Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 172: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

168 “ True, Sereski,” replied the pasha. ‘I know that thou art my ~ triend, and that, like Seid Mohamet, thou wouldst spill thy blood to save mine ; but, until I have avenged his murder, I cannot enjoy even thy friendship. If thou hadst died his death, so would I mourn thee and so would I wish to avenge thee; therefore, re- proach me not, Sereski, but aid me with thy counsels, that the apurderera may not escape the doom I have pronounced upon them.’’ “¢So be it,” replied the Armenian. And, inclining himself before the pasha, he withdrew, and left him absorbed in grief. While thus lost to all recollections, save those of his friend’s tragical fate, Mustapha reclined upon his cushions, unconscious of all outward objects; the curtain that veiled the entrance of the apartment occupied by him was gently drawn aside, and a fairy form entered sciaaleahte bearing in her hands a large basket of flowers, covered with an embroidered handkerchief. : It was Irene, the only child of Sereski, whose infant graces had long since captivated the pasha’s good will. He had been the guest of the Armenian when, seven years before, his wife, Evene, had died in giving birth to this little girl, and from that period his affection for the father and daughter had progres- sively acquired such strength, that he had frequently declared to Sereski that, should fate deprive Irene of her father, he would supply his place to her, and adopt her for his own. The little maiden seated herself silently at the pasha’s feet, and began to arrange her flowers; but, after a time, perceiving that he did not notice her, she took both of his hands in hers, and, looking up into his face with fond earnestness, said, ‘¢ Pasha, if you will smile upon me as you used to do, I will give you my best roses.”’ “‘T want not thy roses, child,” he answered; ‘‘ my heart is full of thorns!” “Then I will give you a charm to cure the wound,” she resumed, producing an amulet. ‘© Keep thy roses and thy amulet, Irene,’”’ said the pasha, ‘‘ and leave me, for my soul is heavy, and I cannot listen to thee.” _ © Nay,”’ persisted the child, ‘‘ my father sent me hither, and I will not go. I will not leave you, pasha, until I have seen you smile; look upon me as you are wont to do, and I will give you my treasure.”’ And, loosening the shawl that bound her waist, she took from its folds a gold ring, encrusted with a sapphire of immense value, and, holding it up to Mustapha, exclaimed, “This is my treasure; smile, and it shall be yours.” The wish was scarcely uttered before it was fulfilled. The pasha seized the ring, while a smile of exultation lighted up his dark countenance with the portentous brightness of lightning flashing from a thunder-cloud; the child clapped her hands in EapEares while Mustapha, drawing her towards him, said, in a low voice, ‘* rene, who gave thee this ring ?”’ She remained silent. ‘6 Speak, epomand thee,” he continued. She clasped her little hands in supplication. “‘T have done wrong,’’ she said; ‘‘ but if I confess my fault to you, will you save me from my father’s anger ?” ‘*T will,” he replied. ‘‘ Speak, and speak truly.” ‘* Three days ago,” she resumed, “early inthe morning, when I went into my father’s room, where he keeps his money and jewels, - I found him busied in filling a casket, and, in his haste to close it before I approached, some of the jewels fell upon the carpet. I stooped to pick them up, and this ring having rolled to the farther end of the room unperceived by him, I pufit into my bosom, and carried it away. And now I dare not restore it, for my father has never yet been known to pardon theft.” “ Fear not, Irene, my soul,” said Mustapha, “ thy father’s anger shall not fall upon thee, if thou art silent to all upon the subject. Leave me the ring. and here is a jewel in exchange,” and he gave her the diamond agraffe that fastened his vest, ‘* Thou hast charmed away my grief, Irene; thou hast brought hope to my bosom. Leave me, child; I am happy.’’ She obeyed, and disappeared through the doorway as noiselessly as ehe had entered. No sooner was Irene gone than Mustapha, drawing the ring from his bosom, where he had concealed it, ejaculated, _ “* Allah kierim ! God is great! Behold, he has chosen this young infidel as the instrament by which the death of his faithful believer shall be discovered and avenged! This is the very ring which I gave to Seid Mohamet, after he had saved my life in the Balkan, and from which he swore never to part while he lived. The stone is beyond price , and here are the characters which I caused to be engraven on it: ‘ Eternal gratitude, friendship, and attach- ment, even unto death.’ There can be no mistake; this is Seid Mohamet’s ring. But how came it here?” THE IMPALEMENT: A STORY OF EASTERN LIFE. Then, approaching the curtain that veiled the éntrance of the apartment, he clapped his hands thrice, and, a servant appearing, he directed that Sereski should be summoned to his presence. “‘ Dog of an infidel!” exclaimed Mustapha, as soon as he per- ceived him, ‘‘ how camest thou by this ring ?” ; ; The Armenian appeared thunderstruck at beholding the jewel in Mustapha’s hands. ‘ A deadly paleness overspread his countenance, and his features worked convulsively, as, endeavouring to surmount his emotion, he replied that he had purchased it from an Albanian some time back, “‘ Who is this Albanian? Give me his name, then,” resumed the pasha, “‘ thatihe may be sought for, and brought before me forth- with.”’ - ‘‘T may not do so, oh, Mustapha!” replied Sereski. ‘‘ When I purchased that ring I made a solemn promise that I would never divulge the name of him who sold it to me.” ‘Thou liest, dog !”’ exclaimed the pasha, his eyes flashing fire. ‘‘ This ring belonged to Seid Mohamet, who would only have sold it with his life. Thou art in league with his murderers; but de- liver them up to me, and I will forgive thee even this treachery.” - ‘What can I say ?”’ replied Sereski, doggedly. ‘‘I have spoken nothing but the truth, and I have nothing more to reveal.” Mustapha then commanded that Sereski and all his servants should appear with him before the cadi, and when they were in the presence of that functionary, the pasha. repeated the whole trans- action that had brought the ring of Seid Mohamet into his posses- sion. Sereski persisted in his denegations, and the cadi ordered him to be bastinadoed upon the soles of his feet, which sentence was im- mediately executed in the presence of Mustapha Pasha, and by his own guards. But the torture it inflicted wrested no admission of guilt from the Armenian. - He writhed in agony, and bit the ground, until nature was ex- hausted by the fierce struggle, and he became insensible. The punishment was then suspended. Sereski’s servants were also ordered to be hastinadoed, and several of them underwent the ordeal without making any reyela- tion ; but when it came to the turn of a Jew, who had long been a confidential servant of Sereski’s, and as such had enjoyed the pasha’s esteem, his terror at the torture he was about to undergo was so overwhelming that no sooner had the guards laid their hands upon him to bind him chan, prostrating himself at Mustapha’s feet, he exclaimed, ‘* Have mercy on me, oh, pasha, and I will reveal all.” The pasha commanded his guards to suspend their operations, and the Jew then made a full confession of his master being the ~ murderer of Seid Mohamet. To be concluded in our next. NOTICE! NOTICE! TWO MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVINGS AND A SUPPLEMENT, GRATIS, EVERY WEEK, WITH THE WORK GIRLS OF LONDON; THEIR TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS. With Number 1 will be presented Number 2, in a Neat Wrapper, and a MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVING of THE WORK GIRL, HER PROTECTOR, AND LORD DUNDREARY. With Number 3 will be given another LARGE ENGRAVING of THE WORK GIRL’S DREAM OF THE FUTURE. And with Number 4 will be presented a SUPPLEMENT, Containing the opening Chapters of a New and Startling Tale, entitled, THEE CRUSADER; OR, THE WITCH OF FINCHLEY, Which has been for some months in preparation, and which will be issued, 3 Gratis, with each Number of the ‘‘ WORK GIRLS OF LONDON” until com- pleted, forming ‘TWO NUMBERS AND TWO DEEPLY INTERESTING NOVELS, WEEKLY, FOR ONE PENNY! | Ay WAG? TO SECURE COPIES OF THE ENGRAVINGS, comichooksicom (¢