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 LIBRARY OF THE HNiVFRSITY OF 
 
VERSITY OF CUIFORDIt UBBJRY OF THE UNUERSIH OF CUIFORNU II 
 
 
 VERSITY OF CUIFORNIA LlBRARr OF THE ONIVERSITf OF CHIFORKU LI 
 
SIX YEABS IN EUKOPE. 
 
 ^~^** fl *?lA , 
 
SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE 
 
 SEQUEL TO 
 
 THIRTY YEAES IN THE HAKEM. 
 
 OF 
 
 MELEK-HANUM, WIFE OF H.H. KIBRIZLL 
 MEHEMET-PASHA. 
 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 L. A. CHAMEROVZOW. 
 
 LONDON: 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. 
 
 1873. 
 
 
LONDON : 
 RADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WH1TEFRIARS. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 On board the A'/nerica The Marquis de Moustier and his suite 
 
 Diplomatic leave-taking 1 Fresh alarms Free at last . . 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Athens Effect of our arrival The Greeks and the Turks The 
 Candian insurrection Danger ahead Resolution to leave 
 Athens 12 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 An unpleasant discovery Low condition of our finances Friends 
 
 in need and deed Arrival in Paris 27 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Appeal to M. de Moustier His envoy I apply to the Turkish 
 Chargd d' Affaires Hussein Bey Arrival in Paris of Meheniet- 
 Djemil Pasha 35 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Visitors from the Pope The Abbe Bord My landlord and the 
 
 Turkish Embassy I escape a snare 49 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Ayesha's instruction in religious matters Her notions of the 
 Christian faith Her baptism The Ottoman Embassy still at 
 work . . 66 
 
VI 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 I renew my appeals to my husband The Sultan's visit to Par:- 
 I find myself in a new dilemma We go to Fontenay-aux- 
 Boses My husband's duplicity We are taken into the con- 
 vent of the Sisters of Charity Our experiences there- 
 leave the convent 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Fresh fKflaTri 1 * 1 * JLI tMgifct >Ajrrl A<Vha^ the bankrupt merchant A 
 new acquaintance Ayesha receives an offer of marriage We 
 take a journey into Brittany Our host Mysterious incidents 
 Ayesha accepts the proposal for her hand .... 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 We go to London My daughter's marriage We return into Brit- 
 tony I am watched I evade M. Questel's vigflance- 
 
 :.-: .-:.:--- LJ:_ \./. :-.'. ..:'. : . . . ii"j 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 I impart to Ayesha her husband's history We are invited : 
 family festival A domestic crisis More revelations I have 
 
 ._._-.. ..::..- ;_-:..-!.. . . l:_< 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 M. Questel's ill-treatment of me Ayesha in terror Violent scenes 
 at home M. Qnestel throws off the mask The plot against 
 myself and Ayesha revealed 
 
 XII. 
 
 ier mystery at the Chateau de Kerbeque Fresh revelations 
 
 concerning my son-in-law Hi- jecte 
 
 return to Paris 
 
 IAPTER XIII. 
 
 A disclosure relating to Ayesha's marriage Monsieur Quetl 
 refuses to have it legalised A visit to the Procureur Imperial 
 with the Princess Itevidoff The result 
 
Vll 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 : j. z 
 . rar QuesteTs vacillation I am sent to Vienna I return to 
 
 Paris and am sent to Borne Interview with Fnad Pasha- 
 Departure for Paris 192 
 
 CHAPTER XT. 
 
 ; eneva Misadventures by the way Monsexgnenr 
 
 de Ma-lilies and Sister Josephine of the Convent of La 
 Gra:: rde 2O4 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 n Lyons My wanderings in search of a shette 
 
 The hospital for the destitute My fellow-patients Xight 
 scene in my ward Succour from Paris .... 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 :urn to Paris My daughter's arrival Monsieur QnesteTs 
 excuses A new personage appears on the scene We leave for 
 Messina with Monsieur Qnestel His change of plan He tries 
 to lure us to Constantinople, and, as we wfll not go, he pro- 
 ceeds thither himself-The issue, and the last of M. Qnestel . 229 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Changed demeanour of the Greeks towards as Deceitful conduct of 
 rench Vice-Consul Attempt to inveigle won board a 
 Turkish war steamer We are in danger from foot-pads We 
 D offer of a tour into the interior Facts and infe- 
 rencesWe leave for Corfu 
 
 'lAPTER XIX. 
 
 From Corfu to Trieste Haida EffenoTs strange reqnest He is 
 baffled We reach Trieste Visits to Haida Effendi Hi- 
 proposals How we got to Paris 263 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 Conversations with Haida Effendi upon 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 How I came to write a book How I set about it, and how I fared 
 The war We leave Paris for Brussels Misadventure by the 
 way An old acquaintance suddenly crops up ... 292 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 My landlady and " La Lanterne " An old acquaintance suddenly 
 crops up We go to London We get into mysterious com- 
 pany- -Our visit to the Turkish Ambassador .... 307 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Monsieur Alphonse and his friends Singular and suspicious in- 
 cidents One of my husband's body-guard turns up in an 
 unexpected manner Last visit to the Turkish Ambassador 
 I determine to go away Scene with my daughter We 
 part 317 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The last blow . . 320 
 
SIX YEARS 'IN EUEOPE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 On board the America The Marquis de Moustier and his suite 
 Diplomatic leave-taking Fresh alarms Free at last. 
 
 "FREE !" This was our first thought and excla- 
 mation on finding ourselves safely on board the 
 America, the name of the mail steamer about to 
 convey us to the Western world. " Free ! " Yet 
 not wholly out of danger. We had fortunately 
 evaded the police ; we had obtained our passage- 
 tickets without difficulty ; but various unexpected 
 accidents and contingencies might even now defeat 
 our hopes. To conceal ourselves, then, until we 
 should be well out of immediate peril, was our first 
 impulse. 
 
 We hurried below, and huddled ourselves up in 
 a corner of the ladies' cabin, where we crouched, 
 rather than sat, tormented with anxiety, forestalling 
 every possible mishap ; nevertheless breathing more 
 
2 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 freely, inspired with the hope of ultimately effecting 
 our escape. 
 
 None save those who have been similarly circum- 
 stanced, who have panted between the prospect of 
 freedom or of a life-long imprisonment, can possibly 
 realize our emotions. Every sound, the echo of 
 every fresh voice, the trampling of new-comers upon 
 the deck, all these gave rise to ever-changing feel- 
 ings, which culminated, almost in horror, when we 
 heard pronounced the name of the Marquis de 
 Moustier. With him came Madame la Marquise, 
 their two daughters, their son, a secretary, a go- 
 verness, and a suite. I knew him as French Am- 
 bassador to the Sublime Porte, but he did not 
 know me. I was also aware he had been appointed 
 Minister of Foreign Affairs, and that his departure 
 for Paris would not long be delayed ; but I could 
 not anticipate that he and his family would be our 
 fellow-passengers, our companions in our flight. 
 Should we be discovered, and a demand for our 
 surrender be made, it was to be apprehended he 
 would elect to hand us over to those who claimed 
 authority over us as our legal guardians, rather than 
 involve himself, at that particular moment, in any 
 diplomatic dilemma, by asserting the inviolability 
 of his flag. This mischance was most embarrassing, 
 
CAUSE FOR FEAE. 3 
 
 and, not feeling secure from intrusion, we drew all 
 the closer together in our little corner, Ayesha 
 trembling with terror. 
 
 But another and, in our position, a more terrible 
 surprise awaited us, although M. de Moustier's 
 presence on board ought to have, in a measure, pre- 
 pared us for it. As Imperial Ambassador to the 
 Porte, returning to Paris to assume the direction of 
 foreign affairs, the Marquis was too mighty a per- 
 sonage to be allowed to quit Constantinople without 
 special marks of attention. Scarcely had he and his 
 suite set foot on board, than Ali Pasha, our Minister 
 for Foreign Affairs, accompanied by my husband 
 then a member of the Council of Ministers followed 
 by his brother-in-law, our good friend Bessim, pre- 
 sented themselves for a final leave-taking. 
 
 Assuredly if my lord and, according to Oriental 
 custom, my veritable master, had known that only 
 a very few inches of plank then separated him from 
 the wife and the children he was hunting down 
 with such steady energy and vigilance, we should 
 soon have been placed under the safest escort for 
 the nearest prison his own palace antecedent to 
 incarceration for life in an underground dungeon. 
 
 By another strange coincidence, his son, Djehad, 
 repudiated and rejected, an outcast, and, like our- 
 
 B 2 
 
4 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 selves, a fugitive, beheld him on this occasion for 
 the last time. Djehad had half concealed himself 
 behind a mast, and thus had the opportunity of 
 witnessing the ceremonious adieus of the group 
 collected, in a circle, around M. de Moustier, and of 
 gazing once more and, as it proved, for ever in 
 this world upon the author of his existence. 
 Djehad durst not move from his hiding-place, 
 though he afterwards confessed he felt impelled, 
 at one moment, to cast himself at Kibrizli's feet, 
 and plead for us all for deliverance from further 
 persecution. 
 
 The sound of these hostile voices set the heart 
 of myself and of my daughter beating violently. My 
 poor Ayesha clung to me as though I could shield 
 her from the greatest evil that could befall her 
 once more falling into the arms of her father 
 and I embraced her all the more closely, because 
 I felt my own utter helplessness to protect her from 
 the violence of her natural guardian, should he dis- 
 cover us, and assert his despotic authority. 
 
 We thought the parting civilities of the great 
 men would never terminate ; but even the world 
 must come to an end ; and we were finally enabled 
 to offer to the Mysterious Being, to whom all 
 hearts instinctively turn in the hour of danger or 
 
FIRST SENSATIONS OF FREEDOM. 5 
 
 of deliverance from peril, our fervent thanks that 
 the exigencies of the mail service were paramount 
 to those of diplomatic courtesy. 
 
 The signal-bell for departure, the revolving of the 
 .paddle-wheels, the sensation of motion after what 
 seemed an eternity of agony, revived our spirits 
 and our courage. Cramped in our cabin, longing 
 for air for that sun-light we felt was for us, was 
 even exclusively our own we at length ventured 
 first to peep out, like mice looking if the coast is 
 clear of cats. The noise of feet caused us to shrink 
 back. It was only Djehad, who came to tell us we 
 were passing Seraglio Point. Thus encouraged we 
 came out, and went on deck. 
 
 How thrilling was the sensation of freedom ! To 
 be free to move whither we liked unveiled to 
 breathe the air unveiled to gaze at the sun, at the 
 sky, at all the bright beauties of nature at objects 
 fast receding from view, but with which our eyes 
 were so familiar ! 
 
 As we descended the " Great Straits," every minute 
 drawing more and more beyond danger, further and 
 further from the immediate reach of that terrible, 
 silent, fiery messenger, the telegraph, our spirits rose 
 and our courage grew. To Ayesha, everything was 
 novel, and much was startling. It was odd to her to 
 
6 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 appear before everybody with her face uncovered, 
 and she shrank from the inquisitive gaze of the men- 
 folk on board ; for, to exhibit her face thus openly 
 was so contrary to her habits, to her education, and 
 to her belief, that to do so was not quite harmless. 
 
 It is well known that Oriental custom, prejudice, 
 creed, superstition by whatever name it may be 
 called despotically insists that a woman shall keep 
 her face veiled before men. The custom is oppres- 
 sive, particularly when the weather is warm ; and 
 more particularly still when accident creates the 
 opportunity of indulgence in that common, superla- 
 tively amiable, feminine foible, coquetry. A young 
 girl, walking demurely by the side and under the 
 guard of an elderly companion, is surely not so very 
 much to blame, if, finding the heat oppressive, she 
 throws up the veil which conceals her face, and more 
 than a fair proportion of her shoulders, just at the 
 very exact moment a young fellow is approaching 
 by the merest accident, of course upon whom 
 the sudden disclosure of her beauty may produce a 
 lasting effect. Such a device is common in the East, 
 as a means of evading the Prophet's injunction. 
 
 May I be permitted to add, that as against 
 human nature feminine human nature at any 
 rate I consider Mahomet made a grand mistake 
 
AN ANTI-MAHOMETIC DOCTRINE. 7 
 
 in this matter of prohibiting a woman to be un- 
 veiled in presence of the opposite sex. I am sorry 
 to avow it, but I cannot help, as a woman, ranging 
 myself on the side of human nature against Mahomet. 
 He himself has said : " There is only one God, and 
 Mahomet is His Prophet." Now, God conceived 
 human nature before he created man ; wherefore 
 human nature dates before Mahomet. I must, there- 
 fore, believe first in human nature. If the teaching 
 of Mahomet is contrary thereto, so much the worse 
 for the Prophet. 
 
 We esteemed it a most fortunate circumstance 
 there were on board comparatively few passengers. 
 We were, none the less, objects of attention. Women 
 are inquisitive by instinct. In the harem we have 
 little else to do but to study female character. It 
 has many bright sides when the passions are not in 
 question ; but, under all circumstances, inquisitive- 
 ness is the predominant trait. Thus the men took 
 no particular notice of us. Accustomed to see many 
 travellers, they probably perceived in us, dressed as 
 we were in European costume, nothing especially 
 remarkable. The Marquis de Moustier may have 
 been observant, notwithstanding he was a diplo- 
 matist: by which I mean, that, according to my 
 experience, diplomatists are, as a rule, less observant 
 
8 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 than they ought to be, or than they obtain credit 
 for. One of them at our Court, whose nationality I 
 abstain from recording, noticed nothing, yet gained 
 a reputation for observing everything. But then 
 he was very fortunate in his servants. 
 
 In our Oriental proverbiology we have the saying 
 "As is the master so is the domestic." I have found 
 this to be the reverse of the fact, for masters cannot 
 play the part of spies ; they have not the opportunity 
 of investigating the petty intrigues which afflict 
 their households, and which so frequently as I shall 
 have occasion to illustrate bring about catastrophes 
 involving them, and sometimes the fate of a nation. 
 On the other hand, subordinates are all eyes and 
 ears. They fetch, carry, tattle, and calumniate. We 
 escaped M. de Moustier's diplomatic eye, so far as 
 he gave any sign to the contrary, but were soon 
 fastened upon by the governess. 
 
 I might, myself, have easily passed muster in a 
 crowd, or out of one. Ayesha, however, could not 
 fail to challenge attention. The character of her 
 beauty was strikingly Oriental. Her large Eastern 
 eyes flashed with light from beneath her grand 
 arched eyebrows, and her long black eyelashes. 
 No art could disguise the rich masses of her 
 raven-coloured hair, or alter the symmetrical oval of 
 
WOMAN'S CURIOSITY. 
 
 her countenance. Her. very carriage was peculiar ; 
 for, let me say here, no woman brought up in the 
 harem knows how to walk. The gait is something 
 between a waddle and a shuffle. Then, the utter 
 freedom of her manners from the conventional re- 
 straints of what is called civilized society, was of 
 itself sufficient to attract more than passing notice. 
 No wonder then, our group soon became the centre 
 towards which the governess gravitated. 
 
 The lady hovered around us a little, then made 
 her first overtures by timidly taking a seat near us. 
 As I spoke French sufficiently well for ordinary 
 conversation, the prospect of a fine passage to 
 Piraeus was the colloquial aperient she administered 
 to me. 
 
 Ah, indeed ! To Athens ! then then ? How far 
 westward did we intend to travel ? Had we come 
 from the interior 1 Did we know many people in 
 Constantinople ? The gentleman yonder, and the 
 lady by his side, were the Marquis and the Marquise 
 de Moustier ! Would we like to be introduced ? In 
 such case, she would be enchanted to undertake that 
 office. 
 
 I fully understood that these and a variety of other 
 questions were put with the astute view of drawing 
 me out. The replies she obtained at first, were as 
 
10 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 brief as politeness demanded, and amounted to 
 this : 
 
 " "We were Turkish ladies, on their travels. We 
 should decide at Athens how much further west we 
 might go. "We were charmed to hear we had such 
 distinguished fellow-passengers. We were not known 
 to M. or to Mme. de Moustier, and an introduction 
 to them did not appear necessary." 
 
 More I did not then care to impart. I still had 
 before me the fear of re-capture, which I felt might 
 result from the slightest imprudence on my part. 
 But the lady was persevering as well as inquisitive. 
 The fancy she took to my daughter was amazing in 
 its demonstrativeness, and as we gradually left 
 danger in the rear, and travelling unavoidably draws 
 people into a degree of familiarity difficult to avoid 
 without appearing boorish, my reserve wore off by 
 little and little, and I at last told her we were effect- 
 ing our escape from Turkey, and that our ultimate 
 destination was Paris; but I did not disclose our 
 name. Her interest in us, and her surprise, then 
 exceeded all bounds, and when she quitted us, it 
 was, as I understood, to communicate the intelli- 
 gence to her superiors. 
 
 It may have interested them, for aught I know to 
 the contrary ; but they certainly took no observable 
 
WE REACH PIRAEUS IN SAFETY. 11 
 
 interest in us, nor did they even speak to us. If 
 I must confess the truth, I felt pleased at this, and 
 rather relieved than otherwise, for I might have been 
 betrayed into a conversation more or less prematurely 
 confidential, which it was desirable, for many reasons, 
 to avoid. Not until we reached Piraeus did I feel we 
 were really out of danger. 
 
 We arrived at Piraeus about mid-day, our next 
 stage being Athens. I was rejoiced to learn that our 
 stay at Piraeus would not exceed an hour. It is a 
 much frequented summer bathing-place, but its 
 general aspect disappointed me. The dwellings and 
 the public buildings presented no striking character- 
 istics, and the inhabitants appeared to me to be of 
 a low type, were offensively unclean in person, and 
 uncouth in manner. 
 
 The hour proved a long one, and pleased enough 
 were we when the carriage which was to convey us 
 to Athens at last drew up at the door of the hotel, 
 and we were summoned to take our places in it. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Athens Effect of our arrival The Greeks and the Turks The Candian 
 insurrection Danger ahead Resolution to leave Athens. 
 
 FKOM Piraeus to Athens is a two hours' ride, along 
 a narrow, wretchedly kept-up road ; if a road can 
 be called kept-up which is in a chronic condition of 
 unrepair. The dust was fine as well as abundant, 
 so that we seemed to be moving through a mist, and 
 very soon became coated with a greyish-white cover- 
 ing as though our latest employment had been 
 grinding flour of indifferent quality. Nevertheless 
 our gaiety was boisterous, for we were as free as 
 that very dust we were compelled to inhale, and 
 for freedom's sake rather enjoyed than otherwise. 
 The scenery was not attractive ; but the sensation 
 of perfect freedom lent it an extrinsic charm, which 
 more than compensated for natural deficiencies. 
 Olive-tree plantations and vineyards alternated all 
 along the road, which now ascending, brought us 
 upon what seemed interminable plains, then dipping, 
 
ARRIVAL AT ATHENS. 13 
 
 plunged us into green valleys, fresh and cool, but 
 also apparently never ending. The fact is, we were 
 impatient to reach Athens, which at last appeared in 
 sight. We got down at the Hotel de la Grande 
 Bretagne, situated immediately opposite the King's 
 palace, and, according to custom, we inscribed our 
 name in the register kept for visitors. Little did 
 I imagine the sensation that very simple formality 
 would create. Kibrizli-Mehemet Pacha was a Prince 
 of Cyprus, and born there, consequently his name 
 was well-known, apart from the fact of his high 
 official position. I had never thought of this. Even 
 if I had, I should probably not have concealed my 
 name and quality. No sooner did these transpire, 
 than the landlord informed us, with every outward 
 manifestation of consideration and courtesy, that 
 our flight having been discovered, telegrams from 
 Constantinople had come intimating the fact to the 
 Turkish Ambassador. I received the intimation 
 with the greatest indifference, knowing I was quite 
 safe now, and that my presence would be rather 
 agreeable than otherwise to the Greek party. At 
 the table-d'hote which I may state was in the 
 Oriental style, most profuse and magnificent, and 
 frequented, not only by the guests staying in the 
 hotel, but by the grandees and notabilities of the 
 
14 SIX YEABS IN EUROPE. 
 
 metropolis we were the centre towards which all 
 eyes turned. The balcony of our apartments over- 
 looked the great square, crowded by the population, 
 who flock hither to drink coffee, and to listen to the 
 music, which every evening, as well as every morn- 
 ing, plays in front of the King's residence. When 
 we came out upon the balcony, a new excitement 
 seemed to pervade the crowd. The news of our 
 arrival had soon spread, and our flight probably 
 exaggerated in its details our rank, our peculiar 
 position, already constituted us objects of special 
 interest to this easily moved people. Next morning 
 the newspapers contained articles concerning us, and 
 we at once became the celebrities of the hour. Visits 
 from all the distinguished personages in the city 
 poured in upon us. It became quite a rivalry who 
 should be most courteous. The King's first equerry, 
 amongst others, found his way to us, and inquired 
 if we needed anything, what were our plans and 
 intentions, and when, and how, and why we had fled 
 from Constantinople. The Secretary of the Turkish 
 Ambassador also came. The latter Fotiare Bey- 
 was a Greek, in the employ of the Turkish Govern- 
 ment, and brother-in-law of Musurus, Ambassador 
 to the Court of St. James', each having married 
 daughters of Prince Yogorivi, of Samos. He was 
 
I DECLINE VISITING THE GREEK AMBASSADOR. 15 
 
 sent specially to ascertain why we had come to 
 Athens, and he was also the bearer of an invitation 
 for us to pay the Ambassador a visit. As I knew 
 that Greeks in the Turkish service are not to be 
 trusted, I felt seriously suspicious of overtures from 
 this quarter, and made up my mind resolutely to 
 decline them. This I did at once, very courteously, 
 and with a profusion of thanks, and explaining that 
 we had quitted home in anger. He remonstrated, 
 and observed, that such being the case was a reason 
 for our returning : a hint I immediately perceived 
 had not come unsuggested, and which confirmed 
 my suspicions and my conviction. My reply 
 was that we did not intend going back to Con- 
 stantinople, but to proceed on our travels west- 
 ward, as far away from it as possible. We should 
 remain a short time in Athens, and then resume 
 our journey. 
 
 Amongst other habitual frequenters of our grand 
 table-d'hote was an old man of eighty-four, hand- 
 some, and of a most noble and imposing aspect, 
 who adhered -to the old Greek costume, and to the 
 traditional courteous and polished manners of his 
 ancestry. He had formerly been Minister of Marine, 
 and was father-in-law of the then Minister of Foreign 
 Affairs. Incidentally I gleaned from him as well 
 
16 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 as from others that the Greek Government would 
 help me if I felt disposed to claim its aid ; and this, 
 only to be disagreeable to the authorities at the 
 Porte. But I did not see my way to adopt such 
 a medium of endeavouring to procure means of 
 living, which was now, after nearly a month's 
 stay in Athens, becoming the chief object of my 
 thoughts, night and day. 
 
 My daughter seemed so completely happy in her 
 novel position, that I felt averse to mar her felicity 
 by any reference to coming necessities and troubles; 
 at least, until it should be absolutely unavoidable to 
 recall her to a sense of the realities of the hour. As 
 for plans, I had formed none very determinate ; but 
 as the days wore on, and I recovered from the fatigue 
 and the anxiety I had undergone, my spirits rose, 
 my courage revived, and my mind recovered its 
 elasticity and activity. Thus, from day to day, 
 pondering over my position, I gradually came to the 
 final determination to proceed to Paris, and claim 
 the friendly interposition of the French Government 
 to induce my husband either to allow us a fixed 
 annual income, or to give up the jewels, securities, 
 money, and title-deeds of properties settled upon 
 myself and my daughter in our own right. I con- 
 sidered I had a perfect right to claim French inter- 
 
GREEK CHARACTERISTICS. 17 
 
 ference in my behalf in virtue of my father's French 
 descent. 
 
 Then, I believed in justice ! 
 
 Our time in Athens, meanwhile, was passing away 
 pleasantly enough. We went out daily to inspect 
 the monuments, and to see the sights. These latter 
 were simply the incidents in the everyday life of 
 the people. We made purchases, we frequented the 
 public promenades ; we contracted acquaintances, if 
 we did not make friends. We also gained experi- 
 ence in numerous ways. We soon discovered that 
 the shop and stall-keepers possessed a conscience of 
 astounding elasticity in all matters of trade, and 
 would demand three and four times the worth of any 
 article offered for sale ; a price we, in our lament- 
 able ignorance, at first paid. The value of money 
 to us was absolutely unknown, and we did not sus- 
 pect that knavery was a common element in busi- 
 ness amongst these fair-spoken, smooth-tongued 
 Greeks. 
 
 We were not long in ascertaining that hospitality 
 does not figure amongst the national characteristics. 
 In Turkey, to entertain is the rule. We found our 
 Greek lady-acquaintances ready enough, even eager, 
 to accept all kinds of courtesies at our hands, when 
 they visited us ; but they never favoured us in a 
 
18 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 similar way. The fact is, pride lay at the root of 
 their apparent churlish selfishness. In their case, 
 the stomach suffers for the back. Their homes are 
 not for strangers to see. Everything is sacrificed to 
 outward show. A lady wearing gorgeous attire, and 
 resplendent with jewels, shrinks from exposing the 
 misery of the domestic interior, often squalid to the 
 last degree. This absence of hospitality struck us 
 painfully, for in Turkey even the poorest share with 
 the stranger. Indeed, I was now prepared to find 
 that in Europe I must not expect to meet with 
 hospitality upon the grand scale common in my 
 own country. I confess that even when I discovered 
 the cause of its absence in Athens at least amongst 
 the class I have designated I felt disappointed, 
 even a little mortified, interpreting it as a personal 
 slight. I was simply over-sensitive in my forlorn 
 and peculiar position. At any rate, the prospect of 
 being shut out from any kind of domestic intimacy 
 with Greek female society had its influence in 
 deciding me to make no prolonged stay where we 
 were. 
 
 The Greek Patriarch, with whom we were on 
 visiting terms, expressed a strong desire, some 
 anxiety even, that we should remain. He had 
 taken part in the war in the Morea ; was full of 
 
THE KING OF GREECE. 10 
 
 anecdote, highly agreeable, and chatted well. We 
 made his acquaintance through one M. Delaporte, 
 formerly Greek Consul at Aivalik. Like many 
 others, he believed in the ultimate success of the 
 Candian insurrection, then at its height, and con- 
 sidered Eussian intervention as certain. I held 
 totally opposite views, knowing the power of the 
 Turks. The Patriarch was most kind, and again 
 and again offered us help, but I declined with many 
 and most sincere thanks. 
 
 We very frequently saw the young King on the 
 public promenade. His countenance is intelligent, 
 and his bearing distinguished. He always wore a 
 smile on his lips, and saluted the multitude with the 
 greatest affability. He struck me as being far from 
 proud. I often thought of this young King ruling 
 in so old a country, and wondered whether they 
 would grow and thrive together. He has no easy 
 task before him, for the Greeks are a most difficult 
 people to govern. -Honesty, patriotism, public 
 virtue, national spirit, are things unknown. Selfish- 
 ness reigns paramount. In fact, the Greek element 
 is essentially false. 
 
 Between the Greeks and the Turks, not the 
 smallest particle of love is lost. The Turks are 
 glad to secure the services of the Greeks, because 
 
 c 2 
 
20 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 these people are so pliant, accommodating, and obse- 
 quious. In Constantinople, where the Greeks swarm, 
 and their influence makes itself felt, there is much 
 less frankness and fair dealing than in the provinces. 
 Self-interest is the link which brings both into 
 association ; but at bottom Greek hates Turk, and 
 Turk hates Greek. That this is the predominant 
 popular sentiment admits of no doubt whatsoever. 
 
 The character of the people impresses itself upon 
 the national policy, as a matter of course. Hence r 
 that of the Greek Government is sly, underhand,, 
 dark, dubious, and false. The plan of the Cretan 
 insurrection, to wit, was known at Athens, notori- 
 ously known, long before it broke out, but the 
 authorities, the diplomatists, knew nothing about it, 
 or rather, affected the most splendid ignorance. I 
 do not know to what origin the Candian insurrec- 
 tion was ascribed generally in Europe. In political 
 circles in Athens it was traced to an intrigue 
 between the French Emperor and Kalergi, a Greek, 
 a orfmer equerry of King Otho's, and who was on 
 the friendliest terms with Louis Napoleon. Kalergi 
 is said to have solicited some mark of personal favour 
 at the hands of the Emperor, who offered to make 
 him Prince of Candia if Crete could free herself from 
 Turkish dominion. This promise set Kalergi to 
 
THE CANDIAN INSURRECTION. 21 
 
 work, and the insurrection commenced. Kalergi, 
 however, discovered that the Emperor sought Crete 
 for France, whereas Kalergi's purpose was to secure 
 it for Greece, and finding that French aid, secretly 
 agreed to be given, did not come, he abandoned the 
 contest. 
 
