"Father, yes, with thy blessing first," said the fair girl; for well she knew, that the medicine which was to cure her, would carry her away from his side and her childhood home, perhaps forever.
The Bey pressed his lips to her forehead, and with a curious glance at the strange jars and vials, which the pretended Jew had displayed, he turned away and left them together.
"Ah, dearest Zillah," said Selim, as soon as he found himself alone with her he loved, "all is prepared as I promised thee, and at midnight we will leave this palace forever."
"Alas! dear Selim, my heart is ever with thee, but it is very sad to turn away from these scenes among which I have grown up from infancy; but full well I know I can never be thine otherwise."
"In time your father will be reconciled to us both, Zillah, and then we may return again," said the disguised lover, striving to re-a.s.sure the gentle girl, whose heart almost failed her.
"But what a fearful risk you incur even now," she said; "your disguise once discovered, Selim, and to-morrow"s sun would never shine upon you; your life would be forfeited."
"Fear not for me, dearest. I am well versed in the part I am to play. But come, it is already time for us to walk forth in the moonlight. Clothe thyself thoughtfully, Zillah, for your dress must be such as will suffice you for many days, since we must fly far away over the sea, beyond the reach of pursuit."
"I will be thoughtful," answered the gentle girl, retiring a few moments from his side.
They wandered on among the fairy-like scenes of the garden, where the trees overhung the Bosphorus, repeating once more the story of their love, and renewing those oft-repeated promises of eternal fidelity, until nearly midnight, when Selim suddenly started as he heard the low, m.u.f.fled sound of oars. He paused but for a moment, then hastily seizing upon Zillah"s arm, he urged her to follow him quickly to the water"s edge. Throwing a heavy, long military cloak about her, he completely screened her from all eyes, and placing her in the stern of the boat that came for him, with a wave of the hand he bade his men give way, while he steered the caique towards a craft that lay up the river towards the city, and soon disappeared among the forest of masts and shipping that lay at anchor off Seraglio Point.
They had made good their escape at least for the present, and were safe on board the ship commanded by Captain Selim. The very boldness of his scheme would prevent him from being discovered, and neither feared that the ship of the Sultan would be searched at any event, to find the lost daughter of the old Bey.
On the subsequent day the old Bey summoned his royal master to a.s.sist him to find his child. The Armenian doctor, who recommended the pretended Jew, was called upon to explain matters, but, to the astonishment of the Turk, he denied in toto any knowledge of what he referred to, declared before the Sultan that he had neither offered to send any one to the Bey"s house, nor had he done so, nor did he know a single Jewish leech in the capital.
Confounded at such a flat contradiction, and having not the least evidence to rebut it, the Turk was obliged to withdraw from the royal presence discomfited, while the Armenian doctor retired to his own dwelling, comforting himself, in the first place, if he had uttered a falsehood it was in a good cause; and next, that he held it no crime to deceive or to cheat an infidel, and ever one knows how little love exists between the Turks and Armenians, at Constantinople.
The truth was that the Armenian had long known Selim, had taught him his religion, and, had instructed him much at various times in such matters as it behooved him to know, and which had placed him at an early age far above many others in the service, who had all sorts of favoritism to advance their interests. He knew of Selim"s love for the old Bey"s daughter, and when chance led the father to consult him about his child, the idea of sending Selim to his house, as he succeeded in doing, flashed across his mind, and he proposed it to the father, as we have seen.
Selim"s Armenian friend repaired on board his vessel as soon as he was released from the presence of the Sultan, upon the inquiry to which we have alluded. It would have gone hard with him had it not been that his skill in his profession had long since recommended him to the Sultan, in whose household he frequently appeared. Selim greeted him kindly, and told him he was indebted to him for his future happiness in life.
"We have been so successful in this plan," said the Armenian, "that I have half a mind to try one of a similar, but far bolder character, if you will a.s.sist me."
"With all my heart. What is it you propose?" asked Captain Selim.
"In my visits to the Sultan"s harem, I have more than once been brought--"
"Is the attempt to be made upon the Sultan"s harem?" interrupted Selim.
"Be patient and hear my story."
"I will, but this must be a bold business."
"I say, in my visits to the Sultan"s household, I have often been brought in contact with one whom I know to be very unhappy, and who is detained there against her will. She is queen, I think, not only of the harem, but also of its master"s heart, her beauty and bearing being of surpa.s.sing loveliness. Her history, too, as far as I can learn, is one of romantic interest, and she pines to return to her home in Circa.s.sia, from whence she was violently torn. At first when she came here, I was called upon to treat her case, for she had lately recovered from some severe sickness, and I then saw how tenderly the Sultan regarded her. Well, at that time she was both deaf and dumb, but--"
"Hold! do you say she was deaf and dumb?" asked Selim, as if he recalled some memory of the past.
"I did."
"Strange," mused the officer; "it must be the slave that I bid for in the market."
And so indeed it was the same beautiful being who had so earnestly attracted him, as the reader will remember, when the Sultan"s agent, Mustapha, overbid him in the bazaar.
"You know her then?" asked the Armenian.
"I think so; but go on."
"Well, I am satisfied that she pines to be released, and from hearing her story, and tending her in a short illness, I have become deeply interested in her. You know, Selim, that I hate the Turks in my heart, and if I can by any means rob the Sultan of this girl, and restore her to her home, I would risk much to do so."
"The very idea looks to me like an impossibility," answered the young officer.
"Nothing is impossible where will and energy combine."
"What is your plan?"
"You have resolved to fly from here, you tell me at least, by to-morrow night."
"Yes. I have purchased that skimmer of the waters, the Petrel, and I shall sail at that time with Zillah, for the Russian coast, or Trebizond on the south of the Black Sea."
"Very good; now why not take this gentle slave of the Sultan"s along with you?"
"But how to get possession of her? that"s the question," answered Selim.
"You know I have free access to the palace, and could easily inform her of any plan for her release."
"One half of the trouble is over then at once, if she will second your efforts."
"Well, I will visit the harem this very day. I have good excuse for doing so, and will tell Komel--"
"Komel!" interrupted Selim.
"Yes, that it the slave"s name; why, what makes you look so thoughtful?"
"I do not know," said Selim; "the name sounded familiar to me at first, but go on."
"Well, I will tell her what is proposed, and get her advice as to any mode that she may think best to adopt in regard to her escaping."
"But do you think she would prefer to go with me to an uncertain home, to the luxury she enjoys?"
"Of course you will take her to her home on the Circa.s.sian coast.
That must be the understanding, and I will remunerate you for the extra trouble and expense."
"Never!" said the officer, honestly. "These Turks have paid me well for my services, and I have already a purse heavy with gold, after purchasing the Petrel, and if need be, I can make her pay."
"Have it as you will; it matters not to me, so that she reaches her home, and the Turk is foiled."
"I am a rover myself, and the Circa.s.sian coast would suit me quite as well as any other for a season. From whence does she come?"
"Anapa."
"Anapa? that shall be my destination," said Selim, at once.