
stern glance, was rendered remarka-
BILE by certain deformity-'
"'Ah!'
He sprang to his feet and clutched
at his beard, while he paced the room
with irregular strides. / watched him
keenly. Presently he turned to me
with a searching gaze.
'Feringhee, can trust your he de-
manded firmly. If l tell you every
thing what security do you offer me
for my life?'
The honor of Frenchman!' re-
piled with superb gesture.
at is enough
"And with those words he sank
down upon a couch, exhausted by his
agitation. Finally he recovered him
self sufficiently to relate the circum-
stances.
"Mehemed Rushdi gave me the
these words:
You cannot be ignorant of the in
tense feeling which prevailed against
Abdul-Aziz in this capital, feeling
which Is sufficiently shown in the de-
meanor of the mob since his death has
been announced. But like most for
eigners, you have perhaps attributed
/ this feeling to political motives. The
/ truth of the matter is, however, differ
emit
During the last years of his reign
the sultan was guilty Of outraging his
subjects in the Mussulman's most sa.
cred feelings. He had acquired the
custom of going out from his palace al
night, dressed in some mean disguise
and wandering through the streets in
search of adventures. In so far he
may have proposed to himself the
model of the caliph of Bagdad but I'M
like Harun the just, his adventures
were all of a certain kind.
"'Although this was known to me,
and / had frequently rendered to him
my respectful warnings on the sub
ject, ! had, nevertheless, done my best
to repress the seditions which his con
duct continually provoked My col
leagues in the ministry will bear wit
ness that have on all occasions stood
between Abdul-Aziz and the conse-
quences of his folly. Had listened to
the solicitations which we're addressed
to me, he would have been dethroned
long ago. But l was loyal to my mas
ter, and up to last night | had believed
that he was not ungrateful.
"A month or two ago I made an
a 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-
poulous (the merchant) to be equally
silent
d" Having handed over my treasure
to the care of my head eunuCh, who
possessed my entire confidence, i'm
agined myself secure. For some weeks,
indeed, all went well. The Georgian
was submissive and affectionate, and
my wives were not unduly jealous OF
my new purchase.
"'But at the end of this time I be
gan to perceive a change in Zara's
manner. She became exacting and
naughty, and had frequent fits of TEN
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 l had
been betrayed.
"'You know how things are when
| one is no longer able to depend on
ones eunuchs. They are all in league
| together, and 1t requires torture to ar
rive at the truth. / am naturally hui
name, and rather than resort to those
cruel measures which are usual in
such cases, resolved to employ STRAIT
egg. l affected to have become tired
of the Georgian's society, and even
dropped a hint that l thought of be-
slowing her on friend. At the same
time l loaded the chief eunuch with
favors, and pretended to let him into
my Utmost thoughts.
Meanwhile I was engaged in Sc