 I give this report as it reached me, without offer- 
 ing any opinion 'upon its accuracy. I can only 
 record that whatever may have been the origin of 
 the movement, much deep though quiet enthusiasm 
 existed in its favour. If the Candians won, Greece 
 would benefit by the gain of an additional province; 
 but openly to interfere on the side of the insurrec- 
 tionists, would have been to incur the full-blown 
 hostility of the Turks ; in a word, to provoke, on a 
 grand scale against the whole of Greece, a war 
 which was actually then confined only to a rebellious 
 corner of the Ottoman Empire. 
 
 The Greek authorities, nevertheless, secretly en- 
 couraged the insurrectionists, whilst openly con- 
 demning the insurrection. Hundreds of men, whose 
 destination was notorious, unarmed and unequipped, 
 were continually leaving Athens at night ; and a 
 stream of wounded was as constantly flowing back, 
 including numerous women, who had fought by the 
 .side of their husbands, their sons, or their fathers. 
 
22 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Some of them had children. When these wounded 
 warriors arrived, the landing-place and its neigh- 
 bourhood would be thronged by crowds, to welcome 
 them back, to ask news of the absent, and ta 
 encourage the suffering. These were at once con- 
 veyed away into private houses as well as to the 
 hospital, to be tended and cared for. The spectacle 
 was a really touching one, and moved me greatly. 
 I felt persuaded the sacrifices made would prove 
 useless, the Turks being in every respect superior in 
 strength to the Greeks as a nation, arid therefore 
 necessarily so to the Candians. I gave this, as my 
 opinion, to the Greek Patriarch, who, as I have 
 stated, held opposite views, and looked and hoped 
 for Kussian intervention. 
 
 I may say, whilst upon this subject, that I have 
 more faith in the future of Greece than of Turkey. 
 I regard Turkey not as a sick man, that is, a man 
 likely to recover health and strength, but as one 
 absolutely dying of consumption, and whose last 
 agony is a mere question of time. Turkey in Europe 
 is an anomaly, and Constantinople is the natural 
 geographical capital of Eussia, which she will, 
 assuredly obtain some day, perhaps not so far 
 distant. Turkey will then be thrown wholly back 
 into Asia, upon which territory her institutions may 
 
I RESOLVE TO LEAVE ATHENS. 23 
 
 find room and opportunity to develope amongst 
 peoples of kindred religion ; though it seems to me 
 utterly impossible she can ultimately resist the 
 inroads of Christian civilization. On the other hand, 
 Eussia must grow European Turkey out of Europe. 
 She knows how to wait, and though, when her time 
 comes to assume possession of Constantinople, she 
 will probably enlarge the boundaries of Greece, she 
 was not likely, at the time of the Candian insurrec- 
 tion, to take the false step of interfering in that con- 
 tention, notwithstanding that her sympathies may 
 have secretly tended that way. 
 
 Holding these convictions, and foreseeing the 
 result of the war, I concluded that, with peace, the 
 authorities in Athens would seek to be as com- 
 plaisant as possible to the ruling powers at Con- 
 stantinople, and that my husband and his relatives 
 would find in Athens instruments to their hand, 
 willing to promote their object of getting us back 
 to the Turkish capital. I may have been over- 
 timorous, but my recent sufferings fully justified 
 any exaggeration of present fears, and I at length 
 disclosed to my daughter my intention of quitting 
 Athens. 
 
 This announcement suddenly aroused her to the 
 realities of our position. We had been a month in 
 
24 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 that city ; she as utterly oblivious of the past as 
 though it were a forgotten dream. Young, entirely 
 guileless of the world, released from the caged-up, 
 monotonous life of the Harem, with all its terrible 
 restraints upon the mind as well as the body, she 
 found herself all at once in a new sphere, which to 
 her was Paradise. The commonest incidents of the 
 life we were leading, were to her so many new 
 enjoyments, and new sensations. It was a delight 
 to be able to go about whither, and how, and when 
 she listed ; to speak and to be spoken to without 
 fear. The very attempt to make herself under- 
 stood she had picked up a little French had its 
 charm, and its amusement. Especially did she 
 revel in the luxury of an unveiled face ; of breath- 
 ing the air without impediment, and in the novel 
 indulgence of looking at those who looked at her. 
 
 So wholly was she carried away by pleasurable 
 emotions, so absorbed was she in the luxurious 
 felicities of her new life, that it cost me the severest 
 pang to interrupt the current of her happiness. 
 Had I listened to her entreaties, we should have 
 remained in Athens. "Were we not very happy ? 
 Had we not everything we needed ? Were we not 
 free ? Were we not safe \ Could we not commu- 
 nicate with her father as easily from where we were 
 
NEW HOPES. 25 
 
 as from any other city ? These and similar ques- 
 tions were pressed upon me, mingled with caresses 
 and entreaties. It proved a task to convince her 
 of the necessity of our breaking away from present 
 temporary enjoyments, in order to secure permanent 
 prospective advantages. Then, was not Paris our 
 destination and the haven of our hopes \ There we 
 should find the attractions and pleasures of Athens, 
 multiplied a hundred-fold. In that centre of civi- 
 lization, that resort of all the notabilities of the 
 world about to become a universal fair at which 
 the industries of all the nations would be displayed 
 she would enjoy the fullest opportunity of in- 
 dulgence in her tastes, of augmenting her occupa- 
 tions, of enlarging her experience, of contracting 
 friendships, of acquiring the education she so 
 sorely needed to enable her to hold her own amongst 
 her equals ; she would see the best of society in its 
 most decorous attire, and on its foremost best 
 behaviour ; she would mix with it herself, on an 
 equality with the highest, having me constantly 
 by, to guide and watch over her, to protect as well 
 as love her. "And, my child," I added, "you 
 shall then carry out your desire to embrace the 
 Christian faith ; and who knows you may not find 
 a new and a good husband ? " 
 
26 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 These arguments prevailed. Whether the last 
 had special weight I cannot positively assert, nor 
 will I hazard a suspicion it had none. I was too 
 pleased to perceive they had overcome a reluctance 
 I at one moment apprehended might prove indo- 
 mitable ; for I must here avow the fact : I had 
 experience of my self-willed girl : a mere child in 
 everything save her twenty-one years and her 
 troubles. 
 
CHAPTEK III. 
 
 An unpleasant discovery Low condition of our finances Friends in need 
 and deed Arrival in Paris. 
 
 I HAVE observed we had no idea of the value of 
 money. My stock of this indispensable commodity 
 was not by any means considerable, even on our 
 arrival, and was now greatly diminished by pur- 
 chases of indispensable articles for our modern 
 toilet, and of nick-nacks, of dubious utility no 
 doubt, but which added to my daughter's pleasure 
 by gratifying her wishes. When I requested our 
 hotel-bill to be sent up, I had no notion whether 
 the balance of cash in hand would suffice to meet 
 the demand, or would exceed it; nor had I reflected 
 what I should do in the event of a deficiency. The 
 memorandum was presented in due course. It 
 amounted to seventeen hundred francs; sixty- 
 eight pounds sterling : balance in the exchequer, 
 fifty francs : two pounds ! I paid the bill, and we 
 quitted Athens once more for Piraeus. 
 
28 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 To take the first steamer for Marseilles was an 
 absolute necessity. It was to start within forty- 
 eight hours, and I determined to proceed by it. Our 
 arrival soon became known. In the hotel we had 
 selected dwelt the American Consul, who requested 
 permission to pay us a visit. He was followed by 
 the Eussian, the French, and three other function- 
 aries of the same class. The French Consul, hear- 
 ing of my intention to go to Marseilles without 
 delay, gave me an introductory letter to his col- 
 league there, and one to the Emperor's chamberlain 
 in Paris. These were very acceptable. 
 
 The Consuls followed up their civilities by in- 
 viting us to a banquet, got up jointly by them in 
 our honour, and to which we gladly went. Had 
 we been travelling in state, in the full tide of our 
 splendour, instead of being only two poor fugi- 
 tives, homeless and penniless, the ovation could 
 not have been more magnificent. We were leaving 
 the next morning, and as I wished to do so uncere- 
 moniously, I did not inform these gentlemen at 
 what hour I should proceed on board. My lug- 
 gage was not bulky, only one large trunk, and 
 we preceded it to the steamer quite early. But 
 our courteous friends the Consuls were not dis- 
 posed to permit us to slip away so quietly ; and 
 
ADVANTAGE OF BEING SOMEBODY. 29 
 
 followed us a little later, arriving, however, in 
 ample time to give their leave-taking quite the 
 character of a ceremonial. It probably had its 
 effect later, when to be known as somebody, was 
 not without its advantage, as the sequel will 
 show. 
 
 I never entertained a doubt that upon presenting 
 to the French Consul at Marseilles the letter of 
 introduction of which I was the bearer from hi& 
 colleague at Athens, I should be able to obtain 
 wherewith to pay our sea-passage to the former 
 place, and our railway-fare thence to Paris. Never- 
 theless, the alternative was unpleasant ; but there 
 was no help for it in our position. To reach Paris 
 was imperatively necessary, and I trusted that 
 my papers, establishing my identity as well as my 
 rank and quality, would inspire the Captain with 
 sufficient confidence to trust me for our passage- 
 money, until I should have tested the value of my 
 credentials upon the French Consul. 
 
 I found, upon investigating the contents of my 
 purse, that the discharge of my hotel bill had left 
 me with only two francs. 
 
 I presume that the great civilities of the foreign 
 Consuls, in coming to take leave of us, had directed 
 attention to us, for I fancied we became the subject 
 
30 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 of conversation between two gentlemen, who turned 
 out to be, the one an Italian Prince, a relative of 
 Victor Emmanuel, and the other his French inter- 
 preter. The Prince was lame. The interpreter, 
 having ascertained we were returning from the 
 East, soon entered into conversation with us. I 
 felt quite free to relate to him a part of our history, 
 and was near the end of my narrative, when the 
 Captain, to my great mortification, presented 
 himself to ask for our passage-money. No alter- 
 native remained but to expose to our new friend 
 the deplorable state of our finances. He imme- 
 diately had recourse to the Prince, who, with a 
 generosity and a grace which will ever dwell 
 gratefully in my memory, not only satisfied the 
 Captain's demand, but franked us all the way to 
 Paris. I was sorry to see him go on shore at 
 Messina. 
 
 Whether the courtesies of the Consuls, or the 
 extreme civilities of the Prince to us, or a know- 
 ledge of our misfortunes and adventures gained 
 through the well-intentioned loquacity of his inter- 
 preter or all these combined, made us special 
 objects of interest, I will not venture to say ; but 
 it was impossible to be kinder, more considerate, 
 more deferential than were all on board to us. A 
 
NEW TRAVELLING COMPANIONS. 31 
 
 Greek merchant, on his way to Manchester vid 
 Paris, was especially attentive. I refer to him 
 more particularly, because of his kindness at a 
 later period ; but the recollection of the courtesies 
 we received on board is, even at this time, most 
 grateful to me. The voyage was, in every respect, 
 one upon which I look back with infinite pleasure. 
 
 We arrived at Marseilles at about ten in the 
 morning, and under any other circumstances I 
 should have remained a few days there, to rest, 
 and to deliver my letter of introduction to the French 
 Consul ; but circumstanced as we were, the imme- 
 diate transfer of ourselves to the railway train not- 
 withstanding we were greatly fatigued seemed the 
 only prudent course, and we determined to adopt 
 it. Our kind fellow-passenger, the Greek merchant, 
 very courteously invited us to breakfast, which 
 repast pleasantly occupied our attention pretty 
 closely until nearly noon, when we all set out for 
 the railway station, arriving only in time to catch 
 the Paris train. 
 
 Our travelling-companions in the same carriage 
 were our Greek friend and a French family, ex- 
 ceedingly courteous, inquisitive, and loquacious. 
 They manifested the deepest interest in so much 
 of our history as I chose to disclose, anct I elicited 
 
32 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 in the course of conversation, that their destina- 
 tion in Paris was the Hotel du Louvre. I had no 
 notion whatever of the high-class character of this 
 hotel ; but upon the face of the assurance that the 
 charges were moderate and the accommodation 
 excellent, and knowing of no other, I passively 
 submitted, upon our arrival in Paris, to follow 
 our new acquaintances to it, and as passively fol- 
 lowed the attendant to our apartments ; two 
 splendidly appointed bed-rooms on the second 
 floor. An hour or two afterwards, I encountered 
 our Greek friend, who had also taken up his 
 quarters here. 
 
 The entry of our names in the hotel register 
 established us at once, as might have been expected, 
 in the category of distinguished foreigners, and 
 our rank and quality, valueless indeed to us, 
 probably impressed the waiters and other attend- 
 ants with a higher estimate of our monetary 
 resources than was compatible with our real posi- 
 tion. Their marked attentions made me, knowing 
 our circumstances, supremely uncomfortable. The 
 very first glimpse of the great court-yard of the 
 hotel had satisfied me that even a brief stay in so 
 grand an establishment would involve me in a 
 financial Dilemma the solution of which I did not 
 
HOW I FOUND APARTMENTS. S3 
 
 see, and therefore immediately resolved not to 
 remain one moment longer than would be necessary 
 to provide ourselves with modest furnished apart- 
 ments. 
 
 Ayesha was delighted to find herself in so gay 
 a, place, and appeared to have not the remotest 
 idea that money could possibly be needed. We 
 were so fatigued after our long journey, that a 
 night's rest, cost what it might, was indispensable ; 
 but after breakfast next morning, I and my 
 daughter hurried out in search of a more suitable 
 abode. 
 
 "We sauntered down the Eue de Eivoli, until we 
 reached a quiet-looking street, into which we turned. 
 It was the Eue du Dauphin. At the very corner 
 we almost ran down a very respectably dressed 
 woman, to whom I apologized for this unintentional 
 collision. She accepted my excuses with smiles, 
 counter-apologies, and assurances of "No harm 
 done, Madame," which encouraged me to inquire 
 whether she knew of any comfortable furnished 
 lodgings in that street, or in the neighbourhood. 
 
 " But, yes, Madame," she replied. " Just a few 
 doors down. Would Madame please to inspect 
 them ? I am the landlady, Madame, and shall be 
 happy to show you the way." 
 
34 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Nothing could be more fortunate than this, I 
 thought, as we followed our guide, who conducted 
 us to a small-fronted house, at the door of which 
 hung a board, having painted upon it Maison 
 Meiiblee. Appartements d louer presentement. 
 
 The "apartments to be let immediately," were 
 clean, nicely furnished, and to our taste ; and I soon 
 came to terms, which included board as well as 
 lodging. Kejoicing in my good fortune in so 
 speedily discovering an eligible residence, I re- 
 turned, much relieved in this respect, to the H6tel 
 du Louvre ; and as I approached it, the consciousness 
 of my inability to discharge my bill smote me with 
 dismay, and set my heart palpitating most violently. 
 But again good fortune favoured me. At the door 
 stood our Greek fellow-traveller. He knew of my 
 penniless condition, and I at once cast myself head- 
 long upon his generosity. He kindly, and without 
 hesitation, ordered my expenses to be included in 
 his own account ; and I need scarcely add that, 
 bidding him farewell with grateful thanks he was 
 leaving that evening for London I installed my- 
 self, without delay, in my new apartments. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Appeal to M. de Moustier His envoy I apply to the Turkish Charge 
 d'affaires Hussein Bey Arrival in Paris of Mehemet-Djemil Pasha. 
 
 IN my destitute position, it was imperative I 
 should lose no time in carrying out my plan of 
 appealing to the French Government ; and having 
 taken a few days' rest, I addressed a letter to the 
 Marquis de Moustier, soliciting an audience. 
 
 Much to my gratification, and immensely to the 
 astonishment of my landlady, who had assured me 
 I should have to wait at least a fortnight for a 
 reply, I received an answer that same evening, 
 making an appointment for the next day. I was 
 introduced to the Minister's chef de cabinet first, 
 who being informed that my business was with his 
 superior, passed me on to another gentleman, whom 
 I recognized as the Marquis's secretary, one of my 
 fellow-travellers on board the America, from Con- 
 stantinople to Piraeus. In my letter to the Marquis 
 
 D 2 
 
36 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 I had reminded him of our having made this 
 journey in company. 
 
 M. de Moustier received me very courteously, 
 and I related my history, set my position clearly 
 before him, expressed my fears lest my life should 
 be taken, and my daughter forcibly abducted, and 
 finally I appealed for the protection and the inter- 
 position of the Government in my behalf. The 
 Marquis listened with the utmost attention, mani- 
 festing much sympathy for me and my daughter, 
 and promised to take the matter into consideration, 
 with a view to determine which should be the best 
 way of promoting my object. 
 
 I need scarcely say how his promise encouraged 
 and cheered me. I regarded my affair as virtually 
 settled, and returned home to make another as 
 happy as I myself felt. Monsieur and Madame 
 Vacquet, my landlord and my landlady, were 
 equally rejoiced at my success ; and upon the 
 strength of it added sundry delicacies to our 
 repast that day. I mention their names, because 
 I desire to record my gratitude to them for their 
 extreme kindness to us during a prolonged period of 
 heavy trial, and because I shall have to speak of 
 them again in connection with circumstances and 
 events of a less agreeable character, with which 
 
M. DE MOUSTIER'S EXVOY. 37 
 
 both were mixed up, though I absolve them of 
 blame, to a very great extent. 
 
 My tribulations soon commenced. I retired to 
 rest full of hope, and rose happy the next morning. 
 I and my daughter were already devising our little 
 plans for the future, and revelling in the prospect of 
 independence as well as freedom. We had perhaps 
 soared to impossible heights, but were brought down 
 suddenly to earth by the arrival of a gentleman 
 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in whose 
 very air, and manner, and countenance, I descried 
 indications of an unpleasant mission. 
 
 " I have been commissioned to wait upon you, 
 Madame," he said, "to confer with you respect- 
 ing the subject of your conversation with Mon- 
 sieur le Marquis de Moustier yesterday. He 
 thought it better to send me than to write to* 
 you." 
 
 " If what the Marquis has to communicate is of a 
 disagreeable character," I replied, " perhaps it may 
 have been prudent on his part not to commit himself 
 to writing/' 
 
 " I am entirely in the confidence of M. le Mar- 
 quis, Madame ; and Madame may speak unre- 
 servedly to me." 
 
 " That, sir, I should do under any circumstances. 
 
38 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Pray may I request to be informed of the nature of 
 your errand 1 " 
 
 The envoy bowed, and resumed. 
 
 " Madame, M. le Marquis has very seriously con- 
 sidered your proposition, and before he comes to a 
 final decision as to his own course, thinks it desir- 
 able you should be made acquainted with the great 
 difficulties which may impede, or altogether baffle, 
 his attempts to carry out your wishes. This, how- 
 ever, he strongly recommended me to assure you he 
 is most anxious to do." 
 
 " Sir, I do not, after the Marquis's protestations 
 of the deep interest he yesterday manifested in our 
 fortunes, call in question the excellence of his inten- 
 tions. But it is not to re-assure me of these you 
 have come 1 " 
 
 "Assuredly not, Madame. It was to submit a 
 suggestion, of which M. le Marquis may assume all 
 the credit, and which I am to venture to recommend 
 you should seriously consider." 
 
 " I will consider, most seriously, any suggestion 
 coming from so friendly a source," I replied, though 
 I felt satisfied now, that this very polite emissary 
 had come with no friendly purpose, l( What is it, 
 sir?" 
 
 The gentleman seemed somewhat startled by 
 
AFFAIRS TAKE AN UNPLEASANT TURN. 39 
 
 this direct question. He had recourse for a moment 
 to a highly scented pocket-handkerchief, and then 
 replied in a slightly hesitating manner, as if in- 
 stinctively aware of the effect his communication 
 would produce upon me. 
 
 "Madame, Monsieur le Marquis sees, as I have 
 already intimated, great difficulties in the way of 
 successfully prosecuting your claims ; and having 
 reason to believe that you and your daughter would 
 not be molested in Constantinople, and that you 
 would have immense advantages, were you to seek 
 on the spot the redress to which you are so justly 
 entitled, M. le Marquis would urgently recom- 
 mend " 
 
 " That I and my daughter should return to Con- 
 stantinople ! " I exclaimed, ere he had time to 
 complete the sentence. 
 
 "Precisely," responded the gentleman, with an 
 inclination of the head. " Madame has admirably 
 seized the suggestion of M. le Marquis. " 
 
 I started to my feet, indignant and astounded. 
 
 " Sir," I said, perhaps with less prudence than 
 bluntness and show of anger, " M. le Marquis might 
 have spared himself the trouble of sending you upon 
 such an errand. We quitted Turkey because our 
 lives were not safe. We quitted it with the firm 
 
40 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 determination never to return, and return to that 
 country we never will, unless by force. " 
 
 Turning to my daughter, I communicated the 
 substance of this conversation, and the Marquis de 
 Moustier's suggestion, during which time the per- 
 fumed pocket-handkerchief was again brought into 
 active service. 
 
 " I would rather die than go back to Constanti- 
 nople," exclaimed Ayesha; and she burst into 
 tears. 
 
 " You hear, sir \ " I said to our visitor. " My 
 daughter * dec] ares she prefers death to replacing 
 herself in the power of her father. We are both 
 of the same mind. You can convey this, as our 
 reply, to Monsieur le Marquis." 
 
 " I shall, of course, relate to Monsieur de Moustier 
 what has occurred," replied the envoy; " but Madame 
 will do well to reflect. Madame's position is very 
 critical. How will Madame live, without resources, 
 in a city like Paris ? It is true, Mademoiselle's 
 superb beauty may serve her in lieu of a dowry, but 
 without a dowry, it is rare for a young girl, how- 
 ever beautiful, to meet with an eligible husband. 
 Any other alternative is really too terrible even to 
 think of/ 7 
 
 My blood boiled ; and I now wonder how I 
 
M. DE MOUSTIERS PROPOSAL. 41 
 
 controlled myself. I translated the gentleman's 
 speech to Ayesha, who, with flashing eyes, re- 
 torted : 
 
 " Kather than marry a Turk, I would become even 
 the mistress of an European." 
 
 q 
 
 I communicated to the Marquis's messenger what 
 my daughter had said. He slightly inclined his 
 head, and resumed : 
 
 "I have not ended, Madame/' he said. "Mon- 
 sieur le Marquis desired me to state, that if Madame 
 has quite decided not to adopt his suggestion made 
 entirely in Madame's interests he should not feel 
 himself at liberty to urge his views, but would 
 place himself entirely at Madame's disposal. Madame 
 would, in such an event, have the kindness to de- 
 posit in his Excellency's hands the papers and 
 documents indispensable to the establishment and 
 the prosecution of Madame's claims, and Monsieur 
 le Marquis will use his, utmost efforts to recover 
 Madame's property." 
 
 This sounded fair enough, but the Marquis's pro- 
 position struck me as so singular, acquainted* as he 
 was with our history and our position, that my 
 suspicions of his sincerity were aroused. I there- 
 fore dismissed our visitor with an intimation that I 
 would await the result of his report to his Excel- 
 
42 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 lency, and in the meantime collect my papers ready 
 to be delivered to him at a moment's notice. 
 
 The gentleman bowed himself nearly double, 
 and took his departure, scattering around him 
 an atmosphere of musk, attar of roses, and mille- 
 fleurs. He never honoured us with a second 
 call. 
 
 In order to discharge any further claim M. de 
 Moustier may be thought to have upon the reader's 
 attention, in connection with my affairs, I am com- 
 pelled here to forestall events. 
 
 His Excellency, no doubt influenced, as I must 
 now believe, by confidential intimations from the 
 Turkish Embassy, observed silence towards me, 
 notwithstanding his stout professions of interest in 
 us, and his formal promise to aid me in obtaining 
 either my property or an annual income from my 
 husband. I waited several weeks, in expectation of 
 a communication from him. As none came, I ad- 
 dressed him a second time. The reply, curt, formal, 
 and cold as officialism gone down to freezing 
 point, was to the effect that his Excellency could 
 not interfere ; but, if I would see the Turkish 
 Charge d'Affaires, they would both confer, and 
 determine whether anything and what could be 
 done in my case. 
 
MY HUSBANDS INTERFERENCE. 43 
 
 This was decisive. No help could be expected 
 from this quarter, and I gave up M. de Moustier 
 with feelings easy to imagine, but which I do not 
 care to describe. 
 
 I cannot say the result of my overtures wholly 
 disappointed me, or took me by surprise. In the 
 interval between my two letters, I had paid a visit 
 to the Turkish official referred to, to solicit an 
 advance of money. He informed me that my 
 husband, on receiving intelligence of my arrival in 
 Paris, with our daughter, had immediately tele- 
 graphed to the Embassy, prohibiting the advance 
 to us of a single penny. 
 
 No wonder M. de Moustier's sympathy had cooled 
 down so rapidly. 
 
 I do not now entertain the remotest doubt that 
 my husband who, as I subsequently learnt, had 
 telegraphed to the officials at the Turkish Legation 
 the fact of my flight from Constantinople received 
 through them, and through the same rapid medium, 
 intelligence of our presence in Paris, as soon as the 
 circumstance became known ; and I am not by any 
 means certain M. de Moustier was not privy to that 
 communication. Within a day of our arrival, and 
 for the space of nearly a fortnight after it, the 
 newspapers devoted to us long notices and leading 
 
44 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 articles, elaborately embroidered, and we thus be- 
 came, innocently enough, the authors as well as 
 the victims of a ten days' sensation. For the 
 intelligence to reach Constantinople, in the ordinary 
 course, would have required several clays, and none 
 but the official parasites at the Ottoman Embassy, 
 or a personage like M. de Moustier, anxious to 
 stand well with all parties, could have the slightest 
 interest in forwarding to Constantinople special 
 information concerning two poor fugitive women, 
 whose capture and consignment into the hands of 
 their persecutors could, after all, only promote pri- 
 vate revenge. Unfortunately, diplomacy does not 
 despise unworthy means to achieve an object, and 
 Turkish policy knows no obstacle, and ignores all 
 morality. 
 
 During the interval referred to, and in the midst 
 of my trouble and anxiety, I received one morning 
 a call from Hussein Bey. On his mother's side, 
 Hussein was related to Mustapha Pasha, son of the 
 late Mehemet Ali, the famous Viceroy of Egypt. 
 His visit had a friendly object, I must believe, for 
 after inquiring into our position, he proffered me 
 pecuniary help. At that moment, I yet had hopes 
 of obtaining my own through M. de Moustier, and 
 my pride also prevented me from accepting assist- 
 
MADAME LA COMTESSE DE FLAHAUT. 45 
 
 ance from the Bey. Soon after lie paid us a second 
 visit, and then strongly recommended us to return 
 to Constantinople. This suggestion confirmed me 
 in my determination not to lay myself under 
 obligation to him. Everything that savoured of 
 Constantinople excited my suspicions, and aroused 
 my alarm. 
 
 I had, as will probably be remembered, a letter 
 for the Emperor's Chamberlain, Count de Flahaut, 
 which the French Consul at Athens had given to me, 
 and also one to his wife. He was one of the pro- 
 teges of this high personage, over whom the lady 
 exercised considerable influence. She had accom- 
 panied her husband to Athens, to induct him into 
 his consulate, but had shortly after returned to 
 Paris, to be near the patron of her husband, whose 
 promotion she was anxious to secure. I took the 
 earliest opportunity of calling upon this lady, 
 Ayesha accompanying me. 
 
 We were received with great civility, but I 
 noticed that Madame seemed strangely impressed 
 by Ayesha's appearance. She gazed at my daugh- 
 ter with a singular air of curiosity and interest, 
 scarcely moving her eyes from her for several 
 seconds, and every now and then renewing her 
 stare. Our conversation soon fell upon the subject 
 
46 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 of the letter to the Chamberlain, which, it appeared, 
 her husband had not referred to. I fancied I per- 
 ceived an expression like dissatisfaction come over 
 her face, upon my soliciting the favour of her advice 
 how I should proceed, as I supposed so exalted an 
 officer of the Imperial household was not easy of 
 access. She confirmed me in this view, dwelling, 
 as I thought unduly, upon the claims his duties 
 made upon his time, but offering to manage an 
 audience for me at the earliest possible moment. 
 I was somewhat startled, however, and not a little 
 amused, when presently, drawing me aside, she 
 cautioned me against taking Ayesha with me. 
 
 " The Count, you see," she said, in the most con- 
 fidential of under-tones, "has the reputation of 
 being a great gallant ; and those eyes of your 
 daughter's, her Oriental style, her tout-ensemble, are 
 so striking, that I really I cannot say such would 
 be the case but I would advise you. Ha hem ! 
 You know, there are so many facilities in Paris for 
 for well the fact is, your daughter is very 
 beautiful, and His Excellency the Chamberlain is 
 over-impressionable. " 
 
 A certain green eye winked at me in the most 
 persistent, provoking manner whilst Madame, hem- 
 ming and ha-ing, was relieving her mind of the 
 
NO HOPE. 47 
 
 burden that oppressed it. I thanked her for her 
 excellent and friendly caution, which I assured her 
 should not be thrown away, and we took leave of 
 her, receiving a renewal of her promise to promote 
 an early interview with her husband's patron. 
 
 Some days having elapsed without my receiving 
 any intimation of an appointment, I paid her a 
 second visit, and was assured of Madame' s regret 
 that up to that moment she had not had the oppor- 
 tunity of fulfilling her promise, but she would not 
 neglect it. I should hear from her without fail. 
 
 But the days passed and nothing came, and as v I 
 had acquired sufficient experience of Monsieur le 
 Marquis de Moustier's policy, I did not anticipate 
 better success at the hands of the Chamberlain, so I 
 renounced any further attempt to present him the 
 Consul's letter. 
 
 We had been in Paris a month ; my hopes in 
 M. le Moustier had vanished ; I had learnt, to my 
 cost, that my husband and his people were active 
 in their machinations to get me and my girl once 
 more into their power. I had no friends, no money, 
 and was living upon strangers, whose means of 
 existence were precarious, and whom I could not 
 expect would trust me indefinitely. I was su- 
 premely wretched ; my sole pleasure being the 
 
48 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 intense delight of my daughter in the sights and 
 gaiety of the city. One day M. Vacquet brought 
 me intelligence of the arrival of Mehemet Djemil 
 Pacha, Ambassador from the Porte. I did not then 
 ask myself how my worthy landlord came to know 
 so soon, and before the newspapers had recorded the 
 fact, that this dignitary was in Paris. I was not 
 then aware he paid almost daily visits to the 
 Embassy ; but his news inspired me with renewed 
 hopes, and I despatched a note to the Ambassador 
 soliciting an advance of money, stating my position, 
 and requesting his interference in my affairs. 
 
 His Excellency's reply reached me in due course, 
 and without over-much delay. It was brief, but 
 decided. His instructions were imperative, not to 
 afford us any assistance whatsoever ; but if we would 
 return to Constantinople, he would discharge all 
 claims against us in Paris, and defray our expenses 
 back to the Turkish capital. It was about this 
 time I received the last communication from M. de 
 Moustier, as already stated. The two answers left 
 me in no doubt as to my husband's purpose. I was 
 to be starved into submission. What under such 
 terrible circumstances could I do I Await events ! 
 This was my decision. 
 
CHAPTEK V. 
 
 Visitors from the Pope The Abbd Bore My landlord and the Turkish 
 Embassy I escape a snare. 
 
 IN the East we are believers in Destiny. That 
 to which a man is born he will come to. If there 
 be no such tiling as Fate, it is difficult, impossible 
 indeed, to account for the vicissitudes which befall 
 some, and others wholly escape. The end comes 
 through a concatenation of minor events, of which 
 we appreciate the importance only when the con- 
 summation is reached. The special Providence in 
 the fall of a sparrow, which Christianity inculcates, 
 is but another form of asserting Destiny, and the 
 belief in it is embodied in more than one proverb in 
 all the nations I have visited. I invite those who 
 call this theory in question to follow up the incidents 
 of my life, and mark how, wholly independently of 
 my will, the force of circumstances has ruled my 
 fate. 
 
 But I must not digress into philosophy. 
 
50 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 We had been in our new lodgings about three 
 weeks or a month, when, one day, on our return 
 from a walk, our landlady informed us that two 
 ladies, dressed in black, had called during our 
 absence, and left a message to the effect that they 
 would pay us a visit next morning. Their names 
 they did not give. Speculation respecting these 
 new visitors kept us both awake the early part of 
 the night. We were up betimes in the morning, 
 and duly prepared ourselves to receive them, full of 
 anxious anticipation of the object of their call. 
 
 At last they arrived. They were announced as 
 Madame la Princesse Davidoff, and Mademoiselle de 
 Monroi, and had called in consequence of a com- 
 munication from the Pope, who felt a deep interest 
 in us : in my daughter especially. His Holiness 
 had heard of our arrival in Paris through my sister- 
 in-law, and of my intention to make Ayesha a 
 Eoman Catholic, if she desired to become one. He 
 had therefore written to Monsieur de Monroi, 
 Mademoiselle's father : hence the visit of these 
 ladies. 
 
 I must here remind the reader that my mother- 
 in-law and my sister-in-law, originally Protestants, 
 had been converted to Catholicism in Eome under 
 the immediate auspices of the Holy Father, and 
 
VISITORS FROM THE POPE. 51 
 
 that Monsieur de Monroi was his private agent in 
 Paris ; religious, political, fanatical, and financial. 
 
 Of course we could not be otherwise than flattered 
 by such a mark of interest from such a quarter, and 
 by the condescension of these ladies in paying us so 
 friendly a visit. Thus much I intimated, expressing 
 a hope that it would lead to more intimate inter- 
 course. Then followed our history, an exposition 
 of our actual condition, of our plans, of our appre- 
 hensions, and our hopes. 
 
 The ladies became more and more moved as I 
 proceeded to narrate the sufferings of myself and my 
 daughter. What a truly romantic tale ! What a pretty 
 Oriental name was Ayesha ! How interesting to 
 learn she felt so anxious to abjure the religion of her 
 pagan ancestors, and to embrace Christianity 1 They 
 would be, oh ! so glad to become her instructors in 
 the fundamental principles of their own faith ! So 
 interesting, too ! a convert direct from the super- 
 stition invented by Mahomet ! And we really were 
 rich, and we had diamonds and other valuable 
 iewelry in Constantinople, and estates, all our own, 
 and to recover possession of which we sought the 
 kindly offices of the French Government ! How 
 pleased they would be if they could only help us ! 
 and so on. 
 
 K 2 
 
52 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Probably from motives of extreme delicacy these 
 ladies did not offer us the only help we most and so 
 sorely needed at that moment, and which I should 
 so gratefully have accepted. I, too, actuated by 
 similar motives perhaps mistaken ones in my 
 deplorable position, dared not venture to solicit 
 pecuniary aid. Before they left, it was agreed they 
 should come thrice or oftener every week to teach 
 Ayesha French, and impart to her the religious 
 instruction preliminary and indispensable to her 
 embracing, in due form, the Christian faith. I also 
 felt that their influence might be a protection in 
 the event of our persecutors seeking to obtain our 
 forcible expulsion : a contingency I had good reason 
 for believing not improbable. Moreover, and wholly 
 apart from any selfish considerations, I felt drawn 
 towards them. 
 
 Some few days after, I received a visit from 
 another lady, the Countess de Bac, sister of Prince 
 Davidoff. I recognised her as a frequent visitor at 
 Madame Vaccjuet's. The Countess's interest in her 
 arose, as I afterwards learnt, out of an accident to 
 the Count, who was one day taken suddenly ill in 
 the street, and accommodated in my landlady's 
 house until he felt able to return home, which he 
 did in a few hours. This incident had no more 
 
THE ABBE BOR& 53 
 
 than a momentary interest for me when I heard it 
 narrated, but, strange to say, proved of greater 
 importance to my fortunes than it could ever have 
 entered into my mind to anticipate. 
 
 It was my custom to walk out every day with 
 my daughter and Djehad. We always conversed 
 in Turkish, for the simple reason that Ayesha knew 
 no other language. One day a short time after 
 the call of the Princess Davidoff and Mademoiselle 
 de Monroi we passed a gentleman, who, hearing 
 us talk in this uncommon tongue, looked earnestly 
 at us, then turned and followed us. Presently he 
 overtook us, and, addressing me, apologised for the 
 liberty. He had overheard us converse in a tongue 
 familiar to him, though unusual to be heard in the 
 streets of Paris ; his interest and curiosity had been 
 excited, and he had ventured to approach us. He 
 spoke to me in Turkish. 
 
 The stranger's manners were remarkably cour- 
 teous, and his grave aspect and benevolent 
 expression of countenance impressed me most 
 favourably. There was also something of the 
 ecclesiastic in his style of dress, and this gave me 
 a little additional confidence that he was. at least 
 no common man seeking to thrust himself into> 
 our company. 
 
54 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Still walking by my side, he informed me that 
 lie had laboured in the East for twenty-five years, 
 in the capacity of a Eoman Catholic missionary 
 priest, and had not long returned thence. He 
 belonged to the religious Order of Lazarists, and 
 his name was Bore the Abbe Bore. He begged 
 to be permitted to conduct us home, and to call 
 upon us in a few days. 
 
 In answer to this confidential communication, I 
 gave him to understand that, although we were 
 shy of making new acquaintances, and had strong 
 reasons for remaining in obscurity, his position and 
 his profession decided me to agree to his proposal. 
 I then disclosed my name, on hearing which he 
 manifested a little surprise, it being quite familiar 
 to him.. His interest in us increased when he heard 
 that the Princess Davidoff and Mademoiselle de 
 Monroi had visited us. He knew them both, 
 intimately, and seemed delighted to learn that 
 Ayesha desired to renounce Mahometanism for the 
 Christian faith ; and for my part I felt equally 
 pleased that Fate had thrown us across the path 
 of a man so pre-eminently qualified to assist in 
 preparing my daughter to receive the new revela- 
 tion. Under the circumstances, the circle was the 
 very best into which my daughter could have been 
 
THE VCQAUETS DEMAND PAYMENT. 55 
 
 introduced. The opening was equally desirable 
 from many other points of view. 
 
 I had lived upon the Vacquets for a prolonged 
 period without any hopeful indication of a change 
 for the better in my position. I often marvelled at 
 the extreme forbearance of these people, and my 
 gratitude knew no bounds. At the same time, it 
 gradually became to me a source of uneasiness to 
 find how well M. Vacquet seemed acquainted with 
 everything that was passing at the Ottoman Em- 
 bassy. This uneasiness, at first vague and slight, 
 increased as time rolled on, and I began at last to 
 ask myself whether I had any reasonable grounds 
 for it. 
 
 Upon this point my mind was not yet made up, 
 when, one morning, Madame Vacquet presented 
 herself, and, after considerable circumlocution, inti- 
 mated . that her husband desired a settlement of 
 his account. This demand though not entirely 
 unexpected coming in so peremptory a manner, 
 and notwithstanding my host's full knowledge of 
 my straitened circumstances, somewhat startled 
 me. I reminded Madame Vacquet that I had con- 
 cealed nothing from her; that she knew I could 
 only await the result of the steps then being 
 taken by my new friends to obtain my property, 
 
56 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 and assistance from Constantinople ; that I felt 
 myself under great obligations to her, to which I 
 begged her to add the greater one of waiting a little 
 longer. Madame left me with dissatisfaction de- 
 picted upon her countenance, and giving me to 
 understand that there was a limit to waiting. 
 
 She renewed her application the next day, the 
 next after, and the next, always with the same 
 result, but daily becoming more pressing. At last 
 Monsieur Vacquet himself came, and receiving still 
 the same reply, told me if I did not pay him, he 
 should find a means of compelling me to do so. 
 Thus threatened, my indignation was aroused, and 
 a violent scene ensued, which suddenly terminated 
 by the rapid disappearance of Monsieur Vacquet as 
 a lady in black quietly entered the room. It was 
 the Countess de Bac. 
 
 As a matter of course, the Countess immediately 
 inquired into the cause of my discomposure. 
 
 " My dear Madame," I said, " it is simply a ques- 
 tion of money. I owe Monsieur Vacquet a consider- 
 able sum, and cannot pay him until my affairs are 
 either settled or in a fair way of being so. These 
 people have been very lenient to me, and it is only 
 within the last few days that they have pressed me 
 for payment. In fact, their importunity has become 
 
THE COUNTESS DE BAG 1 . 57 
 
 a daily persecution. I am certain there must be 
 some secret cause for this change. I am almost in 
 despair, for my prospects seem darker than ever." 
 
 The Countess listened to my explanation, but as 
 I drew near the end her countenance lost its habitual 
 serenity. She had not yet taken a seat. Crossing 
 the apartment, she seized the bell-pull and gave it 
 a sharp tug. In a few minutes Madame Vacquet 
 answered the summons. 
 
 "I wish to speak to Monsieur, your husband/' 
 said the Countess. " Send him up." 
 
 Madame Vacquet, taken aback by the Countess's 
 peremptory manner, coloured up, coughed a very 
 little cough, and inquired, hesitatingly, if she herself 
 would not do equally well. 
 
 " No ! " was the reply. " I must see Monsieur." 
 
 Monsieur could not have been far from the door, 
 for scarcely had Madame vanished than he appeared, 
 and evidently considerably disconcerted. 
 
 " Monsieur Vacquet," said the Countess, with a 
 severity of tone and a manner I did not understand, 
 " what is this I hear from Madame la Princesse cle 
 Kibrizli ? What is the meaning of this persecution 
 of her ? " 
 
 I noticed that Monsieur Vacquet appeared even 
 more discomposed by this apostrophe than when he 
 
58 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 came in. With an effort at calmness, which was 
 not entirely successful, he replied : 
 
 " Madame la Comtesse will excuse me, but it is 
 only natural we should seek to be paid. We are 
 only poor people. We have not the means of 
 giving long credit, and and we have not yet seen 
 the colour of money from from Madame la 
 Princesse." 
 
 The speaker laid special emphasis upon the title 
 the Countess had invested me with, but if by his 
 deliberate mode of repeating it he intended to 
 convey a sarcasm, any momentary gratification that 
 slender piece of malice may have given him was 
 dearly purchased. 
 
 " I cannot blame you for seeking what is your 
 due," retorted the Countess ; " but under the circum- 
 stances, knowing Madame J s position, and permit 
 me to add, knowing that we are her friends her 
 friends, Monsieur Vaccjuet your mode of proceed- 
 ing has no excuse. It is shameful it is abominable 
 it is " 
 
 " But, Madame la Comtesse/' he exclaimed, now 
 white and trembling with mortification, " we are 
 pressed for money we are so poor " 
 
 " I know that," replied the Countess, interrupting 
 in her turn. "I knew you were poor when you 
 
THE BILL IS PAID. 59 
 
 besought me to lend you five thousand francs, not 
 so long since. I have never troubled you for 
 them." 
 
 "That is true," said Monsieur Vacquet, bowing. 
 " Madame la Comtesse has been very generous and 
 kind, and we are very grateful to Madame." 
 
 " Then how can you have the conscience how 
 dare you to persecute my friend here," resumed the 
 Countess, " when you know it is out of her power 
 at present to pay you ? What is the amount of 
 your bill ? " 
 
 " Three thousand five hundred francs, Madame 
 la Comtesse," answered he. 
 
 " Very well," she retorted. " You will at once 
 hand Madame a receipt for that sum, in full 
 discharge of all your claims upon her, and you will 
 have the goodness to send me the balance in in 
 I will give you a fortnight. You will please 
 understand that my request is peremptory." 
 
 " But, Madame la Comtesse," remonstrated Mon- 
 sieur Vacquet, " allow me to explain/' 
 
 " Leave the room, sir," exclaimed the Countess, 
 with an imperious motion of the hand. " There is 
 nothing to explain. Leave the room ! I wish to 
 be alone with Madame." 
 
 My worthy landlord withdrew entirely crest- 
 
60 SIX YEARS IN EUIIOPE. 
 
 fallen, and without venturing a word in resentment 
 of sundry strong appellations showered upon him 
 by my indignant friend. I felt sorry for the man, 
 for, after all, I thought, I am his debtor, and without 
 immediate prospect of paying him. 
 
 For my own part, I could not find a word to 
 utter, so confounded and overcome was I by such 
 an act of generosity, and so unexpected a release 
 from an embarrassment of such magnitude. Before 
 the Countess left, I recovered my equanimity, and 
 thanked her for her munificent interposition on my 
 behalf at this serious crisis. 
 
 " Do not say anything more, my dear/' she 
 observed ; "but we must remove you at once to 
 less expensive quarters. You must not renew 
 your obligations to these rogues." 
 
 I thought the term somewhat exaggerated, but 
 soon had reason to consider it mild. The Countess 
 had not long quitted the apartment, before Monsieur 
 and Madame Vacquet again entered it, contrition 
 and penitence depicted upon their countenance, 
 obsequiousness and humility in their tone and 
 manner. 
 
 " Pardon, Madame," said the lady, assuming the 
 office of speaker, " a thousand pardons ; but we owe 
 you an explanation." 
 
"QUI S'EXCUSE, S'ACCUSE." 61 
 
 "I do not require any," I replied. "You are 
 paid. I shall leave your house. That is enough." 
 
 " Madame/' continued my landlady, " can at least 
 listen to what we have to say. It is only right 
 Madame should know what has passed. It is 
 Madame's interest to know." 
 
 This appeal struck me as singular. A sudden 
 light seemed to be breaking upon me. My curiosity 
 was excited. I intimated my readiness to listen. 
 
 "Madame," resumed Madame Vacquet, "it was 
 my husband who insisted upon my pressing for the 
 money. This is the truth which I am telling you." 
 
 "Yes, Madame," interposed the husband. "It 
 is the truth ; but I was urged to do so." 
 
 I manifested the astonishment I felt. 
 
 " By whom, pray ?" I asked. 
 
 "Why, Madame, who should do such a thing 
 if not the people at the Turkish Embassy ? Yes, 
 Madame, they are bad people," was his reply. 
 
 " And you were in league with them with my 
 enemies," I retorted ; " and all this time ?" 
 
 " No, Madame ! Pardon ! Not in league with 
 Madame's enemies," exclaimed Madame Yacquet, 
 taking up the cudgels in defence of her husband. 
 
 " How, then," I asked, " came he to obey instruc- 
 tions from such a quarter ?" 
 
62 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 " The thing is very simple, Madame/' he resumed. 
 " It was natural, as we were giving credit to 
 Madame, that we should take an interest in 
 Madame's affairs, and that I should go, from time 
 to time, to the Ottoman Embassy. One day that 
 I was there, I was invited to speak with his Excel- 
 lency, who asked me many questions, and if 
 Madame was paying me. What could I say, 
 Madame, but no ? But I assured him we had full 
 confidence in Madame." 
 
 " That is true, too," interjected Madame Vacquet. 
 
 " What then ?" I asked. 
 
 "His Excellency shook his head/' answered the 
 estimable Monsieur Vacquet, " and said I must not go 
 too far. It was very doubtful whether Madame would 
 ever receive anything from Constantinople. ' Then, 
 I said, ' but, Excellency, how am I to get paid ? ' ; 
 
 " Naturally," exclaimed Madame Vacquet, again. 
 
 " ' Monsieur Vacquet/ said his Excellency/' con- 
 tinued that worthy gentleman, " 'your bill must, of 
 course, be paid ; but it is too small as yet/ Observe, 
 Madame, I did not tell him till he asked me the 
 amount. * You must let it run on until it reaches a 
 larger sum ; perhaps well, say three thousand five 
 hundred or four thousand francs. Madame will not 
 be able to pay it, nor is it probable she will find 
 
ASSURANCES FOR THE FUTURE. 63 
 
 any one ready to lend her so large a sum. You 
 will then press her for the money, and at the last you 
 will go to the police, who will come to me. I will 
 manage that. Then the police will arrest these 
 people, and place them in my hands, and when that 
 is done, I will pay your bill and any other ex- 
 penses/ This, Madame, is the exact truth ; atod 
 Madame will see that, under the circumstances, 
 this seemed to be our only way to get paid/' 
 
 " But," here again interposed the irrepressible 
 Madame Vacquet, "Madame can remain here as 
 long as she pleases. We shall not trouble her again 
 for payment ; no, Madame, be sure of that ! We 
 have confidence in Madame." 
 
 If I had given way to my first impulse on 
 learning the part my host had played in the de- 
 spicable plot against me, which circumstances, and 
 a desire to justify himself, had alone led him to 
 disclose, I should have ordered him and his wife 
 out of my sight. But the remembrance of their 
 kindness, without which I and my children must 
 have starved, predominated over my resentment. 
 I could see that their moral perception was too 
 obtuse to permit them to perceive how, in their 
 desire to secure their own interests, they had made 
 themselves parties to a gross act of treachery, which 
 
64 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 but for a mere accident might have led to the 
 most disastrous results, so far as myself and my 
 daughter, and Djehad were concerned. On the other 
 hand, I felt that their kindness had not the merit of 
 spontaneity, although it had been none the less so 
 to me in effect ; so gratitude carried the day. 
 
 " Monsieur," I said, " if you can reconcile your 
 course with your conscience, well and good. Your 
 ideas of right differ from mine. I will not reproach 
 you for having acted towards me with such dupli- 
 city. I shall always be grateful for the service 
 you have rendered me in giving us shelter and 
 food when we had not the means of procuring 
 either ; but what you have divulged to me of your 
 relations with the officials of the Ottoman Embassy 
 has destroyed my confidence in your good faith. It 
 has also aroused my alarm for our safety, and I am 
 convinced that the sooner we are out of your house 
 the better." 
 
 " If Madame would only put us to the proof/ 7 
 exclaimed Madame Vacquet. 
 
 I interrupted her by stating that my determina- 
 tion was not to be changed ; and she and her 
 husband retired, protesting that their intentions had 
 never been other than kind, and that circumstances 
 alone had given them a different complexion. No 
 
WE CHANGE QUARTERS. 65 
 
 sooner were they gone, than I hastened to commu- 
 nicate to the Countess and to the Princess Davidoff 
 what had transpired, beseeching them to procure 
 apartments for us without delay. 
 
 That same evening we were fetched away, and 
 conducted to another private hotel on the other side 
 of the water, in which we remained a couple of 
 days. By this time a small but comfortable suite 
 of apartments was provided for us, and we hastened 
 to take possession of them, the Countess and her 
 friends guaranteeing our expenses for a period of 
 three months, which we hoped would be the extreme 
 limit the settlement of my affairs would require. 
 
CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 Ayesha's instruction in religious matters Her notions of the Christian 
 faith Her baptism The Ottoman Embassy still at wo rk. 
 
 OUR new residence was in the Kue de Vaugirard, 
 Faubourg St. Germain, the Belgravia of Paris. In 
 this quarter the old legitimate aristocracy, the 
 ancienne noblesse of France, delight. It is redolent 
 of exclusiveness, the legitimist element, and devo- 
 teeism. In its saloons and in its households the 
 grand manners of the olden time still retain their 
 ascendancy. Convents and religious establish- 
 ments abound in it, and the tiara and ihefleur-de- 
 lys receive an almost equal amount of homage. 
 Into its select circles we were most graciously 
 admitted through the Countess de Bac and her 
 friends. Our name and misfortunes were the cur- 
 rent topic of conversation ; and wherever we went, 
 groups clustered about us. At the dinner-tables 
 and receptions of my new friends, I met with many 
 grand personages ; but as I am writing a simple 
 
A RENUNCIATION OF FAITH. 67 
 
 history of my own personal experiences and vicis- 
 situdes, any record of what I saw and noted whilst 
 mixing with the great folks in Paris would be out 
 of place. 
 
 The ladies I have specially mentioned, a few of 
 their more intimate acquaintances, and the Abbe 
 Bore, were now our constant visitors. They were 
 most assiduous in their endeavours to teach my 
 daughter French, and to prepare her for the great 
 event in her life which was to sever her thence- 
 forward from all sympathy on the part of her 
 countrymen ; nay, more, which was to stamp her, 
 in their estimation, as a giaour, a renegade, merit- 
 ing death at the hands of the first true follower of 
 Mahomet who might choose to take her life, and 
 thereby gain a palace of diamond in Paradise. 
 
 Ayesha's renunciation of her ancestral faith was 
 certain, to excite an unprecedented sensation at 
 Constantinople, and to drive her father and his 
 fanatical connections to the last degree of fury. 
 Why, it is necessary to explain. 
 
 Kibrizli, my husband, was a descendant of the 
 Prophet's, and amongst the strictest observers of 
 Mahomet's law. He was entitled in virtue of 
 his descent to wear the green, the Prophet's 
 colour, and for the same reason, so too was our 
 
 F 2 
 
68 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 daughter Ayesha, who had even received the name 
 of the Prophet's favourite wife. That any Turk 
 should abjure Mahometanism is, under any cir- 
 cumstances, a crime ; but that one of the sacred 
 race of the Prophet should turn infidel and em- 
 brace Christianity, was a crime double-dyed and 
 unpardonable, deserving ignominy and death in 
 this world, and certain to be visited with exclusion 
 from Paradise in the other. The baptism of Ayesha 
 would be regarded as a dishonour to her, as well 
 as a disgrace to her father, and her association 
 with European fanatics only aggravated the insult, 
 and crowned the dishonour. If my husband sought 
 revenge only in consequence of my escape with 
 our daughter, religious fanaticism would now in- 
 tensify his hatred, and we might expect persecution 
 even unto death, and that no means would be 
 neglected to inveigle us once more into his power. 
 I entertained no doubt whatever that at this very 
 moment we were closely watched by spies, and the 
 course of this narrative will prove that our escape 
 with life from their toils, up to this time, was nothing 
 short of miraculous. Although I had reason to 
 suspect that my husband was early made aware of 
 my daughter's purpose to embrace Christianity, not 
 until later did I ascertain this to be actually the fact. 
 
AYESHA'S RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. 69 
 
 I must conclude that when Ayesha had learnt 
 to answer the questions relating to the fundamental 
 principles of the faith of which the Abbe was 
 undeniably so sincere and eminent an apostle, 
 he felt satisfied she had become a very good 
 Christian, and to complete her character as such, 
 needed only to be formally made a member of 
 the Koman Catholic Church. So, at last, the day 
 was fixed for the ceremony of her baptism to be 
 celebrated. 
 
 During the period which I may call Ayesha's 
 novitiate, she was an object of special interest to 
 her .spiritual teachers. Brought up in the seclu- 
 sion of the Harem, in ttie densest ignorance ; sur- 
 rounded by influences of the most demoralizing and 
 debasing kind ; having no ideas of morality save 
 those taught in the Koran; fanatically attached to 
 the creed founded by her ancestor ; regarding men 
 as the absolute masters of creation, and women as 
 mere creatures born to be subject to them in all 
 things ; her instructors were as surprised to find 
 her such a child in experience, as she was herself 
 astonished to discover, that as a woman, she had 
 a value in this world, that as a member of the 
 human family, she had in God a common Father, 
 in Christ a common Saviour, and in Heaven a, 
 
70 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 common inheritance. This was to her the new 
 revelation. 
 
 But although her mind was as yet a blank with 
 respect to acquired knowledge of men and things, 
 its natural acuteness often led her to put to her in- 
 structors questions which it severely taxed their 
 ingenuity to answer. As a rule I was present at 
 what were, called her lessons, and many of the 
 conversations between the Abbe Bore and her are 
 still fresh in my memory. I do not know that 
 I can recall them in anything like order, but a 
 few specimens may be interesting, as illustrating 
 the train of thought the new teaching awakened in 
 her. 
 
 AYESHA. " Yes ! I understand that the Chris- 
 tian's God is a spirit. So is the God of Mahomet. 
 But I cannot understand what a spirit is." 
 
 The ABBE. "Can you not accept the God of 
 the Christian and the God of Mahomet as one and 
 the same Being 1 " 
 
 AYESHA. "Certainly. But that does not teach 
 me what a spirit is, and therefore I cannot under- 
 stand God." 
 
 The ABBE. "Did your Mahometan instructors 
 teach you what a spirit is \ " 
 
 AYESHA. "No!" 
 
AYESHA AND THE ABBE. 71 
 
 The ABBE. "Yet you believed in the God 
 of Mahomet, as a spirit, without understanding 
 Him/' 
 
 AYESHA. " Yes ! But I thought Christianity 
 would explain this ; and I want to know what God 
 is like." 
 
 The ABBE. " My child, as no one has ever seen 
 God, no one can tell what he is like. Did you 
 believe in the God of Mahomet ? " 
 
 " AYESHA. " Oh, assuredly. The Koran enjoins 
 us to do so." 
 
 The ABBE. " Well, the Bible is now your Koran, 
 and you must believe it as you believed the Koran. 
 You accepted in faith the teaching of the one, 
 you must now equally accept in faith the teaching 
 of the other." 
 
 AYESHA. " I do, Abbe ; but I do not understand 
 why I did believe the Koran, any more than why 
 I now believe the Bible. I was told I must believe 
 it ; everybody about me did so, and in this way 
 I came to do the same. For us, then, the Chris- 
 tians were infidels. Now, I am told that all who 
 do not believe in the Bible are infidels, and I find 
 that I must believe in it, because all Christians do 
 so ! It is, then, only a change of name, the Bible 
 for the Koran." 
 
72 SIX YEARS IN EUKOPE. 
 
 This was in the earlier time. It will be observed, 
 that at this period she accepted the Bible as a 
 simple matter of course, because she was told she 
 must do so, as a Christian ; and that it was not 
 from any conviction of its superior authority to 
 the Koran. But she was greatly struck with the 
 higher morality taught by the Saviour, whose life 
 she greatly admired. 
 
 Here is what passed on another occasion. 
 
 The ABBE. "My child, the carpenter's son was 
 not a prophet, as Mahomet professed to be, but the 
 true and only Son of God ; Son of the Virgin 
 Mary who conceived Him by the mysterious ope- 
 ration of the Holy Ghost." 
 
 AYESHA. " It is much more difficult to believe 
 this, Abbe, than that Christ was a great Prophet, 
 far greater than Mahomet. In fact, I do not 
 comprehend it at all, If God was his Father, I 
 cannot understand what the Holy Ghost had to do 
 in the matter ; nor how Mary could have remained 
 a virgin and become a mother." 
 
 The ABBE. " This, rny dear child, is one of those 
 mysteries which our Holy Church requires all her 
 children to accept, in faith, upon the testimony of 
 the Scriptures, upon the traditions handed down 
 to her, direct from the Apostles, and upon her 
 
AYESHA AND THE ABBE. 73 
 
 authority. These are things not to be under- 
 stood, not to be inquired into, but simply to be 
 accepted. " 
 
 AYESHA. " But, Abbe, all this is so new to me, 
 that I am startled, and cannot help asking myself 
 if it can be true. I desire to believe what you tell 
 me, but sometimes I feel that I never shall be able 
 to do so." 
 
 The ABBE. " Misgivings will afflict and trouble 
 you, my child, until you are favoured with light 
 from above. You must pray earnestly to God 
 ours and Mahomet's and He will enlighten you, 
 and give you courage to resist the promptings of 
 the great enemy of mankind, who is seeking to 
 snatch your soul from Him by inspiring you with 
 doubt and unbelief. It ought not to be more diffi- 
 cult for you to accept in faith the mystery of the 
 Holy Incarnation, than it was for you to believe 
 in Mahomet's journey to the Seventh Heaven, 
 mounted upon the back of the Borak." 
 
 On other occasions the life and the character 
 of Jesus Christ, as compared with Mahomet's, 
 became the topics of conversation. This was in 
 the later time, when her mind seemed at last to 
 grasp the sublimity of the Scriptural revelation. 
 Nevertheless, I could trace in her remarks a linger- 
 
74 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ing remnant of the old superstition : such was the 
 force of early education and habit. 
 
 " I must believe," she said one day to the Abbe, 
 " that Christ was greater than Mahomet, because he 
 was better. But the Christians call Mahomet an 
 impostor, because he declared he had been chosen 
 by God as his Prophet, just as Christ announced 
 that he had been sent by God to redeem mankind. 
 Mahomet may have told the truth/' 
 
 The ABBE. " The religion he taught, my child, 
 his mode of life, his sanguinary career, all forbid 
 the conclusion that he held any mission from God. 
 Christ taught love for hatred, good for evil, abso- 
 lute purity of life, and practised what he taught ; 
 and at last gave up his own life to redeem humanity 
 at large from the consequences of sin." 
 
 AYESHA. " I know I am bound to accept in faith 
 what all Christians are taught to believe is the 
 truth. When I was a Mahometan I believed 
 everything the Koran said, and I did not seek to 
 investigate the mysteries of our religion, nor to 
 satisfy myself whether the Prophet was or was not 
 what he announced himself to be. I took for 
 granted whatever I was taught. But now I am 
 converted, it is not so. I can see that the Bible is 
 a better book than the Koran, that Christ was 
 
RELIGIOUS DOUBTS. 75 
 
 divinely pure and good, and that the religion He 
 taught is purer than that of Mahomet's. Still, for 
 all that, and notwithstanding my desire to believe 
 everything you tell me, Abbe, I cannot avoid 
 asking myself why the penalty our first parents 
 incurred by their sin should be visited upon all 
 their descendants, and have necessitated the self- 
 sacrifice of Christ. To punish the innocent for 
 the sin of their ancestors, seems to me to be a gross 
 injustice ; and if Christ is the Son of God, why did 
 he allow himself to be put to death ? He had 
 only to exercise his power, and he might have saved 
 himself." 
 
 The ABBE. "My child, the Jews challenged 
 Jesus to come down from the Cross, if he was the 
 Son of God, and they would then believe in Him. 
 It is not for us to conjecture why He did not give 
 evidence of His power in the way His enemies 
 wished ; nor ought we to challenge the infinite 
 justice of God, by attempting to measure it ac- 
 cording to our finite standard. Rest satisfied that 
 what now seems dark to us poor unworthy mortals, 
 will one day be made clear. Our duty is to have 
 faith, and to accept implicitly as truth whatever 
 our Holy Mother the Church teaches." 
 
 In this spirit Ayesha was prepared for her 
 
76 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 entrance into the Church, and I saw the day for 
 the ceremony of her baptism draw near with feel- 
 ings of intense satisfaction. 
 
 The Countess de Bac had promised to stand as 
 her godmother; but, for some reason I did not 
 then know, some few days before the day of the 
 ceremony she suddenly declined, without giving 
 any other explanation than that her brother the 
 Prince would not allow her to carry out her wish. 
 She was therefore replaced by the Princess Sou- 
 kolska, a Polish lady. 
 
 The ceremony took place on the 8th May, 1867, 
 in a chapel attached to the Convent of Convalescent 
 Children ; a kind of infirmary, supported by volun- 
 tary contributions, and in maintaining which our 
 kind patronesses were interested. It is situated in the 
 Eue de Sevres, and this chapel was selected because 
 it was not open to promiscuous worshippers. 
 Besides, it was thought advisable to keep the affair 
 as quiet as possible. 
 
 At two o'clock, the invited party which in- 
 cluded the Countess de Bac, the Marchioness de 
 Strada and her two daughters, Princess Davidoff, 
 Mademoiselle de Monroi, and a few other ladies- 
 assembled in the little sanctuary referred to, Ayesha 
 being attended to the altar by her godmother and 
 
AYESHA IS BAPTISED. 77 
 
 myself. The chapel had been very prettily deco- 
 rated for the occasion by the Sisters of Charity 
 attached to the establishment, and it presented a 
 most charming appearance. 
 
 Our excellent friend, the Abbe Bore, officiated. 
 Ayesha was attired in the simplest manner ; a 
 dress of white muslin and a tulle veil of the same 
 colour, with no other ornament than her rich black 
 hair. It set off, to the best advantage, her Oriental 
 type of beauty, her lustrous black eyes and white 
 skin. Her expressive countenance beamed with 
 contentment as she walked up the aisle to the 
 communion rails ; and throughout the ceremony 
 she preserved a quiet demeanour and the same 
 happy expression. When the Abbe Bore, giving 
 her the name of Maria Isabella, poured the holy 
 water on her head in the midst of the most re- 
 ligious silence a marked sensation was visible in 
 all present. It was the gathering of another lamb 
 into the fold, and they were the gentle shepherds 
 who had saved it. 
 
 As for myself, tears of joy I could not restrain, 
 ran down my face, and I could only feebly and in 
 my inmost heart thank Almighty God that my 
 child whom I so tenderly loved, for whom I had 
 more than once risked my life, for whom I had 
 
78 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 sacrificed country, wealth, all, had been rescued 
 from Heathendom and brought to know the Truth, 
 and the ineffable blessing of the Kedeemer's love. 
 
 As soon as the ceremony was over, my daughter 
 was embraced by all her friends present, and re*- 
 ceived their congratulations. We then adjourned 
 with them to the Princess Davidoif 's, where we sat 
 down to a splendid lunch the Princess had gene- 
 rously provided in honour of the event. 
 
 That day is one of the red-letter days in my life's 
 calendar. It was clouded by only one disturbing- 
 thought. The Countess de Bac had taken the same 
 deep interest in the ceremony as though she had 
 retained her original position as my daughter's god- 
 mother. I had no reason to complain of the substi- 
 tution in her place of the Princess Soukolska, at 
 the last moment, nor to question the validity of the 
 reason alleged for the change ; nevertheless the inci- 
 dent troubled me. What reasons had Prince Davidoff 
 for disapproving of his sister's intention ? 
 
 The mystery was cleared up within two or three 
 days. 
 
 I had occasion to call upon the Countess' dress- 
 maker, who almost as a matter of course began 
 to comment upon the recent ceremony. She retained 
 a vivid remembrance of everybody, and after the 
 
GOSSIP. 70 
 
 fashion of high-class gossips, had much to say 
 about every one of her grand customers. I am 
 constrained to add, in justice to her, that she re- 
 tailed no scandal. 
 
 My turn came in due course. She very much 
 pitied Madame alluding to me. Madame and her 
 daughter had suffered so much ! What a horror that 
 Madame's enemies could not leave her alone, now 
 Madame was so far away from them ! What object 
 had they in calumniating Madame and her daughter ? 
 
 I began to get interested. 
 
 Madame was so good and kind, and Mademoiselle 
 so condescending, so naive, so beautiful ; for though 
 she was married, a marriage in Turkey did not 
 count ; and she had a right to run away from her 
 husband if she chose, and might consider herself a 
 demoiselle all the same. 
 
 " Oh ! Here is our history," thought I, " and 
 something more." 
 
 She was sure Madame la Comtesse de Bac did not 
 believe a word of the reports to the detriment of 
 Madame that was . me and her daughter, which 
 had reached her brother ; but men were so ungener- 
 ous, and made no allowances for poor weak women 
 placed in delicate and difficult positions. It was 
 quite certain that but for these reports, Madame de 
 
80 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Bac would have stood godmother to Mademoiselle, 
 as she had signified her intention of doing. Those 
 people in Constantinople and at the Ottoman Em- 
 bassy must be the very worst of created human 
 beings, or they would not strive so hard to under- 
 mine Madame in the estimation of her friends ! Oh, 
 dear no ! Madame de Bac would never have con- 
 descended to say a word to her the speaker of 
 these things ; but Madame la Comtesse's maid knew 
 all her secrets, " and I, Madame," she added, " work 
 for her, as well as for Madame la Comtesse ; so, of 
 course, " &e., &c. 
 
 Here was the murder out ! My husband and his 
 entourage had set afloat calumniating reports of us, 
 with a view to damage us in the estimation of our 
 new friends. They had reached the Countess' 
 brother, and he probably without wholly believing 
 them had nevertheless been so far influenced by 
 them as to dissuade his sister from undertaking the 
 office of godmother to my daughter. 
 
 I never disclosed to the Countess what I had 
 heard ; but my eyes were now fully open to the 
 snares that were being laid for us. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 I renew my appeals to my husband The Sultan's visit to Paris I find 
 myself in a new dilemma "We go to Fontenay-aux-Roses My hus- 
 band's duplicity We are taken into the convent of the Sisters of 
 Charity Our experiences there We leave the convent. 
 
 HAD I been free from anxiety on the subject of 
 our future means of existence, our time in Paris, at 
 this period, would have passed pleasantly enough. 
 We were surrounded and feted by excellent friends, 
 who desired only to be useful to us, and to aid me 
 in obtaining either my property or an allowance. 
 I had, as already stated, lost all hope of assistance 
 from the Marquis de Moustier, and had learnt, to 
 my cost, that the Ottoman Embassy was the strong- 
 hold of my enemies. To remain inactive, a burden 
 upon the ladies who had acted so generously towards 
 us, was impossible, yet no sign was made from 
 Constantinople. 
 
 No better fate befell a pressing appeal on our 
 behalf, written and forwarded to-Kibrizli Pasha by 
 the Abbe Bore, who laid our position quite bare, 
 
82 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE, v 
 
 and with a view to act upon my husband's pride, 
 submitted to him that it was a dishonour, and a 
 disgrace to his name and rank, to allow his wife and 
 his children to be without means of existence, and 
 dependents upon the benevolence of a few ladies. 
 But it seemed as though hatred and a fierce desire 
 for vengeance were, at that moment, the sentiments 
 predominant in Kibrizli's mind, or his pride would 
 assuredly have been moved. 
 
 The nex't attempt to influence him was made by 
 the Countess de Bac, the Princess Davidoff, and 
 other ladies whom they induced to unite with them 
 in a petition which ought to have produced a favour- 
 able result, if the avenues to his better feelings had 
 not been hermetically sealed against us. It is true 
 a reply came, but only at the expiration of a month. 
 It raised our hopes, doomed us to the most tantaliz- 
 ing suspense, and finally inflicted upon us the 
 bitterest disappointment. 
 
 It is known that the great Paris Exhibition of the 
 Industry of all Nations, opened in the month of May, 
 1867 ; and that amongst the magnates of the world 
 who came to see it was His Sublime Highness the 
 Sultan. 
 
 About the time the rumours of his intended visit 
 began to acquire a certain degree of authority, and 
 
I APPEAL AGAIN TO MY HUSBAND. 83 
 
 the period of it to be fixed that is to say, nearly 
 a month after the dispatch of the ladies' petition in 
 our favour the reply I have referred to reached the 
 Abbe Bore through Monsieur Glavani, my banker at 
 Constantinople. It was a simple request to be in- 
 formed what amount per month would suffice for 
 our maintenance. After the vicissitudes to which 
 we had been so long exposed, and the privations we 
 had undergone, our hearts leaped for very joy at the 
 prospect of being at last adequately provided for. 
 Our lady friends congratulated us upon the altered 
 aspect of our affairs, and we sincerely thanked them 
 for their interposition in our behalf, and compli- 
 mented them upon their happy idea of the petition, 
 to which alone we attributed the Pasha's apparently 
 softened mood. Our answer became, for the mo- 
 ment, as grave a matter for consideration as an 
 affair of state. In my time I had adjusted many, 
 far more serious, with considerably less deliberation. 
 The terms of it were settled at last, and having been 
 duly signed and sealed, the missive was forwarded 
 through the same channel as the communication had 
 come, of which it was the acknowledgment. 
 
 Whilst we were in the most hopeful stage of 
 expectancy, our friends the ladies left Paris for 
 
 Boulogne-sur-Mer, and the term for which they had 
 
 o 2 
 
84 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 so kindly guaranteed us immunity from the cost 
 of board and lodging expired. The end of June 
 was close at hand, and although I had no reason 
 to feel disappointed, no reply had yet arrived from 
 my husband. I did not entertain the slightest sus- 
 picion of any disloyalty on his part in this matter ; 
 but, notwithstanding my daily increasing uneasi- 
 ness at the delay, I strove to subdue my feverish 
 impatience, still and ever hoping the next day or 
 the next, would bring me the long-expected answer. 
 
 At this particular juncture we learnt that His 
 Highness the Sultan would certainly arrive in Paris 
 in the early days of July, accompanied by his 
 Foreign Minister, Fuad Pasha, and by Rassim Pasha. 
 
 These two personages were amongst my husband's 
 fiercest political enemies. By taking advantage of 
 this circumstance, the way would be at once opened 
 for me to obtain access to the Sultan, to lay my 
 whole case before him, and to claim his interference 
 and protection. I knew Fuad Pasha and his col- 
 league would only be too pleased to expose their 
 rival to the displeasure of their Sovereign, for the 
 result would doubtless be Kibrizli's disgrace and 
 ruin. In my desperate position, this was, perhaps, 
 the most decisive step to take, to bring my affairs to 
 a crisis. On the other hand, my husband had 
 
T WILL NOT BETRAY MY HUSBAND. 85 
 
 shown signs of relenting. He was even then as 
 I had reason to believe making arrangements for 
 the settlement upon me of an allowance sufficient to 
 enable me and the children to live in a sty]e in 
 keeping with our rank. I desired too, for their 
 sake, not to give him any cause to change his pre- 
 sent favourable disposition towards us, but rather to 
 encourage its developement. If he fulfilled the in- 
 tention foreshadowed by his recent inquiry, I should 
 speedily possess sufficient for all my requirements, 
 and although by appealing to jbhe Sultan I might 
 obtain justice to the full extent of my rights, it 
 would be at the expense of a man with whom I had 
 spent the happiest days of my life, and whom 
 notwithstanding his cruel persecution of me and 
 those dear to both of us I still tenderly loved. 
 
 I found myself, under these circumstances, in a 
 most awkward, indeed, a terrible dilemma. It was 
 absolutely necessary to come to a decision. Euin 
 my husband, even injure him, I felt I could not. 
 The only alternative was to wait for his answer to 
 my latest appeal as patiently as possible. 
 
 But, if I remained in Paris until the Sultan 
 arrived, I could not hope to escape from Fuad 
 Pasha, who would assuredly hunt me up ; and 
 although he might not be able to alter my reso- 
 
86 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 lution to be no party to a hostile intrigue against 
 my husband, although my own wrongs and the de- 
 sire of redress would justify me in such a course, I 
 felt I must inevitably become exposed to the most em- 
 barrassing importunities, and to the risk of being en- 
 trapped to commit some act I might afterwards regret. 
 
 Whilst I was revolving in my mind the modes I 
 might adopt to avoid the embarrassments I foresaw 
 and dreaded, and contemplating the chances which 
 remained to me of obtaining justice, a new incident 
 prompted me to a sudden decision. 
 
 The approaching visit of the Sultan inspired 
 with hope of Imperial largess the thousand and 
 one hangers-on upon Providence who are ever on 
 the look out for substantial support for the esta- 
 blishments of which they are the patrons. Madame 
 Davidoff was a very active and successful mendicant 
 on behalf of her special proteges, and the Abbe 
 Bore was equally zealous to obtain aid for the 
 many benevolent schemes he was desirous to pro- 
 mote. Did they apprehend that were I to approach 
 the Sultan, the extension of his bounty to me 
 would diminish the amount be might have set 
 aside for purposes of general benevolence, and 
 their appeals be less generously responded to ? I 
 will not assert this ; but I have never been able to 
 
DECISION NOT TO SEE THE SULTAN. 87 
 
 comprehend why, at this particular juncture, both 
 appeared animated with an anxious desire that I 
 should leave Paris, or retire into a convent during 
 the period of the Sultan's stay. The motive urged, 
 was our personal safety. We were told that the 
 Sultan might ask the Emperor to hand us over to 
 our legal guardians in Constantinople, and that 
 through the secret police this could easily be ac- 
 complished and nobody be the wiser. At first 
 sight the danger appeared*palpable, though a little 
 reflection would have sufficed to satisfy me it was 
 in a great measure imaginary. Disturbed as my 
 mind was by conflicting thoughts, it is not sur- 
 prising my fears should have taken the alarm. 
 Eetirement into a convent was not a pleasant 
 prospect, but a brief stay in the country had a 
 great charm. I yielded therefore to the sugges- 
 tions of the friends I have named, and hearing of a 
 cottage to be let at Fontenay-aux-Roses, I hired it, 
 and hastened to occupy it. 
 
 We remained two months in this rustic retreat ; 
 two months of intense anxiety and wearying sus- 
 pense. My funds being also in a very low state, 
 we were often reduced to great straits, and com- 
 pelled to submit to many privations. 
 
 During this anxious period, I had ample time to 
 
88 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 repent of my misplaced confidence in my husband. 
 So long as the Sultan was in Paris, even in Eng- 
 land, I found excuses for Kibrizli's silence ; but as 
 week after week passed away, the suspicions I had 
 sought to suppress asserted themselves with such 
 irresistible force, I was compelled to yield to the 
 conviction that I had been most grossly and cruelly 
 duped. 
 
 Now, when it was too late I saw through the crafty 
 design of my husband* in replying to the ladies' 
 petition, and I despised, hated myself for allowing 
 so transparent a trick to delude me. Until he knew 
 that the Sultan would certainly go to Paris and 
 his position afforded him facilities for obtaining pre- 
 cise and early information of this he had treated our 
 appeals with cruel contempt ; but no sooner did he 
 acquire certain intelligence of his Sovereign's visit 
 to the French capital, than prudence prompted the 
 necessity of some step, which, whilst it should quiet 
 me, left him free to act as he pleased towards 
 us, and furnished him with a ready and a plausible 
 defence in the event of an appeal to the Sultan 
 during His Highnesses sojourn in Paris. 
 
 His reply to the ladies' petition accomplished 
 these several objects. It cajoled me by inspiring 
 me with hope. If I waited patiently, the period 
 
STARVATION OR SUBMISSION. 89 
 
 of his Sovereign's stay in the French metropolis 
 would be tided over, and the danger resulting from 
 a disclosure averted. He could then resume his 
 former policy of contemptuous silence to all our 
 entreaties. In the event of an appeal to the Sultan, 
 the reply to the ladies' petition could be produced 
 as evidence of kind intentions towards us, and we 
 should be practically left without justification for 
 our resort, under these circumstances, to our Sove- 
 reign's sense of justice. All this I could see now ; 
 but it was too late too late. 
 
 What to do I knew not. Day after day no 
 reply came. One day I obtained confidential infor- 
 mation that communications with the Ottoman 
 Ambassador would produce no result, his secret 
 instructions being to " let the women starve ; only 
 get them back." So my reiterated applications to 
 that sublime official merely passed into his waste- 
 paper basket, after an abstract of them had been 
 made for my husband's delectation. 
 
 " Let the women starve ; only get them back." 
 My husband knew, then, that we were, at that 
 time, literally starving. What he did not know, 
 nor believe, was that we were not to be got back ; 
 that his daughter, my poor Ayesha, preferred death, 
 even from starvation, to living in luxury at Con- 
 
90 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 stantinople. Perhaps some suspicion of this at 
 length occurred to him, and caused him to alter his 
 tactics. In what respect, and through whose agency, 
 it would be premature to disclose. We could not 
 be bought nor starved into submission, but perhaps 
 we might be betrayed into his power. At least the 
 attempt could be made. Let the reader bear this 
 intimation in mind. 
 
 We were now, after two months'* residence at 
 Fontenay-aux-Koses, reduced to such straits, that I 
 solicited the kind interference of the Abbe Bore on 
 our behalf, to obtain a small allowance for us from 
 the Lazarists the wealthy establishment to which 
 he belonged until something should be settled. 
 This he was unable to accomplish, but he offered to 
 procure admission for us, as boarders, into the 
 Convent of the Ladies of Charity, at Arcueil, a kind 
 of asylum for ladies of small means, or for such as 
 destitution had thrown upon the bounty of their 
 friends. For some time Ayesha resisted, having in 
 as much horror the seclusion of the convent as of 
 that of the harem. At length her disinclination 
 yielded to necessity, and we were one evening con- 
 ducted to the convent by the Princess Davidoff 
 accompanied by an English lady. 
 
 Our new quarters were neither commodious nor 
 
OUR APARTMENT IN THE. CONVENT. 91 
 
 comfortable, and the truth may be told without 
 prejudice. They consisted of one tolerable room 
 of moderate dimensions, and of a kind of cell 
 adjoining it, in which stood a small bedstead and 
 one single chair. I appropriated this cell to my 
 own use, for I could not have endured to subject 
 my daughter to the discomforts of such a sleep- 
 ing-place. Her bedroom was rather more con- 
 veniently fitted up, but in harmony with the 
 severe character of the establishment the fur- 
 niture did not consist of more than was barely 
 necessary. We, nevertheless, accepted the refuge 
 with heartfelt gratitude, though I must add, that 
 the first night, before we retired, we sat awhile and 
 shed not a few tears as our thoughts reverted to 
 past days of magnificence and luxury, when we 
 extended charity and never dreamt of being com- 
 pelled to receive it. 
 
 Somewhat early next morning I was awakened by 
 the sound of a gentle and strange footstep, and look- 
 ing up, beheld a lady in the conventual dress, stand- 
 ing at the foot of my bed, knitting industriously. 
 It was the Lady Superior, who came to inquire 
 whether I needed anything. She was very con- 
 descending at first, but upon learning the circum- 
 stances under which the Abbe Bore had constituted 
 
92 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 us inmates of the establishment, that we were de- 
 pendents upon its bounty, and not paying residents, 
 her tone and manner suddenly changed, and we 
 ceased to be objects worthy of any special attention. 
 
 In narrating our experiences in the convent, it 
 must be understood that I record, with regret, any 
 incidents which were disagreeable, and only because 
 it is essential to the continuity of this history, that 
 I should do so. I am grateful for all benefits re- 
 ceived, but I feel that sentiments of gratitude ought 
 not to cause me to conceal circumstances which in- 
 fluenced my course of action, notwithstanding that 
 the revelation may not, in all cases, be flattering to 
 individuals. 
 
 It is the result of my experience, that the vow of 
 poverty and the renunciation of wealth, which is one 
 of the essential conditions of conventual life, degene- 
 rate into avarice of the most exaggerated type, 
 having for its sole aim and purpose the enriching of 
 a particular establishment or order. The object 
 being considered pre-eminently righteous, the means 
 to the end are held to be sanctified. In the pre- 
 sent instance, the Lady Superior was mortified to 
 find we were likely to become burdens upon her 
 establishment, and to impoverish its resources by 
 just so much as the cost of our board and lodging 
 
CONVENT LIFE. 93 
 
 would lay them under contribution. Her annoy- 
 ance arose from no desire to derive any personal 
 benefit from the sum at which our maintenance 
 might be taxed, but from disappointment at the 
 absence of all prospect of our contributing ever so 
 small a share to the profits of the institution under 
 her control. From the moment she made this dis- 
 covery, her dominant idea was to get rid of us ; and 
 to this end she brought into operation all those petty 
 means of vexation her position afforded her the oppor- 
 tunity of exercising : of which more in due couise. 
 
 Our life was extremely monotonous, as might be 
 expected, and our diet of the very plainest. Cafe 
 au lait and dry bread in the morning. At noon, 
 soup as a rule very meagre indeed a dish of 
 meat and one of vegetables, with half a pint of 
 extra ordinary wine. The supper could be eaten 
 without the remotest risk of nightmare. At first, the 
 rations were absolutely insufficient, but my remon- 
 strances led to an augmentation. The meagre days 
 and fasts were over numerous, and honestly kept. On 
 these occasions the flesh was unquestionably morti- 
 fied, the corresponding benefit I consider doubtful. 
 The religious exercises, in only the most essential 
 of which we were expected to join, came in per- 
 petual succession, and suggested rather forcibly the 
 
94 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 possibility of an excess of a good thing having its 
 disadvantages. I know I shall be condemned as 
 irreverent for saying so, but I am recording my true 
 impressions. Such was, in its main features, the 
 routine of our life in the Convent at Arcueil, during 
 a period of three months. In this interval the Lady 
 Superior was persistent in her endeavours to render 
 it as uncomfortable as possible. All kinds of com- 
 plaints of us were forwarded to the Abbe Bore. We 
 were remiss in our attendances at religious celebra- 
 tions. We roamed too much about in the gardens ; 
 we went out too often, we returned too late, we 
 were, in fact, culpable on every point of the regula- 
 tions of the establishment. The sisters, however, 
 were very kind to us, and one or the other came 
 every day to teach Ayesha French. The Abbe 
 Bore was likewise a frequent visitor, and on these 
 occasions took his share in her instruction. Under 
 their combined guidance she advanced rapidly in 
 her studies, but unhappily this kind of life did not 
 harmonise with her mercurial temperament and 
 habits, and even before the expiration of three 
 months it had become unbearable. 
 
 I was not surprised this should be the case. She 
 who had long pined for liberty, and had endured 
 much in her attempt to secure it, had finally achieved 
 
AYESHA BECOMES IMPETUOUS. 05 
 
 it. She had fully enjoyed it for many months, 
 and, to her, to whom everything was novel, ex- 
 citing, interesting ; whose notions of freedom were 
 largely identified with indulgence in the pleasures 
 and gaieties of polite society, the monotonous exist- 
 ence to which she now found herself, as it were, 
 condemned, vividly revived recollections of the old 
 days of imprisonment and restraint, and with the 
 memory of these, the old desire to be free returned. 
 
 I strove my utmost to impress upon her the im- 
 portance of our avoiding any rash step, such as 
 quitting the convent, to excite the dissatisfaction 
 of those who had so generously befriended us 
 hitherto ; and I represented that although we 
 were literally eating the bread of charity, this was 
 preferable to the prospect which, without funds or 
 resources of any kind, must be in store for us, of en- 
 during the pangs of hunger and the many privations 
 attendant upon abject misery. We must, under 
 any circumstances, await events, and it was better 
 to do so where we were than incur new obligations. 
 
 But Ayesha was absolutely obdurate to every 
 appeal. She fretted and chafed like a wild linnet 
 in a cage. Her attention could not be confined to 
 any single subject. The sisters continued to attend 
 for the purpose of teaching her, but her mind wan- 
 
96 SIX YEARS IN EUEOPE. 
 
 dered during her lessons. These devoted, patient, 
 painstaking women, who pitied her as being a 
 spoiled child, persevered with her to the last, 
 though their looks denoted despair in their hearts. 
 At last her excitement reached such a point, I 
 seriously feared she would carry out a threat she 
 had recently often made, that if a change were not 
 made, she would run away and cast herself upon 
 the protection of the first- comer. 
 
 Unfortunately the Abbe Bore was absent at this 
 time, taking his vacation, or we might have received 
 the advice of which we stood so greatly in need, or 
 even his practical assistance. I therefore deter- 
 mined to see Madame Davidoff and tell her my new 
 troubles. She expressed her regret that she could 
 not help me in the way I wished, but she offered to 
 receive us into her house. This proposition I felt 
 constrained to decline, for I shrank from imposing 
 ourselves as a burden upon her. I returned to the 
 convent with a sad heart, and more embarrassed 
 than ever, but was happily successful in inducing 
 Ayesha to believe that the Abbe Bore would be back 
 in a few days, when we should certainly receive his 
 assistance in obtaining the means of changing our 
 position. I also held out hope from another quarter. 
 
 There is a trite saying that when things come to 
 
ZIA BEY. 97 
 
 the worst they must perforce mend. This may be 
 true, but often " the worst " lasts an over long time, 
 and before the " mend " comes, the sufferer is driven 
 to desperation. That our affairs appeared to have 
 arrived at the worst, at this juncture, admitted of 
 no doubt in my mind. I cannot say I. expected the 
 " mend " soon, for hope had well-nigh died out of my 
 heart. Nevertheless, the change came far sooner 
 than I could have anticipated ; and singular to add, 
 it originated in this very visit of mine to Princess 
 Davidoff. 
 
 I met there a Polish gentleman, a major in a 
 Turkish regiment, who had known me at Constanti- 
 nople, whence he had recently come. He informed 
 me that Zia Bey, ex-chamberlain to the Sultan, had 
 expressed a great desire to see me. I therefore sent 
 back a message that I would call upon him next 
 morning. It was from this quarter I spoke of hope 
 to Ayesha. 
 
 Zia Bey received me with great courtesy, and 
 entered fully into the particulars of my position. 
 He knew Kibrizli well ; also the story of my divorce, 
 and the ostensible reasons for it. He kindly gave me 
 two hundred francs ; concurred with me that it was 
 desirable we should leave the convent, and promised 
 to make me an allowance, until better times came. 
 
98 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 He also told me that Mustapha Pasha already re- 
 ferred to had returned to Paris. 
 
 But why, it may be asked, did Zia Bey make 
 this promise, and what was his real motive for be- 
 friending us ? The simple fact is, we were just then 
 pivots upon which turned certain ministerial in- 
 trigues at Constantinople. 
 
 I bear in mind that although I am not writing 
 a political history, I am bound to furnish the reader 
 with a clue to the events of which I was continually 
 being made the victim, and without which the sin- 
 gular and sudden changes in my fortunes would 
 appear inexplicable. 
 
 I must state, then, that a political party, calling 
 itself " Young Turkey ," had been formed in Con- 
 stantinople, the object of which was to promote 
 administrative and other reforms, including repre- 
 sentative government, responsible ministries, and 
 irresponsible sovereignty. To this party belonged 
 Mustapha Pasha, Zia Bey, and the Polish major. 
 Mustapha was immensely rich, therefore independent 
 of everybody, unambitious of office, and fearless in 
 the expression of his opinions. As a matter of 
 course, Fuad Pasha and Ali Pasha were his political 
 opponents, they being the chief Ministers of the 
 reigning Sultan, Abdul Assiz. The war against the 
 
THE CORRUPTIONS OF OFFICE. 99 
 
 system of which they were the official agents, com- 
 menced by a visit made by Mustapha Pasha to the 
 Sultan, to whom he exposed the flagitious abuses 
 committed under the seals of office, the barefaced 
 peculations, extortions, and impositions practised in 
 every department, the utter absence of control over 
 the administrators of any department of the State, 
 and the certain result to the Empire. In making 
 this revelation, however, for the guidance of the 
 Sultan, he enjoined him to secrecy, which the Sultan 
 promised. But scarcely had Mustapha quitted the 
 royal presence, than His Imperial Highness sent for 
 Fuad and Ali Pasha, and upbraided them furiously. 
 They denied, of course, the allegations brought 
 against them, and quitted their master, breathing 
 vengeance against Mustapha, who, being timely 
 warned of danger, hastily quitted Constantinople, 
 and made for Paris, with his suite. He had been 
 already some time there when I arrived. 
 
 Although Kibrizli was not associated with the 
 "Young Turkey" party, the removal of Ali and 
 Fuad Pasha from office would have once more raised 
 him into power. He had, indeed, no sympathy 
 with reformers of any kind, therefore no friendship 
 for Mustapha and his friends ; and they on their side, 
 regarding him as incorrigibly addicted to the vicious 
 
 H 2 
 
100 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 system they desired to reform, had no extravagant 
 liking for him. Their policy, therefore, was to 
 worry and annoy him and the party to which he 
 belonged, in every possible manner, and as my 
 divorce and downfall were known to have been the 
 price Kibrizli paid for his retention of office, I and 
 Ayesha became instruments in their hands though 
 we knew it not at that time through whom they 
 could mortify Kibrizli ; for to help his wife and 
 children, whom he was leaving to starvation, would 
 be a humiliation to him and a public scandal. 
 
 But although Mustapha Pasha left Constantinople, 
 the party of which he was the head continued its 
 intrigues, and his friends, Zia Bey, the Pole, Aga 
 Effendi, Djamil Bey, Nouroid Bey, Keschid Bey, 
 and other leaders, got up a formidable conspiracy, 
 which included some 30,000 associates, its object 
 being to overthrow the ministry by force at 
 any cost, and even, if necessary, to dispose of the 
 Sultan. The plot, however, did not come to a head. 
 One of the conspirators betrayed it to the police, and 
 thus prevented its explosion ; but the parties to it 
 I have named contrived to effect their escape and 
 to rejoin Mustapha Pasha in Paris, where they 
 became dependents upon his bounty. When the 
 Sultan came to Paris, Mustapha contrived to regain 
 
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS. 101 
 
 his sovereign's favour, and shortly after repaired to 
 Constantinople, upon a rumour that Ali Pasha and 
 Fuad Pasha had been deposed. Upon his arrival 
 there, he found these ministers still in power, and 
 thereupon returned to Paris. It was the news of 
 this return which Zia Bey communicated to me. 
 
 The reader will now understand that Zia Bey 
 received an allowance from Mustapha Pasha, that 
 out of it he made me one, and that he did this 
 to annoy Kibrizli. Whether Mustapha knew of 
 Zia's liberality, I am not able to assert, but sub- 
 sequent events impressed me with the belief that 
 he did. 
 
 The prospect of even a temporary allowance, 
 filled me with joy. At least I should have the 
 means of existence, pending the result of further 
 attempts to force my husband to do us justice, 
 and I was better pleased on my daughter's account 
 than on my own, that this unexpected assist- 
 ance had come ; for my sole happiness centred 
 in hers, and the gratification of her wishes was my 
 great desire. She ran short of clothes, so my first 
 impulse led me to the Temple, the Israelite mart for 
 cheap, though not new, apparel ; and I laid out 
 perhaps an undue proportion of my tiny fortune 
 in changes of suits most becoming to her ; then 
 
102 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 hurried back in a hackney-coach to the convent to 
 lay them at her feet. 
 
 I know this piece of extravagance will be con- 
 demned as an unpardonable imprudence, as the 
 very height of improvidence ; but a mother's love 
 is unsusceptible of selfish considerations, and the 
 delight of ministering to a beloved child's gratifica- 
 tion outweighs all other sentiments. Many a 
 mere momentary happiness is dearly purchased ; 
 but what happiness greater or more legitimate than 
 that of witnessing the delight of a child on re- 
 ceiving a parent's gift unexpectedly ^ and those, 
 the very objects upon which its young heart is 
 set? Such felicity is worth a sacrifice, for none 
 brings purer joy. I appeal to mothers if this is 
 not so. 
 
 Ayesha, a woman in years, in many respects one 
 in experience, was nevertheless a complete child in 
 her impulses and in her ignorance of the world and 
 its ways. An infant of five years old could not 
 have given way to more extravagant demonstra- 
 tions of wild delight, on receiving a new doll, than 
 did Ayesha on seeing her new clothes. She 
 shrieked, she laughed, she cried, she leaped, and 
 danced about, and embraced me over and over 
 again. Nothing would content her but to deck 
 
AVARICE OF OUR LADY SUPERIOR. 103 
 
 herself out in her newly-purchased habiliments, and 
 show herself in them to the sisters and the other 
 inmates of the convent. It was a happy day for 
 her ; for me, one to be remembered. 
 
 I placed the balance of my two hundred francs, 
 namely, eighty, in the hands of the Lady Supe- 
 rior, informing her it was for safe keeping, and that 
 we should leave the convent as soon as I had 
 found an apartment to suit us. I lost no time in 
 seeking one, and having succeeded at last in find- 
 ing what I required in the Eue d'Isly, prepared to 
 bid adieu to the. establishment at Arcueil. 
 
 On claiming my small stock of money of the 
 Lady Superior, I was astounded to meet with a 
 refusal to return it. I had been three months in 
 the house, with my daughter, living upon its funds, 
 we had not contributed in any way towards them, 
 and she had understood that the sum placed 
 in her hands was an instalment towards the cost 
 of our maintenance. I pointed out to her that 
 such an assumption was unfounded, that I had 
 been placed there by the Abbe Bore, of whose 
 arrangements I was wholly ignorant, and that if 
 anything were due for my maintenance, she must 
 look to the Abbd for it : but I wanted the small 
 sum in her hands, and should insist upon its being 
 
104 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 returned to me. Thus pressed, the Lady Superior 
 handed me back my money, and I subsequently 
 learnt that the Abbe Bore had to pay the sum 
 his " dear Sister in God " claimed for our board and 
 lodging. 
 
 Under these circumstances we quitted the con- 
 vent, after an affectionate leave-taking of the kind, 
 good sisters. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Fresh disappointments Sayd Acha, the bankrupt merchant A now 
 acquaintance Ayesha receives an offer of marriage We take a 
 journey into Brittany Our host Mysterious incidents Ayesha 
 accepts the proposal for her hand. 
 
 FOR the space of two months we seemed to be 
 in paradise. Ayesha soon threw off the morbid 
 depression induced by confinement, and surrendered 
 herself entirely to the luxury of unrestraint. That 
 the mere consciousness of not being confined within 
 the four dead walls of a convent; of not being 
 restricted to eat, drink, sleep, rise, and pray by the 
 clock, should be to her a supreme pleasure, may 
 appear a paradox to many, yet not wholly so to 
 those who will take the pains to consider what her 
 life had been. Her wild, impulsive, restless nature, 
 so much like what mine was at her age, rebelled 
 against restraint of any kind ; and her long sojourn 
 within the precincts of the harem, had been one 
 protracted, continuous contradiction of her intense 
 longing for perfect freedom over her own^ actions. 
 
106 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 To feel, to know, she was now not subject to any 
 control, was therefore to her of itself a positive 
 enjoyment, and in it she revelled to her heart's 
 content. We were both happy, for we thought we 
 had at last found a friend. 
 
 Our happiness proved only of brief duration. 
 On our leaving the convent, Zia Bey gave me five 
 hundred francs, which I husbanded scrupulously. 
 One morning, at the expiration of about two 
 months, the Major brought me a note from him, 
 announcing his departure for England. It also 
 contained another advance of funds, but it con- 
 veyed the intimation of Zia's regret that he should 
 be obliged to discontinue affording me assistance, as 
 Mustapha Pasha had ceased making him an allow- 
 ance ; hence his own departure for London. 
 
 Accustomed though I was to vicissitudes of 
 various kinds, I was not yet hardened to regard 
 without emotion a new prospect of penury and 
 privation. Zia Bey's communication was a most 
 painful surprise, but I could not expect help from, 
 him under the circumstances he had urged as his 
 excuse for its discontinuance. Not until much 
 later did I learn that the differences between 
 Mustapha and my husband had been made up, 
 and that the cessation of assistance to me was 
 
SAYD ACHA. 107 
 
 the condition of its continuance from Mustapha 
 to Zia. 
 
 We were now once more left to the mercy of 
 fate. Our sole hope, to which we clung with the 
 tenacity of desperation, lay in the effort the Abbe 
 Bore was still making, through friends at Constan- 
 tinople, to obtain our rights. Our only resource 
 was to husband the last gift of Zia Bey, and wait, 
 as patiently as we might, the issue of the Abbe's 
 negociations. 
 
 But Fortune's wheel suddenly took another, and, 
 as it turned out, a most singular turn. 
 
 A note reached me one morning, bearing the 
 signature " Sayd Acha." He was a merchant, who, 
 having failed in business at Constantinople some 
 twenty years ago at that time had decamped and 
 come to Paris. He had heard of us, and wrote, 
 soliciting leave to call upon us. Thinking he might 
 be useful, I acceded to his request, and he came. 
 He was about sixty years of age now, could not 
 speak a word of French, and was still poor. He 
 expressed a deep interest in us, and approved of 
 our plan of awaiting the result of our friend's 
 application on our behalf for the redress so obsti- 
 nately denied to us. 
 
 I did not know that this man was, at that very 
 
108 SIX YEARS IN EUKOPE. 
 
 time, a spy in the secret service of the Turkish 
 Embassy. 
 
 After a few visits, he spoke of a friend of his, 
 whom he was in the habit of meeting at a cafe, 
 and whom he should, with my permission, be 
 greatly pleased to introduce. This gentleman, he 
 said, was extremely partial to Orientals, and passed 
 much time in the company of those who were to be 
 met with in Paris. He was not only wealthy, but 
 belonged to one of the best families in Brittany, 
 and was altogether a most eligible acquaintance. 
 Thus recommended, I gave Sayd Acha permission 
 to present his friend. 
 
 Our new visitor was a man of about thirty-three 
 years of age, tall, well made, having an agreeable 
 countenance, and polished manners. He produced 
 upon me not quite a favourable impression, and one 
 tinged with a degree of suspicion. He was soft- 
 spoken and meek, seldom raising his voice above a 
 loud and well-modulated whisper, and he rolled his 
 eyes nervously, which made him look askance at 
 the person he was speaking to. He seemed highly 
 delighted to make our acquaintance, paid us many 
 compliments, and obtained permission to renew his 
 visits. 
 
 These soon became very frequent, and I could 
 
MONSIEUR QUESTEL. 109 
 
 not conceal from myself that he seemed amazingly 
 smitten with my daughter. He professed to be 
 greatly captivated by Ayesha's ingenuousness, and 
 gradually hinted that the desire of his life had been 
 to marry an Oriental lady one wholly uninitiated 
 in the duplicities of Western society and fashionable 
 life whom he could train and educate, and, in fact, 
 fashion to his mind, and for himself alone. He did 
 not seek a dowry. He was possessed of wealth, 
 owned a chateau in the Morbihan, and several 
 farms, and had no incumbrances ; and a young 
 woman, who would return devotion to him for his 
 devotion to her, might be supremely happy. 
 
 These indirect appeals became so frequently the 
 subject of his conversation, that I thought it high 
 time to sound Ayesha upon the question of a second 
 marriage. To enable her to contract a new alliance, 
 the Pope's dispensation would be necessary, notwith- 
 standing that she had been legally divorced from 
 her husband, Ferideh's son, Shevket, according to 
 Mussulman forms. The dispensation could pro- 
 bably be easily obtained, through the Abbe Bore 
 and M. de Monroi, and this obstacle removed, 
 there seemed no valid reason why, if an offer were 
 made to her, she should refuse it. But Ayesha 
 declined, saying she did not like Monsieur Questel 
 
110 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 this was our Breton friend's name, she doubted 
 him, and fancied him insincere ; against which stout 
 reasons I could urge no argument. 
 
 Day by day, however, this situation became more 
 delicate. Neither Ayesha nor I could any longer 
 ignore the tendency of M. Questel's hints although 
 he had not formally proposed nor the direct pur- 
 pose of his attentions. I seriously contemplated 
 the bringing of his visits to a close, and was 
 casting about for a fair excuse, when my embarrass- 
 ment was relieved by M. Questel himself, who 
 offered Ayesha his hand " and his whole heart," as 
 he said, and we should have our own time to con- 
 sider his proposal. 
 
 Our critical position, the vivid recollection of our 
 sufferings, the uncertainty of the issue of our friends' 
 negociations at Constantinople, these combined to 
 warp my judgment, and to influence me to lay aside 
 my first impressions of Questel, whose offer would, 
 if accepted, place us for ever beyond the reach of 
 want, and secure us peace and quietness. But 
 Ayesha still refused. At length, yielding to my 
 representations, she consented to accept him, for 
 the sake of a quiet life, provided it could be ascer- 
 tained that M. Questel's means were such as he 
 had represented. I communicated her reply to 
 
M. QUESTEL'S INVITATION. Ill 
 
 M. Questel ; and so far from objecting to a pro- 
 position of my own that we should ourselves go 
 down into Brittany and inspect his estates and 
 farms and chateau, he promoted the plan with 
 noticeable alacrity, and approved of it as highly 
 reasonable and business-like. With this under- 
 standing he left us, for the purpose of preparing 
 for our reception, saying this was necessary, for his 
 people were, like all the Bretons, stupid, though 
 honest, and very rough. He promised to write to 
 us without delay. 
 
 M. Questel's ready acquiescence in my proposi- 
 tion, sufficed to dispel any doubts I had entertained 
 of his sincerity, and I could see it had also produced 
 the same effect upon Ayesha. We were both of us 
 pleased and encouraged, whilst the prospect of 
 happiness for her was at least as good as any young 
 girl in Turkey could hope for. The match was not, 
 in principle, different with respect to the girl's 
 inclinations from the majority of marriages in 
 France, which are rather contracts for convenience' 
 sake, or for mutual interest, than unions based upon 
 reciprocal affection. In the present instance it was 
 even, to all appearance, unselfish on the side of the 
 suitor, for he brought the fortune, and sought neither 
 dowry nor prospective advantages, and he had to 
 
112 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 incur the chances of a reciprocity of affection. It was 
 true Ayesha might come to love him, in course of 
 time, though at present indifferent ; and after all, 
 no violence was offered to her feelings. Full leisure 
 for consideration was afforded us, and she re- 
 mained free to withdraw from the engagement at 
 any moment. 
 
 In order not to lose the earliest intelligence of 
 any communication from Constantinople, we in- 
 formed the Abbe Bore we had been invited to spend 
 a time at a country-seat, and gave him an address 
 to which he could write ; but we kept quite silent 
 with regard to everybody else, for I felt apprehen- 
 sive of any accident which might interfere with the 
 success of the present project. 
 
 M. Questel kept his promise. "Within a few days 
 he sent us money for our journey and also railway 
 rugs ; for the weather was now cold. We started from 
 the Mont-Parnasse station at half-past seven in the 
 morning, taking the express train to Vannes, ac- 
 cording to our instructions. Our journey occupied 
 twelve hours, and we were glad enough when it 
 came to an end, for we were most terribly jolted 
 and fatigued. 
 
 M. Questel was at the station waiting to receive 
 us. Probably out of compliment to us, he wore a 
 
WE EEACH M. QUESTEI/S CHATEAU. 113 
 
 fez, the modern Turkish, coif. I noticed he was 
 dressed with remarkable elegance. A carriage was 
 in attendance, to which he conducted us with a 
 deference not to be exceeded had we been princesses; 
 and to me he paid most special attention. It was a 
 lovely, clear, moonlight night, but we could not dis- 
 cern much of the country. It was nine o'clock 
 before we reaced the chateau at Kerbeque, near a 
 place called Noyalo. 
 
 Immediately on our arrival, M. Questel delivered 
 us over into the hands of a waiting-maid, who con- 
 ducted us to the apartments prepared for us ; a bed- 
 room with two beds in it, and a sitting-room, 
 extremely well furnished, and even fitted up with 
 elegance and numerous small comforts. 
 
 The maid presently preceded us down-stairs into 
 the dining-room, which we found brilliantly illumi- 
 nated, and the dinner just served up. Besides our 
 special maid, who remained in the room to assist, 
 there were two others and a man-servant. 
 
 The repast was of the choicest kind, indicating 
 luxurious tastes on the part of our host. I ventured 
 upon a polite remonstrance that he should have 
 deemed it worth while to treat us so sumptuously ; 
 but he protested, as. emphatically as so very meek 
 speaking an individual could protest, that he had 
 
114 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 really gone to no excess, it was his customary fare, 
 his " ordinaire " ; he would, on the contrary, have 
 been only too glad to show us a little extra atten- 
 tion, but really, in that Bretagne of theirs, there 
 was no possibility of getting any dish decently pre- 
 pared, and to keep a chef-de-cuisine for his own 
 self, living as he did a solitary life, was of course 
 out of the question ; but all that would be altered in 
 due time. 
 
 The attentions of our host during the dinner were 
 most minute and delicate, without being obtrusive, 
 He assisted us to the choicest tit-bits ; apologized 
 for not being able to offer us a selection of more than 
 four kinds of wine, and for the failure of the dessert. 
 I need scarcely observe that the dessert was various, 
 select, and abundant, and that excellent "vin-ordi- 
 naire," choice Margaux, delicate Burgundy, and 
 Cliquot, presented a wine-list more than sufficient for 
 two ladies unaccustomed to fermented liquors of any 
 kind. Nor were those liqueurs wanting which the 
 gentler sex are reported to prefer. In fact, abso- 
 lutely nothing was needed at this Sybarite feast, 
 notwithstanding the protestations of M. Questel to 
 the contrary. 
 
 I must make the humiliating confession that I 
 vastly enjoyed this banquet, and that my spirits 
 
M. QUESTEL IS VERY POLITE. 115 
 
 rose with the occasion. M. Questel made himself 
 highly agreeable, by keeping up a lively conversa- 
 tion, which ran upon the topics of the day and the 
 small scandals current in the fashionable world, 
 interspersed with amusing anecdotes, and now and 
 then an original observation. He endeavoured, but 
 in vain, to draw out Ayesha. She was dull, silent, 
 and unamiable, and our host must have been blind 
 not to perceive that his civilities did not please her. 
 The truth is, that not liking the host, she did not 
 care to play the hypocrite by responding to his 
 courtesies. 
 
 It was late before we retired for the night. M. 
 Questel, following the waiting-maid, preceded us to 
 the door of our apartment, where he quitted us, with 
 many a salutation, saying he should watch over us ; 
 a mild joke, as I presently discovered when he ex- 
 plained that his own sleeping-room was on the 
 fourth floor ; having discharged which he bade us 
 good night. 
 
 We were allowed to sleep without being disturbed, 
 until we descended, of our own accord, once more 
 into the dining-room. Our host was already in 
 attendance, and on a scarcely perceptible sign from 
 him, the early or first breakfast was brought in by 
 our waiting-maid. The coffee and cream were 
 
 I 2 
 
116 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 delicious, the bread and butter equally so. After 
 the meal, we were invited to inspect the house, and 
 accordingly we followed M. Questel over it. 
 
 The chateau, prettily situated in a park near one 
 end of a plain, appeared to be of recent date, as I 
 subsequently learnt was the fact, having been con- 
 structed by the present owner, after a design of his 
 own. It was a round tower, four stories high, with 
 garrets in the roof, and built of white stone. The 
 master's suite of apartments occupied the fourth 
 floor, commanding from each window an extensive 
 prospect. In all, the tower contained ten rooms. 
 The drawing-room, or salon, covered one floor, and 
 was lofty and spacious. The view from every win- 
 dow was exceedingly pleasant : on one side a stretch 
 of sea ; on another the undulating open country ; 
 on another an extensive plain, through which 
 meandered a small river ; on a fourth a garden, 
 shrubbery, and other grounds, with fields beyond 
 and meadows, and clumps and avenues of tall trees. 
 All the rooms were well furnished, and in the draw- 
 ing-room I observed two pianofortes. 
 
 After our examination of the interior, our host 
 conducted us to visit the outer premises. The 
 servants' offices and the stables were detached from 
 the house. In the coach-house stood three carriages. 
 
A DEIVE OVER M. QUESTEI/S ESTATE. 117 
 
 Every place was thrown open to us. We passed 
 through the garden and the adjoining grounds, and 
 came to a neat pavilion, at the end of a secluded 
 walk, and within a few dozen yards of the sea at 
 low tide. A flight of stone steps led from the 
 pavilion into the water, and at the foot of these a 
 boat was moored. This was the bathing pavilion. 
 All this was charming, and I observed that Ayesha 
 appeared interested in what might become her new 
 domain. 
 
 We returned to the chateau, by which time the 
 second breakfast, the " dejeuner a la fourchette," was 
 ready. It matched the dinner of the previous evening, 
 and M. Questel's attentions did not flag. After break- 
 fast, he proposed a drive. One of the carriages was 
 accordingly ordered up, and we were driven over 
 his estate, and round about it, he pointing out his 
 farms and lands, and dwelling upon the absence of 
 any present inducement on his part to render them 
 more remunerative to him as a landlord, though, 
 were he married, he should necessarily seek to in- 
 crease his income by raising the farmers' rents. We 
 were told that all his property lay within so con- 
 venient a distance in the neighbourhood of the 
 chateau, that he did not require the services of a 
 land-steward, but collected his rents himself, at the 
 
118 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 chateau, at stated periods of the year, and also 
 attended to and directed such improvements as he 
 found desirable, either for the convenience of his 
 tenants or to suit his own wishes. 
 
 Dinner-time came, and the repast resembled in 
 delicacy and choice the one of the day before ; 
 similar select dishes, the same profusion of wines, 
 the same abundant dessert, and the same scru- 
 pulous attentions on the part of the host. 
 
 We remained one month the guests of M. Questel, 
 during which period our repasts, now served at 
 hours fixed for our convenience, were of the same 
 luxurious character. His courtesy never flagged. 
 Never, at the height of my prosperity, when adored 
 by my husband and holding his seals, and when I 
 exercised a sovereign authority, did my attendants 
 show me more deference, or seek to forestall my 
 wishes more anxiously than did M. Questel. Did I 
 recline on the couch ? he was at my side to place a 
 pillow under my head ; Did I lounge in an easy- 
 chair ? he was at my feet with a, foot-stool. Were we 
 going out ? he took the most minute precautions to 
 preserve me from draughts, and every night he 
 performed an exemplary pilgrimage to the door of 
 our apartment, always bidding us good-night in 
 the .same scrupulously polite manner. 
 
M. QUESTEL WATCHES MY MOVEMENTS. 119 
 
 All this was exceedingly pleasant, and appear- 
 ances were thus far satisfactory. I had, however, 
 been struck with one singular fact. M. Questel, 
 ever ready, ever apparently delighted, to take a 
 turn with us, either in the carriage or for a walk, 
 never allowed me to go out alone. I made several 
 attempts, but strange to say he was at my side 
 ere I had advanced many steps beyond the thresh- 
 old. I could not comprehend how he possibly 
 contrived to know my intentions, for I could not 
 suspect him of watching me, yet he always seemed 
 to meet or to overtake me by the merest accident. 
 This odd circumstance much puzzled me, and not 
 only stimulated my curiosity but made me deter- 
 mine I would take the earliest opportunity of 
 evading his vigilance. It came within a few days 
 of our departure, and quite unexpectedly. 
 
 Ayesha had, on one particular day, manifested a 
 great desire to see the country in a different direc- 
 tion from any in which we had yet been driven. 
 M. Questel, of course, made it a point of complying 
 with her wish, and asked me to prepare to ac- 
 company them. Under the pretext of slight in- 
 disposition I declined to go out, although I per- 
 ceived he was somewhat disappointed at my refusal, 
 and suggested Ayesha's deferring her ride until 
 
120 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 another day. But she did not care to renounce her 
 trip, and he was compelled to leave me behind. 
 Here, then, at last, was my opportunity. 
 
 As soon as I felt satisfied they were far enough 
 on their way to render it safe for me to venture 
 out, I started on my voyage of discovery, my 
 object being to make inquiry of the neighbours, 
 if I could come across any, as to the position and 
 character of our honey-mouthed host. After wan- 
 dering about some time, in my endeavours to find 
 a road out of the grounds leading to somewhere, 
 and which did not bring me up against a stone 
 wall, or a ditch, or a hedge, I got into the high- 
 way and had not proceeded far before I came to 
 a sort of wine-shop and " restaurant," standing in 
 isolation by the roadside. A decent looking woman 
 stood bare-armed behind her counter, either wait- 
 ing upon Providence or for customers ; and the latter 
 seemed to be few and far between. Being tired, 
 after my anxious peregrinations, I asked for refresh- 
 ment, and soon got into conversation with her. 
 
 Yes ! She knew Monsieur Questel. They she and 
 her husband were tenants of his, and held the house 
 and a small piece of land attached to it. Certainly, 
 he had other property. The chateau was his ? Yes, 
 and he had several farms. An excellent landlord, a 
 
INQUIRIES. 1'21 
 
 most kind good man. Eich ? Oh, considerably! 
 A great pity he was not married. It would be 
 such a good thing for the poor if he came to live 
 upon his estate. 
 
 Such was the result of my first inquiry. I bade 
 my informant good day, and a turn of the road, 
 some distance farther on, brought me to a farm, 
 which I recognized as one of those M. Questel had 
 pointed out as his. A lack of hospitality to the 
 extent of a chair to a fatigued wayfarer is not a 
 failing of the Bretons ; and whilst resting again 
 here, I elicited from the stranger, information con- 
 cerning M. Questel, confirmatory of the good 
 account I had already received of him. This de- 
 cided me. I returned home satisfied he had not 
 misrepresented his means. Nevertheless, there oc- 
 curred two other circumstances, in the course of 
 this month's visit, which also singularly puzzled 
 me. 
 
 Eegarding myself as the probable directress of 
 M. Questel's establishment, and having received 
 from him carte blanche to roam ail over the pre- 
 mises, I did not scruple to visit his own suite of 
 rooms. One of these was a kind of lumber-room, 
 but it was fitted up with shelves and large pigeon- 
 holes. If M. Questel, instead of being a wealthy 
 
122 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 landed proprietor, had been a dealer in ancient 
 apparel, laying in stock to set up a frippery, I 
 should not have felt surprised on finding in such a 
 place as this, a lumber-room with so many bundles 
 of old clothes. They lay on the shelves in heaps, 
 they were tucked away into the pigeon-holes, they 
 were stowed into corners, and were lying about any- 
 where and everywhere. Blouses, coats, and unmen- 
 tionables of all colours, cuts, and dimensions, and in 
 various stages of advanced wear, met the prying 
 eye ; hats and caps, waistcoats, boots, shoes, and 
 slippers ; old linen, sadly in need of fumigation ; 
 pieces of cloth and ancient rags, completed the 
 nomenclature of the effects contained in this Blue 
 Beard's cupboard. What could this odd fancy for 
 a museum of worn-out apparel possibly indicate ? 
 Could M. Quest el always so scrupulously neat 
 and elegant in his own dress that one might have 
 believed he kept himself snugly shut up in a band- 
 box when not on view be afflicted with an old- 
 cloth es' mania ? Why he so good and charitable 
 did he not give his cast-off raiment to the poor I 
 Yet, another idea ! Was there a periodical distri- 
 bution of these effects, and did he lay his friends 
 under contribution to swell the stock to be cere- 
 moniously given away ? The more I endeavoured 
 
THE MYSTERY OF THE OLD CLOTHES. 123 
 
 to solve this mystery, the less satisfactory were 
 my conclusions. I took an opportunity of asking 
 M. Questel why he kept such a lot of rubbish. He 
 merely smiled meekly, and replied, under his 
 breath, that this was " one of his little secrets." 
 
 I found it out, for all that ! With the conni- 
 vance of Ayesha, I obtained two or three other 
 opportunities of renewing my acquaintanceship with 
 our neighbours, although I durst never venture 
 beyond the immediate precincts of the chateau. I 
 did not feel inclined openly to oppose what I per- 
 ceived was a peculiarity in M. Questel an indispo- 
 sition to allow me to go out alone and at the 
 same time the sense of a restraint upon my actions 
 was irksome. Necessity, therefore, compelled me 
 to manoeuvre a little for the gratification of my 
 wish. With this view, I enlisted Ayesha into my 
 service, without explaining I was secretly making 
 inquiries concerning her suitor's position and cha- 
 racter, but leaving her to understand that it was 
 a whim of mine to take an occasional solitary walk, 
 which I could not indulge in without offending 
 M. Questel. So it happened that I one day fell in 
 with an old woman, who sat spinning in her door- 
 way, and whom, as an excuse for addressing her, 
 I asked to direct me back to the chateau by 
 
124 SIX YEARS IN EUEOPE. 
 
 the nearest path. The very mention of the chateau 
 was an " open sesame " to conversation on the 
 subject of its owner. I gleaned nothing from the 
 old lady to his disadvantage but one fact, which 
 threw a degree of light upon the old clothes 
 mystery : he was very good and kind, " but oh, 
 Madame, he is such a miser." 
 
 Questel, so lavish in his household expenditure, 
 keeping twice as many servants as the maintenance 
 of the establishment in order required : Questel a 
 miser ! "What a contradiction ! What inconsistency 
 of character! But then human nature is made 
 up of inconsistencies, and every one has his own 
 peculiar failing. Thus I reasoned as I wended my 
 way back, yet without being able to reconcile the 
 new fact with my experience of the man. 
 
 The other circumstance was even still more 
 mysterious, nor did I ever succeed in clearing it up, 
 save by a conjecture, to be communicated later, 
 when the reader will be able to arrive at his own 
 conclusions upon the additional knowledge he will 
 have acquired. 
 
 From a window in my bed-room, as from one in 
 the drawing-room, I commanded a complete view of 
 the garden-grounds. Early one morning, looking 
 out from mine to ascertain the state of the 
 
A STRANGE MAN APPEARS. 125 
 
 weather, I observed a strange man in one of the 
 pathways. He wore the dress of a provincial 
 peasant, but something in his gait satisfied me 
 he was in a disguise. With furtive steps he made 
 his way into a remote corner, where he took up his 
 station under a tree. He held something huddled 
 up under his arm, beneath his blouse, or smock- 
 frock, and looked up at the windows of the fourth 
 floor, where, as already stated, Questel's apart- 
 ments were. At first I thought of mentioning the 
 circumstance to Ayesha, then of warning Questel, 
 but a moment's reflection sufficed to convince me 
 that either course would be imprudent. I could at 
 least watch and await the issue. In the course of 
 a few minutes, I saw Questel leave the house, and 
 after glancing up at my window, proceed towards 
 the spot where the strange man stood. The two 
 seemed to exchange a few sentences, as if both were 
 in somewhat of a hurry, and then the stranger 
 withdrew from its hiding-place what he held con- 
 cealed there, and handed it to Questel. It was 
 a canvas bag containing money. This done, the 
 men parted, Questel returning stealthily as it 
 appeared to me to the house, his friend, or 
 agent, or accomplice, departing by the path just 
 mentioned. 
 
126 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 What could this mysterious proceeding mean ? 
 
 The incident produced so strange an impression 
 upon me, that I was disturbed in mind the whole 
 day. I said nothing about it to Ayesha, but 
 resolved to watch narrowly for any farther develope- 
 ment of the mystery. 
 
 Three days after, a repetition of the same in- 
 cident occurred, and so it went on afterwards, at 
 intervals of two or three days during our stay. On 
 one of these occasions, an altercation seemed to be 
 going on, for I noticed much gesticulation on both 
 sides, and it struck me as especially singular, that 
 M. Questel, habitually so bland and mild, should 
 suddenly be capable of an animated conversation. 
 That same morning, a,t breakfast, he placed in my 
 daughter's hands a bag containing as he said a 
 trifle of five thousand francs in gold, which he 
 begged her to accept to purchase jewellery with 
 when she returned to Paris, as a reminder of her 
 journey into Brittany. But Ayesha refused the 
 gift and pushed the bag away again. 
 
 " Yet," thought I, " this man is reputed to be 
 
 a miser." 
 
 As may be supposed, I exhausted my ingenuity 
 in conjecturing solutions of the enigma of these 
 strange meetings. We were near the sea, with 
 
AYESHA ACCEPTS M. QUESTEL. 127 
 
 every facility for contraband trade. Was Questel in 
 league with a gang of smugglers ? Or, was he the 
 head of a band of coiners, or robbers ? I dismissed 
 these surmises in due course of time, and after 
 making the inquiries already narrated ; but the in- 
 cident left an uncomfortable impression. Not till 
 some length of time after did I make it known to 
 Ayesha. 
 
 As the days passed away I began to feel con- 
 strained to speak to my daughter respecting her 
 intentions, for, remain under this man's roof we 
 could not, decorously, under the circumstances. 
 I found that his unwearied attentions, his kindness, 
 his uniform equable temper, his mildness of dis- 
 position as exhibited in his relations with his house- 
 hold, had produced a certain favourable impression 
 upon her, and that although she did not feel any 
 affection for him, she began to like him better: 
 " He is so good, mamma ! " 
 
 So, having agreed that the moment had arrived 
 for a decision, and that the venture should be made, 
 we intimated to our host our disinclination to tax 
 his hospitality any longer. He protested, naturally 
 enough, that we w^ere welcome to remain as much 
 longer as we chose, but if we had resolved to 
 leave him, at least he might venture to hope he 
 
128 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 had not in any way failed in his duties as host, and 
 perhaps he might farther venture to solicit the 
 favour of a reply to the proposal he had had the 
 temerity to make, and which had procured him the 
 distinguished honour of our visit to his humble 
 dwelling. 
 
 What reply but the one was to be made ? The 
 die was cast. Ayesha accepted him, and I embraced 
 my new son-in-law, who most respectfully kissed 
 my hand, then that of his affianced wife. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 We go to London My daughter's marriage "We return into Brittany 
 I am watched I evade M. Questel's vigilance My new relations 
 Extraordinary revelations. 
 
 M. QUESTEL had in the course of our various 
 conversations informed me that his father was 
 dead, and that his mother was an English lady, 
 belonging to a family of great distinction, who, 
 after her husband's decease, had returned to her 
 native country, and was then living in London 
 upon her income. It did not startle me, therefore, 
 when he suggested that, on her account, the mar- 
 riage should take place in that city, according to 
 the forms of the Catholic Church. I could urge 
 no reasonable objection to this proposition, for it 
 was plausible enough, and the mother's presence on 
 such an occasion seemed especially desirable. We 
 agreed, therefore, to comply with his desire. 
 
 In the arrangements for our journey, and in every 
 imaginable way, M. Quest el was attentive to the 
 
130 SIX YEAES IN EUKOPE. 
 
 last degree, and in the minor courtesies of daily 
 life was even more scrupulously polite than ever. 
 Indeed, his assiduities became almost painful to me. 
 I had endeavoured to reason myself out of my first 
 impressions of him, and had succeeded to the extent 
 of believing they were erroneous ; but there remained 
 an under- current of vague mistrust which, in spite 
 of my efforts to suppress it, would continually 
 bring to the surface the stray straws to which my 
 misgivings clung, giving to these a sudden and 
 serious importance. His very excess of politeness, 
 flattering at first, became wearisome, and at last 
 was positively painful. There was in it some- 
 thing studied and deliberate ; although if I had 
 been challenged to lay my finger upon a single act 
 of his in his almost hourly intercourse with us 
 which gave evidence of insincerity, I should most 
 assuredly have failed. 
 
 It was arranged we should repair to London 
 without any unnecessary delay. In Paris we 
 put up at an hotel in the Rue du Bac, Faubourg 
 St. Germain, whence we started for London by way 
 of Boulogne and Folkestone. On board the steamer 
 an odd incident occurred, which again renewed my 
 old suspicions, and gave me a most unfavourable 
 idea of my intended son-in-law's veracity. I have 
 
M. QUESTEL'S FALSITY. 131 
 
 stated that when he met us at the station at Vannes 
 he appeared in the fez. This coif he continued to 
 wear, and in Paris I observed that he had made an 
 investment in a new one. It now attracted the 
 notice of a gentleman, a fellow-passenger, and he 
 presently engaged in conversation with Questel, 
 who probably thought the rolling of the vessel had 
 made me close my ears as well as my eyes. It was 
 in reply to an observation made by this gentleman 
 that Questel said he had just come from the East 
 with his wife and his mother-in-law. We certainly 
 were travelling West, and prospectively Ayesha and 
 I stood towards him in the relation he had indicated, 
 but the fact was as yet unaccomplished : he had 
 imposed upon our fellow-passenger, and told him a 
 downright falsehood. The motive, save to make 
 himself for the moment interesting to his inter- 
 locutor, I could not divine. 
 
 I do not know where Questel lodged us in 
 London, nor in what neighbourhood. It was in a 
 grand, fine house, magnificently furnished, and 
 where we were sumptuously provided for. We 
 did not, however, remain there more than four or 
 five days, and were removed into some large foreign 
 hotel in Leicester Square. Monsieur Questel, still 
 unremitting in his attentions, busied himself in 
 
 K 2 
 
13.2 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 making purchases for us of dresses and jewelry, 
 and other articles, regardless of our protests against 
 his extravagance, which he met by the most 
 vehement assurances that nothing could be too 
 good for us. 
 
 It had been settled that the marriage should take 
 place by licence, but Monsieur Questel startled us' by 
 an announcement of his intention to have it solem- 
 nized according to the forms of the Protestant 
 Church, giving as one reason his inveterate dislike 
 to Eoman Catholic priests. In reply to my objec- 
 tions for I felt certain scruples on this score he 
 urged that one form of marriage was as good as 
 another, and he had decided for the Protestant 
 form, because it offered the immense advantage of 
 rendering unnecessary a dispensation from the Pope, 
 and, as a consequence, the avoidance of delay. This 
 explanation satisfied me, and it was decided that 
 the ceremony should take place at the Church of 
 St. James', Piccadilly. 
 
 Several times during this interval Monsieur 
 Questel referred to his mother in terms indicating 
 extreme annoyance at her absence from London, 
 but leaving us to understand that she would arrive 
 for the ceremony. As it was winter-time, and the 
 snow lay heavily on the ground, I expressed my 
 
AYESHA'S MARRIAGE WITH QUESTEL. 133 
 
 sympathy with the lady's disinclination to move 
 about in such weather, and not to come to London 
 until the last moment. I thought it odd, however, 
 that he did not introduce us to any of her grand 
 connexions, nor to any of his own friends. 
 
 A few days before the one fixed for the marriage 
 I received a letter which compelled me to start 
 immediately for Paris. It related to Djehad, on 
 whose behalf some interest had been exercised to 
 secure him admission into the corps of the Pope's 
 Zouaves. The intelligence was to the effect that 
 the corps would leave for Rome on a particular 
 day, and Djehad must present himself at head- 
 quarters at once or lose his nomination. This 
 unexpected incident prevented my being present 
 at the marriage, but it was agreed that my 
 daughter and her husband should rejoin me as 
 speedily after it as possible. 
 
 Under these circumstances the wedding was 
 solemnized on the twenty-second of January, 1868 ; 
 and M. Questel and his bride joined me in Paris 
 shortly afterwards. 
 
 We remained in Paris only a very few days, and 
 then returned to the chateau in Brittany. Here the 
 old course of life was resumed, and the o]d manifes- 
 tations of civility and minute attention to me were as 
 
SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 marked and particular as of yore. With them, too, 
 came the former restrictions upon my personal 
 freedom. I could not stir out unattended by 
 Questel : could not get away half a dozen yards 
 from the door, but my vigilant son-in-law appeared 
 at my elbow. Scarcely did he leave me an hour 
 without looking after me upon some trivial pretext. 
 This constant espionage produced a nervous, anxious 
 state of mind, which entirely deprived me of rest, and 
 set me considering what might be his reason for 
 cutting me off from free intercourse with our neigh- 
 bours, or I might even now say my neighbours. I re- 
 solved, however, to break through this insufferable 
 restraint, and my first step was to endeavour to learn 
 how he contrived to know when I quitted the house, 
 though I did not make known my intention prior 
 to making the attempt. An examination of the 
 position of his apartments satisfied me that this 
 post of observation commanded a full view of the 
 door and of the paths of egress and ingress from 
 and to the house, and that he must be constantly 
 on the watch. I might, indeed, have discovered as 
 much in the earlier days had his attentions not 
 Jiood winked my judgment by quieting my suspi- 
 cions. Once, however, convinced that I was really 
 systematically watched from one of his windows, 
 
I DETERMINE TO GO OUT ALONE. 135 
 
 the conclusion was forced upon me that there must 
 be some cogent reason for such a proceeding, and I 
 determined to act upon my conviction that his 
 jealousy covered another of his " little secrets." 
 
 Having well reconnoitred the ground, I concluded 
 that by keeping close to the wall I might evade my 
 spy's vigilant glance, and secure impunity by leaving 
 the house early in the morning. The very next day 
 I put my plan in execution, and accomplished my 
 purpose. 
 
 Although during my former stay my opportu- 
 nities of a solitary walk had been few, I had, 
 in our later rides and promenades, closely observed 
 localities, and having now fixed upon a strategic 
 point of departure, I formed my plans for a com- 
 plete campaign of inquiry. Proceeding, then, in 
 quite a new direction, I walked on until I came to 
 an old house situated in the middle of a garden. In 
 the court-yard were three women, one in the garb 
 of a person of the better class, and wearing a coif 
 like a sister or a nun, the two others, servant-maids, 
 in huge wooden shoes, their arms and the. upper 
 part of their massive shoulders bare. The three 
 were busy preparing food for fowls and pigs. 
 
 I laid my hand upon the gate, and had time to 
 take note of the group before the chief member of 
 
136 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 it perceived me. She looked sharply up as soon as 
 she caught a glimpse of something moving, and left 
 off her occupation. The others almost as soon did 
 the same, staring at me as I advanced. 
 
 "Madame," said I, addressing the lady in the 
 nun's cap, " may I take the liberty of asking to be 
 allowed to rest myself for a few minutes ? " 
 
 "But, certainly, Madame, with pleasure. Come 
 in, Madame." 
 
 I was conducted into a sort of kitchen, and 
 a wooden chair was set for my accommodation. 
 The lady took another, and sat down opposite 
 to me. 
 
 " Madame is is from the chateau, I presume 1 " 
 said she. 
 
 " I am, Madame. Do you know the owner ? " 
 
 " Monsieur Questel ? Oh, certainly." 
 
 " You have known him long 1 " 
 
 The lady smiled. 
 
 " I see," said I ; a then you know him well." 
 
 "If I did not, Madame, I do not know who 
 should. I am Madame Questel." 
 
 I repeated her two last words in a tone which 
 indicated my astonishment. 
 
 " Yes, Madame," continued the lady, " I am his 
 sister-in-law, his own brother's wife." 
 
FAMILY REVELATIONS. ]37 
 
 " Oh, indeed ! I did not know he had any such 
 near relatives. He never mentioned the fact to me. 
 Indeed, he intimated that he had no family con- 
 nexions living except his mother." 
 
 It was Madame Questel's turn to echo my last 
 words. 
 
 " His mother ! His mother living ! " 
 
 " Yes ! So he told me. She is a grand lady of 
 high family, living in London on her income." 
 
 Madame Questel seemed struck dumb. Her 
 pleasant countenance assumed an expression of 
 blank astonishment, and the colour died out of her 
 cheeks. At length she exclaimed, bringing her 
 hands together with a clap and intertwining her 
 fingers : 
 
 " Grand Dieu ! He told you that ? Why his 
 mother, poor soul, has been dead some years ! " 
 
 " It is, perhaps, a second wife," I suggested. 
 
 " But no, Madame ! Jean-Marie's father did not 
 marry again." 
 
 " Jean-Marie ! " I said. " Is that your husband's 
 name ? " 
 
 " My husband's ? No, Madame," she replied. 
 " That is the name of my husband's brother." 
 
 \' I thought it was Jules. So he told me." 
 
 " Ah ! Madame does not know him. Jean-Marie 
 
133 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 is only a peasant name, and he is ashamed of it, as 
 he is of all his relatives. He is too proud to look at 
 us. I presume Madame is the mother of the young 
 person he has married ? " 
 
 I replied affirmatively. 
 
 "Ah, Madame," resumed Madame Questel; "we 
 were all well pleased when we heard he was going 
 to marry the daughter of the Grand Vizier of 
 Turkey. Who would have thought that the son of 
 a bred and born peasant would ever contract such 
 a fine marriage ? " 
 
 I felt I was on the threshold of farther revela- 
 tions, and that all I had to do was to say only just 
 so much as would serve to draw out my new friend. 
 
 " Strange ! " I remarked. 
 
 " And that I should have the honour of calling 
 her sister-in-law, and of receiving in my poor 
 corner so grand a lady as Madame ! " 
 
 " Oh, I am not a grand lady, Madame," I 
 answered, being desirous of abbreviating her 
 compliments. 
 
 " That is because Madame is so good," she 
 resumed, " as to forget her rank to converse with 
 us peasants." 
 
 " Pray, Madame," I rejoined, " do not speal^ in 
 this way. A peasant who earns his bread by the 
 
 
MORE REVELATIONS. 139 
 
 toil of his hands and the sweat of his brow, who is 
 honest and fulfils his duties, is as good as a king 
 who does nothing and lives upon his people. Believe 
 me, I respect labour, and I respect the peasant/' 
 
 I held out my hand which she seized with 
 earnestness, and pressed it warmly. 
 
 " Ah, Madame ! If all were only like you. If 
 our Jean-Marie could but see things in the same 
 light. I suppose now he is so rich, we shall see 
 less of him than ever, and he will despise us more. 
 Two hundred thousand francs are a large dowry, 
 Madame, not to reckon the diamonds, and the lands, 
 and the inheritance." 
 
 I preserved a passive demeanour, but mentally 
 I opened wide my eyes. What next, I thought. 
 
 " You think so \ " I remarked. 
 
 "But, Madame, so does everybody, and in our 
 poor Brittany such fortunes are rare. It is to be 
 hoped he will now pay off all his debts, and not be 
 obliged to sell his land." 
 
 "Are all his farms encumbered then?" I inquired. 
 
 " But, Madame, he has no farms. He has only 
 the land immediately surrounding the chateau, and 
 that is not much. It is a pity he did not leave the 
 old cottage standing instead of mortgaging what he 
 had to build that dungeon-looking place of his. 
 
340 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 The house you are in, Madame, was his father's, 
 and is quite good enough for us." 
 
 "'Still," I observed, pushing my inquiries a step 
 farther, "his land brings him in a revenue." 
 
 "What is let of it, Madame, would not keep 
 him," answered Madame Questel : "so, of course, he 
 must do something. "What it is we cannot know. 
 He is, we suppose, occupied in Paris, where he stays 
 the best part of his time. But, has he not told 
 Madame all this ? " 
 
 " Nothing," I answered. 
 
 " Oh ! Madame, then I have been indiscreet ; 
 I ought to have held my peace. He will be furious 
 if he should know this came from me." 
 
 I comforted Madame Questel with the assurance 
 that I would not betray her, for which promise she 
 expressed her gratitude. Our conversation was in- 
 terrupted by the entrance of a bluff, burly man in 
 heavy wooden shoes, a slouch hat, and a smock frock. 
 Madame introduced him to me as her husband, and 
 he saluted me with an air of frankness which im- 
 pressed me favourably. I could see he was quite 
 in the rough, but he had a pleasant open counte- 
 nance and an agreeable smile. Unlike his brother, 
 he looked me steadily in the face when speaking, 
 and I could see he was summing me up. 
 
AN INVITATION TO A WEDDING-FEAST. 141 
 
 I had yet to go through another ceremony, 
 that of presentation to five robust daughters, 
 the eldest being only ten, and whose cheeks, had 
 they been clean, I would fain have kissed. The 
 family were about to get a meal so I rose to depart, 
 after accepting a cup of milk. Monsieur and 
 Madame Questel hoped I would come again soon 
 and often, and invited me, specially, to a wedding 
 feast to take place within a few days in their neigh- 
 bourhood, and the date of which they begged me 
 not to forget. I assured them I should not do so, 
 and with this promise took my leave. 
 
 We had returned from Paris a month when 
 this revelation was made to me. The effect it 
 produced upon me may more easily be imagined 
 than described. How many more "little secrets" 
 lay behind ? It was clear we were duped, but what 
 motive had prompted Questel to deceive us in this 
 manner ? Was he looking to a reversion of my 
 daughter's fortune ? The issue of our applications 
 to Constantinople was uncertain, and to lay out 
 such a sum of money as our entertainment, our trip 
 to London, and other expenses, must have cost, let 
 alone the taking upon himself the burden of a wife 
 and her mother, all this upon mere speculation, 
 seemed to me to be an act too absurd for a man, 
 
142 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 evidently so shrewd as Questel, to indulge in. No ! 
 There was some deeper reason ; but what could it 
 be ? On my way home I turned the whole matter 
 over in my mind, and decided to keep my own 
 counsel until the opportunity should present itself 
 for me to disclose my knowledge. 
 
 I never learnt whether Questel knew I had evaded 
 his vigilance on that occasion. I am inclined to 
 think he never suspected the fact. If he knew it, 
 his dissimulation was perfect. His manner to me 
 was as polite and deferential as hitherto, and his 
 small courtesies were as punctiliously minute. 
 
 On the day appointed for the marriage feast I told 
 my son-in-law I had heard there was to be held 
 a festival of this kind and I should like to witness 
 it. He changed colour* and his lips twitched ner- 
 vously ; but in remonstrating with me, as I expected 
 he would do, his voice retained its firmness, and his 
 meekness of manner remained unchanged by the 
 violent emotion to which at that moment he must 
 have been a prey. " Why did I wish to attend such 
 a gathering ? A parcel of peasants ; low, vulgar, 
 and uneducated people ; what was to be gained 
 by associating with such ? " 
 
 " The novelty of the thing is the great attraction 
 to me/' I replied. "I am in a new country, and 
 
M. QUESTEL OBJECTS TO MY GOING. 
 
 desire to make myself acquainted with the manners 
 and customs of its people/' 
 
 " Madame will pardon me if I venture to repre- 
 sent that it is not a place at which it is proper 
 she should be seen/' 
 
 I objected that Monsieur le Cure would be there 
 no doubt, and many of the small landowners, and 
 there would not be any impropriety in my being 
 present in the midst of such company. 
 
 "But Madame knows that I do not care she 
 should mix with the people of this neighbourhood. 
 I do not do so myself/' 
 
 " You cannot expect," I replied, "that I shall 
 remain always confined within the walls of this 
 house, or to the limits of your garden, and be from 
 year's end to year's end restricted to the sight of 
 your face and those of your domestics ! They are 
 agreeable, no doubt, but they are monotonous." 
 
 " I have no wish to impose any such restrictions 
 upon Madame/' was his answer, in the same 
 low tone, and with the same meek deferential 
 manner. " We shall soon have change enough to 
 satisfy Madame. But so long as we remain here it 
 would be agreeable to me if Madame would con- 
 form to my wishes, and not seek to make acquaint- 
 ances in this neighbourhood of whom, I regret 
 
144 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 to say, I disapprove. Madame will not go to this 
 fete." 
 
 " Madame intends to go/' I retorted ; for I felt I 
 must now either assert and maintain my inde- 
 pendence of action, or surrender myself into the 
 hands of a man, who I perceived was none the less 
 a tyrant for concealing his claws in kid gloves. 
 " Madame is no prisoner, Monsieur Questel," I went 
 on to say ; " nor is she a child in leading-strings. 
 Madame has made up her mind to go, and go she 
 assuredly will." 
 
 "Madame will, of course, do as she pleases," 
 replied he, with a scarcely perceptible shrug of the 
 shoulders, and with a smile on his now blanched lips 
 which suddenly revealed to me the demon lurking 
 beneath that smooth exterior. " I cannot restrain 
 Madame. But Madame will bear in mind she goes 
 against my express desire, and in the face of my 
 friendly prohibition." 
 
 I went to the fete, of course. 
 
 My new friends were delighted to see me. They 
 received me with every possible demonstration of 
 welcome. They assigned me the place of honour at 
 the long table in the large field upon which the 
 banquet was spread, consisting of joints of veal of 
 awful solidity ; fowls, salads, pies and tarts, and 
 
THE DANCING AT THE FEAST. 145 
 
 custards ; cheese in bulk ; gaieties a kind of butter 
 pastry-cake fruits in mounds ; cider and other 
 drinkables in superabundance ; to the demolition of 
 all which delicacies the guests, male and female, young 
 and old, addressed themselves with an earnestness of 
 purpose and a capacity for stowage, which were 
 nothing short of marvellous to me ; quite unaccus- 
 tomed to witness such feasting. 
 
 My sister-in-law had taken me by the hand and 
 'seated me by her side. She helped me, I verily 
 believe, to a portion of everything upon the table, 
 manifestly labouring under the superstition that the 
 cramming of a guest is the culminating point of hospi- 
 tality. She presented me to everybody, and I found 
 myself overwhelmed in quite a deluge of Questel 
 connexions, to the entire extinction of a possibility 
 of further removes. After the feasting, the satisfied 
 guests took to dancing by way of promoting diges- 
 tion. The instrument was the cornemuse, or 
 binouij a kind of bagpipes, which gives forth its 
 music only under pressure, and revenges itself by 
 yielding, as if by way of protest, a series of most 
 excruciating discords. To join in the exercise it 
 provoked I had no desire, but I found refusal im- 
 possible, so importunate were the cavaliers of the 
 family. I gave in, however, only after an assurance 
 
146 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 from Madame Questel that not to join in the dance 
 would be regarded as an indication of pride on my 
 part, and would produce an unfavourable impres- 
 sion. I could take one turn or two and then retire. 
 Thus admonished, I surrendered myself into the 
 power of a herculean Questel to be hustled and 
 pushed, and bumped, and dragged, and whirled, 
 and pulled about after a fashion which, in the 
 shape of bruises and tender bones, left me some- 
 thing to remember for many days. Having under- 
 gone my penance, I resumed my seat, far less 
 delighted than the amiable monster to whom I 
 remain indebted for the most awful shaking I ever 
 got in my life. 
 
 I thoroughly enjoyed the plain, straight-forward 
 ways of my new friends, and remained with them 
 until seven in the evening, Monsieur conducting me 
 a good distance on my way home. I was informed, 
 before I left, that a relative would shortly be 
 married, and to that festival I must promise to 
 come, and to bring my daughter. This I consented 
 to do, immensely to the gratification of those who 
 invited me. 
 
 Ayesha, being indisposed, had retired when I 
 reached home. I found my son-in-law quite ready 
 to receive me, and, as usual, he was prodigal of his 
 
INTERROGATIONS. 147 
 
 small attentions. In spite of his placid exterior, I 
 knew he must be in a terrible state of mental fret, 
 but I had resolved not to betray his sister-in-law's 
 confidence, nor to reveal what I had learnt until 
 my own time came for doing so. When, therefore, 
 placing my footstool as was his custom under 
 my feet, he inquired blandly and with an air of 
 infinite unconcern, what I had seen, I merely 
 answered that I had witnessed a very curious 
 festival, and passed a very agreeable day. 
 
 " And the the peasants, Madame," he added, 
 with a marked contemptuous emphasis upon the 
 word. 
 
 " Very pleasant people," I replied. " Plain, 
 rough, even uncouth, but to all appearance, frank 
 and hospitable. I rather like them. They seemed 
 rather proud, than otherwise, of their independent 
 position as cultivators of the soil." 
 
 " Nothing much to be proud of," ejaculated he. 
 
 " Nothing to be ashamed of," I answered. " A 
 man who is peasant born should not blush to 
 acknowledge it." 
 
 Questel made no reply, but I saw plainly enough 
 my bolt had struck home. Probably, either sus- 
 pecting I had learnt far more concerning him than 
 he wished me to know, or, perhaps, doubtful of the 
 
 L 2 
 
148 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 extent of my knowledge, and fearful of provoking 
 a disclosure inopportunely, lie did not push the 
 conversation any further, but allowed me to retire 
 on the plea of my feeling over-fatigued, which, in 
 fact, was the case. 
 
 I think he must have passed an uncomfortable 
 night. 
 
 
CHAPTEE X. 
 
 I impart to Ayesha her husband's history We are invited to a family 
 festival A domestic crisis More revelations I have an explanation 
 with my son-in-law. 
 
 I TOOK the very earliest opportunity next day to 
 ascertain of Ayesha whether her husband had ac- 
 quainted her with any new facts relating to himself 
 and family. He had not. It therefore became my 
 painful duty to make her as wise as myself, but the 
 disclosure did not appear to affect her very much. 
 We had been duped, it was true ; but she had at 
 least a protector, bound to provide for her and for 
 me ; and this was preferable to a fitful life of plenty 
 and poverty ; to alternations of hope and despair. 
 Her husband must now take the necessary steps 
 for the recovery of her property, which, once 
 obtained, would suffice for all. 
 
 Although I deemed it my duty to disclose to 
 Ayesha the secret I had discovered, I did not con- 
 sider myself justified in commenting upon her 
 
150 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 husband's duplicity. I felt that Ayesha might 
 justly remind me of her aversion to the marriage 
 and of my having promoted it. Nor would it have 
 been right on my part to excite her against him by 
 imparting the thoughts which gave me so much 
 uneasiness, and which were fixed upon determining, 
 if possible, what deep design had to be carried out 
 through our instrumentality ; for, that mischief was 
 afoot I did not now entertain the slightest doubt. 
 That mysterious man in the garden, and the transfer 
 of the money-bags to Questel, haunted me like a 
 spectre. Could he be a spy 1 Had the Ottoman 
 Embassy anything to do with this strange business ? 
 Had Questel derived funds from that quarter to 
 make a show and impose upon us, in order to 
 establish a control over us ? This point I could not 
 determine, but my convictions began to tend very 
 strongly in that direction. 
 
 My description of the festival highly entertained 
 Ayesha. I informed her of the projected one, and 
 of the conditional promise I had made to take her 
 to it. She was delighted, and especially at the 
 prospect of making acquaintance with her new 
 relatives. "We agreed no mention should be made 
 to her husband of our intention, nor of the informa- 
 tion I had obtained concerning him. It was well 
 
AYESHA WISHES TO SEE A FETE. 151 
 
 to be warned and on our guard ; but, as we could 
 not help ourselves, to wait was our only alter- 
 native. 
 
 All this time no news came from Constantinople ! 
 
 Some days after this conversation with my 
 daughter, a visitor to us was announced. Questel 
 had gone out. It was the Mayor of the neigh- 
 bouring village, where the forthcoming wedding- 
 festival was to take place next day, and he came 
 formally to invite our attendance. As we had 
 made up our mind to go, we dismissed this worthy 
 functionary with the assurance which as he begged 
 us to believe he only required to make him 
 supremely happy; and in this state of mind he took 
 his departure. 
 
 On Questel' s return, Ayesha, in high glee, in- 
 formed him of our acceptance of this invitation ; 
 and expressing her delight at the prospect of seeing 
 a new phase of French country life, and of being 
 introduced to his relatives, added, ^that, with him by 
 her side, she anticipated passing a very happy day. 
 To her astonishment, but not to mine, he replied 
 abruptly : 
 
 "I shall not go, nor shall you. Your mother 
 may do so if she pleases, as she has already placed 
 herself in opposition to my wish that she should not 
 
152 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 visit the people in this neighbourhood ; but you 
 you shall not go." 
 
 The suddenness of the refusal, his peremptory 
 tone, his excited manner, for the moment startled 
 Ayesha. She stood for a few seconds looking into 
 his changed countenance for his face and lips had 
 turned white as though unable to realize that he 
 was the same man whose indulgence, kindness, and 
 meekness had hitherto been so uniform. But her 
 hesitation did not last long. Her flashing eyes and 
 heightened colour indicated the coming storm, which 
 she nevertheless struggled to suppress. 
 
 " I shall not go 1 " she presently said, her burning 
 glance turned full upon him. 
 
 " You shall not," was his steady reply. 
 
 " You prohibit me accompanying my mother ? " 
 she asked. 
 
 " Formally and decidedly," he rejoined. 
 
 "Then, Monsieur," she exclaimed, "I tell you 
 I will go. What reasons can you have for seek- 
 ing to prevent me and my mother from taking 
 a little recreation ? Why should you object to 
 our visiting your relatives, who are now ours, and 
 from showing them civilities in return ? Tell me 
 that." 
 
 " I have no explanations to give to you, 
 
AYESHA SPEAKS UP FOR HERSELF. 153 
 
 Madame/' lie retorted. " I have reasons. They are 
 my own, and that is sufficient." 
 
 "No, Monsieur," she continued, "that is not 
 sufficient. I know the reasons. Yes ! You may 
 open your eyes, but I repeat it : I know your 
 reasons. They are of no value now. You cannot 
 have anything more to conceal from us/' 
 
 " I demand an explanation," he exclaimed, trem- 
 bling with rage and mortification. " Your mother 
 has been exciting you to rebel against my authority 
 to defy it in fact." 
 
 " My mother has done no such thing, Monsieur. 
 My mother knows herself too well to condescend to 
 such a meanness. It is I, of my own accord, who 
 rebel against an authority so unjustly and so absurdly 
 asserted. Yes, Monsieur ; and in this instance I defy 
 it, as I will whenever you attempt to place it 
 between me and an innocent, legitimate indulgence. 
 I tell you we cannot learn of you more than we 
 know/' 
 
 "Again, Madame," he now vociferated, "I de- 
 mand an explanation ! What do you know ? " 
 
 " More, Monsieur, than you cared to tell us three 
 months ago, more than I care to repeat. We know 
 everything. Let that suffice for you/' 
 
 How far this altercation might have proceeded, 
 
154 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 or to what result it might have led, but for my 
 interference, I know not. 
 
 "We had far better drop the matter of ex- 
 planation, Monsieur Questel," I said. " No good 
 can come of it. We have no wish to defy your 
 authority ; but, on the other hand, you must not 
 expect us to consent to be kept close prisoners in 
 this chateau. We shall go to this family festival, 
 and you will be reasonable and accompany us. It 
 will be best for all parties." 
 
 " It would be far more reasonable for none of 
 us to go," he answered, after a pause, during 
 which he walked a few paces to and fro in 
 the room, and which produced the effect of a 
 counter-irritant. " At any rate, I can think of 
 it. But I warn you, I will be master in rny own 
 house." 
 
 With this, he abruptly quitted the apartment, 
 leaving Ayesha and me to our reflections. 
 
 From that hour Monsieur Questel's attentions to 
 me began to decline. 
 
 Next forenoon M. Questel, who had not referred 
 to the scene of the preceding day, seeing we were 
 preparing to depart, put on his hat as soon as we 
 were ready, and, without saying a word, proceeded 
 with us to the place of meeting. Our arrival was 
 
A MAYOR IX A DOUBLE CAPACITY. 155 
 
 the second great event of the day. Of course the 
 Questels mustered in force, and I shall not soon 
 forget the discomfiture of my son-in-law when he 
 found himself obliged to acknowledge his relatives. 
 It was absolutely pitiable to witness him writhing 
 under the tortures of his wounded vanity. He 
 took an early opportunity of abandoning the field, 
 although he kept somewhere near, for he con- 
 tinually appeared and disappeared, never remaining 
 long present or absent. He did not sit down to 
 dinner, nor take part in the gaieties that succeeded 
 it. Why he came at all, unless to watch us, seeing 
 he would neither eat, drink, nor be sociable, puzzled 
 me exceedingly. 
 
 The repast was on pretty much the same solid 
 scale as the one I had last attended. After it, 
 the Mayor, who occupied the seat of honour next 
 the bride, came up to me, and, with a profound 
 obeisance, said : 
 
 " Madame, I am very happy to have the honour 
 of renewing my acquaintance with you. Madame, 
 probably, does not forget me. I am the Mayor 
 of the village, and I hope you will favour me 
 with the honour of a call. I shall be delighted to 
 see you. I keep a little chandler's shop, Madame, 
 and whenever you require anything in my line 
 
156 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 sugar, pepper, matches, mustard, coffee, candles, 
 soap I have a good stock, and shall be very happy 
 to supply you. I used to be very intimate with 
 your son-in-law, Madame, but he is so proud now 
 he will not speak to me." 
 
 The warning groans of the bagpipes very for- 
 tunately interrupted the conversation, and brought 
 in a considerable number of other guests, of whom 
 some forty arranged themselves in a ring in the 
 meadow all joining hands and began a whirligig 
 dance, going round and round, and keeping time by 
 stamping on the ground with their wooden shoes. I 
 looked on, amused enough, but was not left long to 
 this enjoyment, for a laughing, ruddy-faced youth 
 took forcible possession of me, in spite of my protest 
 that I was too old to dance, and made me take two 
 or three turns, when, on my telling him I felt 
 tired, he very politely conducted me to my seat. 
 Fortunately my swain belonged to the category of 
 gentle ones, and my second saltatory experiment in 
 these parts did not leave me with bruised flesh and 
 tender bones. 
 
 The Breton costume for men and women is cha- 
 racteristic and striking enough, but close inspection 
 robs it of half its charm. The men wear a broad- 
 brimmed, slouch hat, a kind of round jacket when 
 
BRETON COSTUMES. 157 
 
 it is not a smock-frock baggy trowsers gathered in 
 above the knee and falling over it but not so as to 
 conceal the calf of the leg and sabots on the feet. 
 Very many of the young men wore their hair flow- 
 ing down over their shoulders and back, but cut off 
 straight across the forehead. The women also wear 
 wooden shoes, a close-fitting bodice, a short skirt 
 of woollen stuff or other material, with aprons, 
 having two pockets in them, and on their head a 
 skull-cap having a deep, plaited border, like the coif 
 of a nun. The bride's dress was of the same fashion, 
 only of some dark-coloured silk. Her cap had a 
 flower in it, and she wore a nosegay in her waist- 
 band. 
 
 As may be imagined, Ayesha's appearance at 
 this fete caused the liveliest sensation. In Brittany 
 the spirit of feudalism yet lingers, and respect 
 for superior rank is still a sentiment, like loyalty. 
 The clergy and the aristocracy are real powers in 
 that province, and their representatives are abso- 
 lutely small potentates. These facts will explain 
 the sort of awe with which Ayesha was at first 
 regarded. It appeared to me that they looked upon 
 her a real, native-born Turk, as a sort of lusus 
 natures a natural curiosity, to be examined from 
 all sides, to be inspected at every turn. Some re- 
 
158 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 mained content to stand and stare at her from a 
 distance, making their comments in under-tones to 
 one another. Others came prowling inquisitively 
 around her, then gradually ventured to cluster 
 nearer to her, whilst a few of the boldest presently 
 advanced to salute her and to address her a few 
 compliments. At all this Ayesha was immensely 
 amused, but she soon placed herself upon a good 
 footing with her new friends, and as everything 
 was novel, she entered fully into the spirit of the 
 scene, and enjoyed herself thoroughly. 
 
 It will be conjectured that I did not lose the 
 opportunity this fete afforded me of learning what 
 more I could concerning M. Questel, and his affairs. 
 My sister-in-law was my chief informant. 
 
 "Why don't you come to the chateau some- 
 times?" I asked. 
 
 " Because, Madame," she replied, " Jean-Marie is 
 too proud for us. You see, he is very ambitious. 
 Now, we are contented and happy in our position. 
 We work for our living, but we have everything we 
 want ; we live very comfortably, and we put by 
 money." 
 
 " By-th e-by," said I, " you told me the other day 
 that your brother-in-law had debts." 
 
 " Yes, Madame ! " she answered. " Before he 
 
YET MORE FAMILY REVELATIONS. 159 
 
 went to Paris he owed forty thousand francs, and 
 when it was settled that he should marry your 
 daughter, he borrowed ten thousand more of 
 a notary at Vannes. But then, you see, even fifty 
 thousand francs, though it is a large sum, can well 
 be spared out of two hundred thousand, and leave 
 something handsome to live upon. My husband 
 and I were glad to hear that Jean-Marie had 
 married a lady with such a handsome dowry, and 
 expectations besides." 
 
 " I think you also told me," I rejoined, " that 
 your brother-in-law's income was small ? " 
 
 " Only three hundred francs a month, Madame. 
 How can he live upon that ? The interest upon his 
 debts would nearly swallow up the whole." 
 
 " Well," I said, " now, as you remarked the other 
 day, he will be able to pay his debts. I am sorry 
 you are not friends. You must come to the 
 chateau and see us." 
 
 " Ah ! Madame, we should wish to do so, but we 
 are all afraid of Jean-Marie. He is so violent. His 
 temper is horrible. He despises us, and I and my 
 husband are naturally very angry with him. You 
 saw him to-day. He would scarcely recognise us." 
 
 I renewed my invitation, notwithstanding, to 
 Madame and her husband to pay me a visit at the 
 
160 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 chateau, and quietly took my leave somewhat early, 
 as Monsieur Questel had not re-appeared for a con- 
 siderable time. I had reason to believe, however, 
 that he was at no great distance from us ; in fact, he 
 arrived almost immediately after we reached the 
 house. 
 
 I was not displeased at the absence of his usual 
 attentions that evening, and withdrew much earlier 
 than my habitual hour to study the position and 
 to decide upon a course. 
 
 After breakfast next morning, I intimated my 
 wish to speak to him alone. I went out into the 
 garden. He followed me. 
 
 "Monsieur Questel," said I, after we had pro- 
 ceeded a few paces, " you will not be surprised that, 
 after the occurrences of the last few days, I should 
 seek to have some conversation with you/' 
 
 " I listen to you, Madame/' was his curt reply. 
 
 " In the first place, when by the merest accident 
 I discovered that your brother and his wife lived 
 close by, I was greatly surprised you never told me 
 they were such near neighbours. I was glad to 
 make their acquaintance, and I like them very 
 much." 
 
 He bowed slightly, but said nothing. 
 
 " You have been extremely careful, also, to keep 
 
I TELL MY SON-IN-LAW OF HIS TREACHERY. 161 
 
 us in total ignorance of the position of your family, 
 who are honest peasants, of whom you are ashamed, 
 though you are yourself a peasant's son." 
 
 Still he made no reply. 
 
 " You told me, Monsieur, that your mother was 
 alive, in London, living on her income, and be- 
 longed to a very high family. Why did you invent 
 such an infamous falsehood ? " 
 
 He was very pale, but held his peace. 
 
 " You knew, Monsieur, that she was dead. There 
 was no necessity to tell me an untruth about her. 
 My daughter is not at all fond of mothers-in- 
 law." 
 
 "Madame," he retorted, "your daughter is not 
 singular in this respect." 
 
 I would not notice this sarcasm. I had my own 
 purpose to pursue, and it was indispensable he 
 should hear me to the end. 
 
 <c You have grossly, designedly deceived us, Mon- 
 sieur Questel," I resumed. " When you saw us in 
 our sad state in Paris, we had not sought you. It 
 was you who came to us. We were not seeking for 
 grandeur nor riches. We wanted only tranquillity 
 and a peaceful home. We found in the one 
 to which you brought us, luxury, extravagance, 
 prodigal expenditure, wholly unjustifiable in a man 
 
162 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 owing forty thousand francs at that very time, and 
 whose entire income, upon which he could depend, 
 amounted to only three hundred francs a month." 
 
 " Madame has been very minutely informed/' he 
 answered, a malicious smile distorting his mouth. 
 " Pray continue." 
 
 " You increased that debt, Monsieur," I con- 
 tinued, " by borrowing ten thousand more of 
 a notary at Vannes, upon the strength of my 
 daughter's acceptance of you for her husband ; and 
 you gave out that she would bring you a dowry of 
 two hundred thousand francs, besides what she 
 would inherit from her father; another vile and 
 detestable falsehood, the object of it being to 
 deceive us as to the extent of your means, in 
 furtherance of some design of your own, in which 
 I cannot avoid the conviction that we are intended 
 to play no subordinate part. Is this not so ? " 
 
 " I have no reply to make to such a question," he 
 answered. " Madame forms her convictions inde- 
 pendently of me." 
 
 " Monsieur," I resumed, "it is not my object to 
 waste words in exposing what you know are mere 
 evasions. I take it for granted you have such a de- 
 sign in your mind. You will not tell me what it 
 is ; a sign that it cannot be a good one. But we 
 
I EXPOSTULATE WITH M. QUESTEL. 163 
 
 are wholly at your mercy, and must abide events, 
 trusting to Providence to protect us from harm. In 
 the meantime, Monsieur, things here cannot go on 
 as they are." 
 
 " At last ! " he exclaimed. " We are then coming 
 to something." 
 
 "Monsieur," said I, "the past cannot be 
 recalled, but the errors belonging to it can be 
 remedied. You are my son-in-law now, and it is 
 my duty to take an interest in your affairs. Now, 
 listen to me. Our present scale of living must be 
 reduced. You must not incur any more debts on 
 our account, nor run into needless expenses. The 
 more simply we live the better; and in the first 
 place, I recommend you to discharge at once, our 
 waiting-maid and your man-servant. I will under- 
 take the management of your household concerns, 
 and you need not, in fact, keep more than one 
 domestic. Say, shall this be so ? " 
 
 We walked on a few yards further in silence, 
 when he said : 
 
 "As it seems I cannot be master in my own 
 house, I may as well relinquish the future direction 
 of it into Madame's hands. From to-morrow, 
 Madame is free to act as she pleases. Has Madame 
 anything mere to say to me ? " 
 
164 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 " Not at present, Monsieur." 
 
 " Then I beg, respectfully, to wish Madame good 
 morning," he retorted; and turning on his heel he 
 walked rapidly away, leaving me to return home 
 alone. 
 
CHAPTEK XI. 
 
 M. Questel's ill-treatment of me Ayesha in terror Violent scenes at 
 home M. Questel throws off the mask The plot against myself and 
 Ayesha revealed. 
 
 I SOON found that in acceding to the request 
 I had preferred, in his interests, Monsieur Questel 
 had in view the rendering of my life as miserable 
 as possible. He held the purse-strings, and from 
 being profuse became niggardly. I remembered 
 that this was the character given to me of him some 
 short time back, but the description fell short of 
 the reality. He cavilled at the minutest expendi- 
 ture, urging my recommendation that we must live 
 economically. He grew every day more intract- 
 able, more exacting, more dissatisfied. The com- 
 mon necessaries were grudged us, and we never 
 sat down to a meal but a lecture on my extrava- 
 gance accompanied it. We had discharged those 
 domestics whom I regarded as unnecessary append- 
 ages, remaining with only one. One day she also 
 
166 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 disappeared without previous notice to me, and 
 upon my inquiring what had become of her, Mon- 
 sieur informed me he had dismissed her ; sent 
 her away on the moment, as he could no longer 
 afford to keep even one servant. 
 
 From that day I became the household drudge. 
 
 Ayesha beheld all this without emotion. She 
 seemed to have subsided into a condition of apathy, 
 out of which she could not, or would not, be 
 roused. She had come to entertain a sort of liking 
 for her husband, or, at any rate, professed a kind- 
 ling of affection for him at the very time his treat- 
 ment of us of me especially ought to have dis- 
 entitled him to the smallest regard or consideration. 
 She admitted his duplicity, his brutality, his penuri- 
 ousness, his evil disposition ; but in answer to my 
 suggestions to seek with me a remedy in flight, 
 replied placidly, that she must resign herself to 
 her fate, and as Providence had given her a second 
 bad husband, she had no alternative but to put up 
 with him. 
 
 I had already made so many sacrifices for my 
 daughter, that to remain by her, under these cir- 
 cumstances, seemed to me an imperative duty, 
 suffer what I might. Then, maternal affection sug- 
 gested an instinctive conviction that she was in 
 
M. QUESTEL FALLS ILL. 167 
 
 imminent personal peril. It took fast hold of my 
 mind and confirmed my views of my present duty. 
 Soon the suspicion began gradually to dawn upon 
 me, that her husband had discovered or invented 
 some means of terrorizing her, and hence this un- 
 natural submissiveness on her part. I felt satisfied 
 this tension could not last long. Studying her 
 hourly, from day to day, I came to the conclusion 
 that her moral enervation originated in absolute 
 despair of any immediate remedy for the actual 
 state of things, and isolated as she now was from 
 elevating influences of every kind, I could see and 
 deplore that the want of education, leaving her 
 wholly without mental resources, threw her back 
 upon a nature, blunted to the higher moral senti- 
 ments by the debasing associations of her early life. 
 In this way only could I account for her outward 
 indifference to the humiliations I was forced to 
 endure, and to the degradation to which I was 
 reduced. 
 
 During the spring Monsieur Questel fell ill of 
 a rheumatic complaint of a chronic character. 
 Unable to move without suffering intense pain, he 
 became a very demon. His impatience and irrita- 
 bility degenerated into absolute fury. He raved, 
 and stormed, and swore, and cursed day and night. 
 
168 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Nothing satisfied him. We waited upon him or it 
 were more accurate to say I did almost without 
 intermission. There was no hand but mine to prepare 
 his food, to make his drinks, to attend to his wants 
 of every kind. Everything had to be conveyed to 
 him up four flights of stairs, and he would often* 
 summon me on the most trivial pretext a few mi- 
 nutes after I had left his chamber. In my own 
 individual capacity I discharged the multifarious 
 functions of housekeeper, cook, housemaid, washer- 
 woman, laundress, and hospital nurse ; and, last of 
 all, I had to undertake the office of gardener, and 
 dig and sow, and plant, and gather. Had we 
 retained our horses, I should probably have had to 
 act as groom and stableman. 
 
 Convalescence not only brought no respite, but 
 even aggravated the situation. His demands upon 
 me were more exacting, his fits of impatience more 
 furious, his paroxysms of anger scarcely inter- 
 mittent. He knew we were wholly in his power, 
 defenceless, without resources, obliged to endure his 
 brutal insolence, and he now never any day failed 
 to assail us with reproaches that we were a burden 
 to him, to which he would occasionally add an 
 intimation that it would soon end. How, nor in 
 what manner, we could neither know nor foresee. 
 
QUESTEL MALTREATS AYESHA. 169 
 
 This miserable existence had lasted about three 
 months, when, one day, Ayesha having gone into 
 the garden with her husband, I heard her scream. 
 I rushed out, and saw him dragging her brutally 
 along by her wrists, towards the house. He loosed 
 his hold of her on perceiving me, and Ayesha ran 
 into my arms. 
 
 " What is the meaning of this ? " I asked. 
 
 *' He wanted to prevent me from going to my 
 brother-in-law/' Ayesha replied, sobbing. 
 
 " What do you want with him, my child ? " 
 
 " Mamma, it was to claim his protection. I can't 
 bear it any longer ! " 
 
 "Bear what, my child ?" 
 
 " He threatens to take me to Constantinople, 
 mamma dear, and I won't go. I would rather die. 
 He has been threatening to do so for months, unless 
 I would remain passive and do absolutely what he 
 wished. But I can't bear it any longer. Go to 
 Constantinople I will not, come what may." 
 
 The sight of my daughter struggling in the hands 
 of this ruffian in kid gloves, so excited and be- 
 wildered me, I gave no heed to him ; and when, 
 after embracing her, I looked up, he had disappeared. 
 
 " To - Constantinople ! " I exclaimed. " What 
 treachery is afoot now ? No, my child ! You shall 
 
170 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 not be taken back to Constantinople against your 
 will, so long as I am by to prevent it." 
 
 I had enough food for reflection that night. 
 " To Constantinople ! " The threat of taking her 
 to that hated place was then, the means he had em- 
 ployed to terrify her. I felt certain that whatever 
 else might happen, she would not return to Con- 
 stantinople. But why this threat ? What mystery 
 did it cover 1 
 
 Not many days elapsed before another and more 
 violent scene ensued. It arose out of my requesting 
 to be supplied with the means of purchasing neces- 
 saries ; a certain provocative of fury on his part, 
 under any circumstances. 
 
 " You are always wanting money," he said. 
 " You know I have none, or very little." 
 
 " But we must have food," I retorted. " Our 
 living, compared with what it was, does not cost 
 you much, Monsieur Questel." 
 
 " I don't see why I should provide food for either 
 of you ! " was his brutal reply ; " you especially, 
 Madame ! " he added, looking at me vindictively. 
 
 " I am earning the little you give me, Monsieur/' 
 I responded. "I am your servant, only without 
 wages. Your wife, my daughter, you are bound to 
 maintain." 
 
M. QUESTEL THROWS OFF THE MASK. 171 
 
 "I tell you, then," he said, " I will not spend any 
 more money on you. Why don't you go back to 
 Constantinople, both of you ? There you have 
 money. You can have as much as you want. Why 
 don't you get it ? Why do you live on me ? " 
 
 " We are not living on you, Monsieur/' I answered. 
 " I repeat, that I more than earn my morsel, and 
 your wife you must keep. I have been your servant, 
 your house-drudge, your slave, and have endured 
 your brutality and your insolence, and every kind 
 of humiliation on account of my daughter, whom 
 I would not, nay, will not, abandon to your savage 
 mercy." 
 
 " And what should I care, pray, Madame, for the 
 divorced wife of a Turk ? " he retorted, now livid 
 with rage, and trembling in every limb. " I am 
 not a Minister ! " Then, turning to his wife, he 
 continued ; " I have no money for such as you, 
 Madame. Do you think I married you for your 
 beauty ? Bah ! " 
 
 " You insolent ruffian ! " I cried, my own blood 
 in a boil. " How dare you insult my daughter in 
 this vile manner \ She did not seek to marry 
 you! You sought her hand; and why, pray, if 
 not for herself, since you knew well she had no 
 money ? " 
 
172 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 "Ah!" he exclaimed; "you challenge me to 
 answer that ! You want my secret, do you ? Well, 
 then, I throw off my mask now, and you shall know. 
 Parbleu ! Why did I marry her unless it was for 
 money ? " 
 
 I repeated the word. I and Ayesha stood 
 aghast. 
 
 " Yes, money ! " he retorted. " I prefer that to 
 beauty ! " Here he again addressed my daughter : 
 " Yes, Madame, for your money I married you, not 
 for your beauty ! " 
 
 " But I have no money ! " exclaimed Ayesha. 
 
 " Ah, no ? But your father is a Minister ! He 
 is rich. He wants you back in Constantinople, and 
 what, you don't know he has offered a reward 
 of two hundred thousand francs to whoever shall 
 deliver you up to him, that he may cherish and 
 take care of you ! Yes, Madame, and I I will take 
 you to him, and get that money ! I will turn 
 Mahometan, and the Pasha will get me a place. 
 I will be a Consul, or a State Secretary, or a Charge 
 <T Affaires ! He won't be able to refuse me. I am 
 not bound to keep Kibrizli's wife and child. Here 
 in France it is the custom for a wife to bring a 
 dowry to her husband. How could you be such an 
 imbecile as to think I should take you without 
 
QUESTEL'S FUEY. 173 
 
 a franc, without education, and half stupid, unless 
 I expected to be well compensated \ I won't 
 support you any longer in France. I will go 
 to Constantinople, I tell you, and I will make 
 you go ! " 
 
 " Not while I live and can defend her from your 
 vile and crafty designs ! " I exclaimed, suddenly 
 interrupting him at this point of his voluble and 
 audacious tirade. " I will not allow you to talk 
 to speak, to her in this way : at least, in my pre- 
 sence ! I see now exactly what you are ! Your 
 own infamous, cowardly language, betrays you ! I 
 ought to have believed what others told me about 
 you ! I now see you desired to rid yourself of me 
 that you might obtain the control over my daughter ; 
 but, although she is your wife, you shall not do with 
 her as you like, for you are a cheat and a bad man, 
 and I will not leave her ; and, Monsieur Questel 
 Monsieur Jean-Marie Questel she shall not go back 
 to Constantinople ! " 
 
 "And I tell you, Madame," retorted he, gesti- 
 culating furiously, " that she shall go ! She shall 
 go back, Madame ! I swear it, Madame ! She 
 shall go ! she shall ! " 
 
 Unable to restrain himself, he tore out of the 
 room, mad with fury, disappointment, and morti- 
 
174 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 fication, and reiterating his last assertion with an 
 oath that made my blood curdle. 
 
 I summed up the situation : Ayesha was in- 
 capable of thought. Here were, to my appre- 
 hension, the simple facts, after the clean breast of 
 it Monsieur Questel had made. 
 
 Persistent silence on the part of my husband, to 
 reduce us to submission from actual want ! Failure 
 of this design ! A new plot ! A reward of two 
 hundred thousand francs offered for our re-capture 
 and safe delivery into the hands of the Pasha ! A 
 secret spy, in the pay of the Ottoman. Embassy, 
 employed to introduce a pauperised, penniless, 
 intriguing villain, to undertake the infamous, 
 detestable task of betraying us ! Funds furnished 
 by my husband's agents to enable the vile instru- 
 ment to impose upon us by a fictitious display of 
 wealth, and thus disarm suspicion and lead us into 
 the snare craftily laid for us ! The return to the 
 chateau, and the indignities to which I was sub- 
 jected, a part of Questel's astute plan to excite my 
 disgust and force me to leave Ayesha in his hands ! 
 Ayesha, his wife, compelled to follow him : at least, 
 so went the calculation ! Her marriage with the 
 Giaour not recognised in Turkey ; a divorce ; the 
 thirty pieces of silver paid to the Judas Iscariot; 
 
INTERCOURSE WITH AYES HA FORBIDDEN. 175 
 
 Ayesha delivered over to the Pasha ; Questel rich 
 for France ; and I I ? I ! Well what mattered 
 what became of me 1 
 
 It may be imagined, after such a scene as I have 
 described though no words of mine can possibly 
 convey an accurate idea of it in its details that I 
 avoided my son-in-law as much as possible ; and as 
 he did not manifest the least eagerness to encounter 
 me, the truce suited both of us. 
 
 But he had not yet gone to the extreme limit of 
 his deliberate scheme of persecution of me. He 
 now forbade intercourse between me and Ayesha, 
 knowing that to see her, to caress her, were my sole 
 pleasure. We could only speak to each other by 
 stealth, as he was continually on the watch. If I 
 did not defy his prohibition it was solely because I 
 feared his violence might be turned against my 
 daughter, and her life be placed in peril, for I now 
 believed him capable of any atrocity. 
 
 Yet what could I do, but wait and watch 1 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Further mystery at the Chateau de Kerbeque Fresh revelations con- 
 cerning my son-in-law His projects and counter-projects We 
 return to Paris. 
 
 MY worst suspicions being now confirmed, and 
 my vigilance thoroughly awakened, I scarcely rested 
 night nor day. It was certain, after disclosing the 
 infamous conspiracy for our recapture, in which he 
 played so important a part, that Questel would 
 hasten to bring matters to an issue. Indeed, I 
 entertained no doubt that issue was proximate, or 
 he would have retained his mask a little longer. 
 
 I arrived at this conclusion from noticing daily 
 incidents. The postman suddenly discontinued 
 bringing letters to the house. He was a paid spy 
 of Questel's, though I was not aware of the fact at 
 the time. His office came to be discharged by the 
 woman to whom I have already referred as the 
 landlady of the small wine-shop and restaurant 
 where I had first made inquiry concerning Questel, 
 
A LETTER FROM CONSTANTINOPLE. 177 
 
 and who, I ascertained later, had formerly stood 
 towards him in the relation of mistress. She now 
 also acted as one of his spies and as temporary post- 
 man, for reasons Monsieur Questel knew better 
 than I. Sometimes this woman would bring the 
 letters whilst we were at breakfast. On one parti- 
 cular occasion I observed her hand him one bearing 
 the Constantinople post-mark. He at once con- 
 cealed it, but I could see, by the expression of his 
 countenance, that the communication was a welcome 
 one. I was determined he should know I was aware 
 whence the letter came. 
 
 "So you have correspondence with Constan- 
 tinople ? " said I. 
 
 He looked at me fiercely, and in the sharpest of 
 tones retorted : 
 
 " What is that to you, whether I have or not ? " 
 
 " Oh, only that it gives me room to hazard a 
 suspicion respecting your correspondents," was my 
 reply. 
 
 He made no answer, but went out of the room. 
 This, however, was the last time the woman 
 officiated as letter-carrier. 
 
 Monsieur Questel now daily grew more uneasy 
 and anxious as the hour came round for the ap- 
 pearance of the postman, for whom he would watcli 
 
178 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 impatiently. Sometimes he took him into his 
 own room, where the two would remain closeted 
 for a considerable time. Monsieur Questel's corre- 
 spondence also increased daily, and he went fre- 
 quently to Vannes, between which place and the 
 chateau, messengers passed to and fro frequently. 
 I may add, that, through his spy, the regular letter- 
 carrier, Monsieur Questel was kept posted up when- 
 ever I wrote to anyone. 
 
 I knew all these mysterious proceedings boded us 
 no good, but I also felt they were bringing matters 
 to a crisis. 
 
 I had entirely emancipated myself by this time 
 from the restraints upon my personal liberty which 
 Monsieur Questel had sought to impose, and my 
 excursions in the neighbourhood were not confined 
 to his relatives. My anxiety became daily less sup- 
 portable, but no one could offer me any relief. 
 
 One day, in a despairing mood, I sought the 
 Cure. I had not been able to speak to Ayesha for 
 several days, and so closely had he watched us that 
 I was reduced to the last shifts for ^Jie opportunity 
 of saying a word to her. If I saw her alone, I 
 would rush by, and hastily mutter a caution to her 
 as I passed ; yet not always did I succeed in evading 
 the vigilance of Questel, who would suddenly dart 
 
I SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE CUK& 179 
 
 upon Ayesha, and demand to know what I had said. 
 I thought the Cure might, perhaps, advise me what 
 to do under such trying circumstances. 
 
 The reverend father deeply commiserated me, 
 but told me candidly, though in the kindest terms, 
 that I had been to blame in not seeking him out at 
 first. The character he gave of my son-in-law 
 coincided with my own sad experience of him. He 
 was simply detested in his own neighbourhood for 
 his pride and avarice, and had become its laughing- 
 stock since he had mounted the fez. He had avowed 
 his intention of turning Mahometan, which, it was 
 added, signified very little, as he had long since 
 declared himself an infidel. As to his means of 
 existence, beyond the small sum he derived from 
 the rent of his land, he was known to be in the 
 service of the secret police : he was in fact, a mou- 
 chard. The Cure pitied Ayesha, but as she pre- 
 ferred to remain with such a man, my sole remedy 
 for my own troubles and daily trials was to leave 
 her and return to Paris. 
 
 I had already thought of doing this, but only at 
 the last extremity. 
 
 I received the same advice from Questel's brother, 
 and from other of his relatives. None spoke well 
 of him, and all wondered how he should have suc- 
 
 N 2 
 
180 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ceeded in deceiving me as to his position and his 
 means. His cousin, an avocat at Vannes, told me 
 Questel's avowed purpose was to take back his wife 
 to Constantinople, for that he looked to the two 
 hundred thousand francs her father had promised 
 to whomsoever should " restore her to his love," 
 as the sole source whence to satisfy his numerous 
 creditors, who now threatened to sell him up. The 
 cousin could not see any other way for me to avoid 
 further trials than a return to Paris, leaving Ayesha 
 behind. But I was not prepared to do this yet. 
 
 The fact is, Monsieur Questel had begun to throw 
 out dark hints of some impending change. He no 
 longer, or but seldom, talked of going to Constan- 
 tinople, but of disposing of his property, and taking 
 a journey round the world ; then it was a trip to 
 Marseilles he thought of making, or to Bordeaux, 
 or to some other port. He daily altered his project, 
 or pretended to do so, to baffle me, I strongly sus- 
 pected ; but to my mind one thing was certain : he 
 contemplated a move of some kind, and I was not 
 deceived by his apparent irresolution. I felt certain 
 Constantinople was his real objective point. 
 
 I also learnt from Ayesha for despite his lynx- 
 eyed watchfulness we now and then contrived to 
 exchange a few words that he was pressing her 
 
AYESHA IS OPPORTUNELY STUBBORN. 181 
 
 to give him her procuration, in order to enable him 
 to claim her property, in the event of her persisting 
 in not accompanying him to Constantinople. This 
 Ayesha declared to me she would not do on any 
 account. She would go with him to Paris, but no 
 power on earth should compel her to trust herself 
 alone with him in a strange port. If he succeeded 
 by force in conveying her on board any vessel, or 
 in inveigling her to it, she vowed she would resist 
 to the last extremity, and if driven to a desperate 
 remedy, would throw herself overboard ; and I 
 knew she would be as good as her word. 
 
 Ayesha's experience of the world amounted to 
 that of the merest child. She was I must tell the 
 truth absolutely stupid in this respect ; but, her 
 mind once made up on any point, right or wrong, 
 she was not to be moved. I learnt that she had 
 had of late numerous contentions with her husband 
 on the score of the journeys he hinted she would be 
 forced to take with him, and that she had told him 
 of her resolution not to trust herself to go with him 
 elsewhere than to Paris unless I accompanied her. I 
 believe he had acquired sufficient experience of her 
 stubbornness of will to teach him the wisdom of 
 not putting it to the test. 
 
 One morning, Monsieur Questel referred, of his. 
 
182 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 own accord, to the continued absence of any com- 
 munication from Constantinople concerning my 
 affairs, and intimated the desirability of our en- 
 deavouring to ascertain something about them. I 
 concluded it was not any special interest in my 
 matters which prompted my astute son-in-law to 
 throw out this suggestion, but it did not suit my 
 purpose to contradict him. I knew that the Abbe 
 Bore would have communicated with me, had any 
 intelligence reached him from my husband, and 
 Monsieur Questel knew this as well as I did. 
 When, therefore, he presently expressed the opinion 
 that a visit to Paris might be necessary, I under- 
 stood he had already made up his mind to go 
 thither. This proved to be the case, greatly to my 
 own and Ayesha's delight. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A disclosure relating to Ayesha's marriage Monsieur Questel refuses to 
 have it legalised A visit to the Procureur Imperial with the 
 Princess David off The result. 
 
 ONE of my earliest visits was to our dear friend 
 the Abbe Bore*, to whom I related the occurrences 
 of the last few months. He rebuked me in kind 
 terms for not confiding in him from the commence- 
 ment of our acquaintance with Monsieur Questel, as 
 inquiries could have been set on foot to ascertain 
 his position and his antecedents. It was now too 
 late to interfere, but further mischief might be 
 guarded against. 
 
 His first warning related to my daughter's mar- 
 riage. I had seen the certificate only twice. The 
 first time Ayesha had herself shown it to me. It 
 was on her return from London after the ceremony. 
 The second time was on the present occasion, when 
 Ayesha entrusted me with it to show to our friend. 
 The Abbe at once pointed out to me a fact, my 
 
184 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ignorance of which was attributable to my lack of 
 knowledge of the English language. The marriage 
 had been solemnised in an English Protestant 
 Church, and, necessarily, according to the forms of 
 that establishment. He explained to me that the 
 French law did not recognise as valid a marriage 
 contracted under such circumstances, both parties 
 being Catholics. He even expressed the gravest 
 doubt whether the marriage would be held legal in 
 England. In France the civil contract alone bound. 
 It would be indispensable, in order to legalise the 
 marriage for France, to renew it in due form, both 
 civilly and religiously, at the wiairie, and at 
 church. 
 
 Here was another revelation ! Here was another 
 act of treachery, and of still deeper dye ! This 
 marriage was a mere form : in fact, a farce ! In 
 view of the reward of two hundred thousand 
 francs, Questel had schemed only for the means 
 of obtaining them. To give him a claim to legal 
 control over Ayesha, a marriage was necessary. 
 On the other hand, this ceremony would saddle him 
 with an incumbrance in the shape of a wife; and 
 he had avowed he cared only for money. To marry 
 in France, then, presented obvious inconveniences, 
 for although the law would give him legal control 
 
A NEW DISCLOSURE. 185 
 
 over his wife, it would also give her a right to her 
 own property in the absence of any cession of it to 
 him on her part. Anxious only for this legal right 
 of controlling Ayesha's movements, the question for 
 him to decide had been how to secure it yet leave 
 him free once his end obtained to repudiate her 
 legally on some plausible and sure ground. A mar- 
 riage in England, according to the forms of the 
 Protestant church, was the diabolical alternative. 
 If he went to Constantinople, his marriage would 
 stand annulled by the simple fact of her having 
 married a Christian. On this side, therefore, he 
 was safe. In France he could appeal to the law, 
 declare the marriage null and void, and with his 
 two hundred thousand francs in his pocket, laugh at 
 all attempts to make him contribute to the support 
 of her he had betrayed, in the event of her claiming 
 a maintenance of him as her husband. 
 
 Truly Monsieur Questel had well considered every 
 contingency which his wisdom had suggested as 
 likely to occur; but he had not included in his 
 estimate of adverse chances, my vigilance and 
 Ayesha's self-will, coupled with her resolution not 
 to return to Constantinople, 
 
 It was imperative to rescue Ayesha, without loss 
 of time, from the equivocal position in which the 
 
186 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 treachery of Questel had placed her, and at the 
 same time to avoid exciting his suspicions. With- 
 out giving him the slightest reason to suspect that 
 I saw through the trick of a marriage, ostensibly 
 legal in form but illegal in fact, I represented that 
 the Abbe Bore considered it highly improper this 
 marriage had not been legalised in France, and 
 insisted that it must be done, in order to place her 
 in her right position in society. Questel at once 
 began, as I fully expected he would do, to suggest 
 a number of pretexts for evading this ceremony. 
 He did not see the iitility of it. One marriage, no 
 matter where, how, or by whom performed, was as 
 good as twenty. It was a great annoyance to him 
 to be compelled to advertise his name and designa- 
 tion on the door-posts of the mairie of his arron- 
 *dissement for the space of three weeks, and to let 
 all the world know he was about to re-marry the 
 woman who was already his wife. Then he did not 
 want the Abbe Bore to know that he, Questel, was 
 peasant-born, which the exhibition of his baptismal 
 certificate would show. Be married again, indeed ! 
 No ! he would not. He would never consent to go 
 through such a farce. 
 
 I had foreseen this contingency, and had prepared 
 myself for it, my fixed purpose being to put Ayesha 
 
INSIST ON MY DAUGHTER'S EIGHTS. 187 
 
 in the position to which she had a right. Irre- 
 spective of consequences this had to be done. 
 Having, therefore, heard my crafty son-in-law to 
 the end, I submitted that in case he persisted in 
 his refusal, means would have to be taken to 
 assert the invalidity of any document Ayesha might 
 sign, under actual circumstances, by raising the 
 question of the legality of her marriage, she having 
 no status as a wife according to French law. 
 
 I had in my mind the procuration he was en- 
 deavouring to obtain, and felt convinced of the 
 effect such an intimation would produce. I was 
 not mistaken. A scarcely perceptible change in 
 the expression of his countenance satisfied me his 
 cupidity had taken the alarm. He hesitated a 
 moment, looking uneasily at me, then blurted out 
 that, of course, if the French law did not recognise 
 the validity of the marriage, there was no alterna- 
 tive but to take the necessary steps to legalise it ; 
 for her own sake this ought to be done ; he did not 
 wish, of course, that his wife should be considered as 
 holding an equivocal position, but he was not aware 
 she had been placed in it by the celebration of their 
 marriage in an English Protestant church. To one 
 thing, however, he had made up his mind ; he would 
 not renew the religious ceremony, and the posting of 
 
188 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 his name and designation at the doors of the wwirie 
 must be dispensed with. 
 
 I endeavoured to reason him out of this resolu- 
 tion, pointing out that unless he went through the 
 civil forms required by law, the marriage would not 
 be fully legalised. The renewal of the religious 
 ceremony might be dispensed with, but compliance 
 with the municipal regulations was essential. 
 
 I could not move him. He asserted that the 
 difficulty could be got over. He knew of cases in 
 point. If the thing had been done for others, it 
 could be done for him. 
 
 In this dilemma I had recourse to the Mayor of 
 the ward, who assured me that he durst not and 
 could not dispense with the customary forms. In 
 certain rare instances, a special dispensation from 
 the Procureur Imperial had been accorded, but it was 
 entirely out of the question to suppose that such a 
 departure from the ordinary course would be sanc- 
 tioned when no valid reason, not even a plausible 
 one, could be urged to justify it. 
 
 I did not believe Monsieur Quested assertion 
 that exemption from compliance with the forms of 
 law, in such cases as his, had been granted under 
 particular circumstances, but I now heard the 
 fact confirmed by authority. The mention of the 
 
I AM A PRINCESS AGAIN. 189 
 
 Procureur Imperial gave me a new idea and a new 
 hope. He, then, was the personage holding the 
 power that could over-ride the law at a very tight 
 pinch. Was he accessible ? 
 
 I took the earliest opportunity of conferring with 
 the Princess Davidoff, whom I knew was on a good 
 footing with all the public functionaries and notabi- 
 lities of the day. Seeing my anxiety, and appre- 
 ciating the cause of it, she at once most kindly 
 consented to accompany me to the office of the 
 Procureur Imperial, and fixed the day for the visit. 
 
 This great legal dignitary appeared, at first, not 
 over pleased at our intrusion into his august 
 presence. But my friend was dressed in a style 
 becoming her rank and means, and had a grand, 
 imposing manner. I presume the two produced an 
 effect, which was enhanced when she announced 
 herself by her own title, and begged the honour of 
 presenting "Her Highness the Princess Kibrizli- 
 Mehemet-Pasha." 
 
 I verily thought I should have sunk into the earth 
 on hearing myself thus designated. I could have 
 done so with joy, to conceal my mortification and 
 embarrassment, for, the consciousness of being attired 
 in the very homeliest of apparel, very far indeed 
 from new, was to me most painful under the cir- 
 
190 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 cumstances. The worn places in my dress suddenly 
 came out with awful distinctness. I had never 
 before noticed how rusty my shoes were, how sadly 
 my gloves needed mending with a new pair. A 
 Princess in rags ! How I contrived to make my 
 obeisance to the grand personage whose attention 
 had been thus so specially directed to me, I know 
 not. I observed him eyeing me inquisitively from 
 head to foot, with an air which indicated a sus- 
 picion on his part of being hoaxed ; and, notwith- 
 standing the courteous manner he assumed, I did 
 not succeed, during the whole interview, in throw- 
 ing off the uncomfortable feeling his inspection of 
 me caused. 
 
 The arguments of the Princess succeeded in con- 
 vincing the Procureur Imperial that the French 
 empire would not be shaken absolutely to its foun- 
 dations, by his according us the exemption we had 
 ventured to ask. He need not have granted us 
 this great privilege, but he did so with much show 
 of commiseration for me and my children, and 
 with the very best grace. He promised to com- 
 municate jvith the authorities at the mairie, with- 
 out delay, and he was as good as his word. 
 
 Monsieur Questel may or may not have been 
 satisfied we had succeeded, but if he was not really 
 

 A PROBLEM FOR A MAYOR. 191 
 
 so, he dissimulated. As for the mayor, his surprise 
 admits of no description. It condensed itself into 
 the reiterated and emphatic declaration that he 
 " could not understand it" : and for aught I know 
 to the contrary, he may be attempting to this day, 
 to solve the problem. 
 
 The way being thus smoothed, and Monsieur 
 Questel having no interest in devising fresh pretexts 
 for deferring the legalization of the marriage, the 
 civil ceremony was celebrated in due form, and the 
 fact inscribed in the municipal records. 
 
 I hoped that Ayesha's knowledge of her hus- 
 band's duplicity, his avowed purpose of betraying 
 her into the hands of her enemies her father and 
 her mother-in-law and her experience of his brutal 
 character, would cause her to hesitate to give him 
 the procuration he had been so urgent to obtain. 
 At any rate, I trusted she would abide by my 
 warning not to sign any paper he might present to 
 her for signature, without first consulting me, so 
 that we might have an opportunity of considering 
 its contents. I renewed this caution at the first 
 opportunity, only to learn that she had yielded to 
 his importunities, supported by dark threats, and 
 given him her signature without making herself 
 acquainted with the purport of the document. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Monsieur Questel's vacillation I ani sent to Vienna I return to Paris 
 and am sent to Rome Interview with Fuad Pasha Departure for 
 Paris. 
 
 PENDING the proceedings narrated in the last 
 chapter, Monsieur Questel made frequent visits to 
 the Ottoman Legation, and once more began to 
 hint at a journey to Constantinople. This did not 
 astonish me, for I had never held any other convic- 
 tion than that he was manoeuvring with the steady 
 purpose in view of getting there with Ayesha. I 
 was, however, in no fear now of his succeeding in 
 that part of his design which related to her, and 
 therefore awaited with confidence his next decisive 
 move. His excuse for going so often to the Lega- 
 tion was to obtain the regularization of his papers. 
 Judging now, after the event, I do not doubt but 
 that he encountered unexpected obstacles which 
 caused him to hesitate, for he had proved he was 
 not the man to advance a single step without 
 
HAIDA EFFENDI. 193 
 
 making pretty sure of his ground, nor to stop short, 
 without good reasons, in the execution of an enter- 
 prise upon which he had set his mind. 
 
 It did not, therefore, surprise me when Monsieur 
 Questel informed us, one morning, that he did not 
 now intend to go to Constantinople, but proposed 
 instead that I should set out for Vienna to see Haida 
 Effendi, the Turkish Ambassador there. My son-in- 
 law pretended he had received intelligence from 
 Constantinople which led him to believe that a little 
 pressure would produce a satisfactory result. He 
 and Ayesha would return into Brittany and await 
 there the issue of this step. 
 
 Haida EfFendi was an old friend of mine, and 
 having thoroughly considered the position, I deter- 
 mined to comply with Questel's suggestion. I com- 
 municated my decision to him, and he handed 
 me a hundred and fifty francs, promising me 
 a remittance by banker's order as soon as I reached 
 Vienna. 
 
 I remained fifteen days in the Austrian capital 
 without receiving a line from my son-in-law. In 
 the interval I had several interviews with the 
 Turkish Ambassador, but he said my course in 
 quitting Constantinople had so irritated my hus- 
 band and his relatives, that it was utterly useless 
 
194 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 for me to hope for any help from that quarter, and 
 that the marriage of Ayesha had added fuel to 
 the fire. 
 
 This result of an effort in which I had never 
 much confidence, did not surprise me, and only the 
 want of the requisite funds hindered me from re- 
 turning to Paris after my first interview with my 
 old friend. Finding that no remittances arrived, 
 nor any communication whatever from Questel, I 
 was compelled to lay my position bare to Haida 
 Effendi, who kindly, for former friendship's sake, 
 gave me five hundred francs. I was thus relieved 
 from my dilemma. I paid my hotel bill and at 
 once returned to Paris, hoping to find a letter of 
 explanation awaiting me there. 
 
 I immediately sent a note to my son-in-law, in- 
 forming him of my return, and asking him what I 
 should do. To this no reply came until three 
 weeks had elapsed, during which period anxiety on 
 the score of my daughter drove me to the very 
 verge of despair. But for my friend Madame 
 Davidoff I must have been reduced to the greatest 
 straits. At her invitation I occupied a room in her 
 apartments, and she most kindly desired me to con- 
 tinue to do so, when at the expiration of ten 
 days she left Paris for Italy. Through her, also, 
 
A WILD GOOSE CHASE. 195 
 
 I was introduced to a lady's boarding-house in our 
 neighbourhood, the inmates of which invited me to 
 dine with them daily. In my destitute condition, 
 this act of kindness laid me under deep obligation 
 to my new friends, and to the present day I think 
 of it with gratitude. 
 
 At last a letter came from Questel. Ayesha was 
 quite well, a piece of news which greatly relieved 
 my mind. He excused himself for not having sent 
 me money to Vienna, upon the pretext that he 
 believed Haida Effendi, being so old a friend of 
 mine, would be certain to supply me with funds. 
 I need scarcely observe that I felt this to be a mere 
 subterfuge. It was, indeed, one too transparent for 
 me to be deceived by it. Questel went on to say he 
 had heard Fuad Pasha was now in Kome, and I 
 must go thither to make interest with him. I did 
 not see the utility of this course, and my recent 
 Vienna experience satisfied me such a journey 
 would be useless. My friends, the ladies of the 
 boarding-house, rose literally in arms against the 
 suggestion, and the state of my health at that 
 moment further indisposed me to take so long 
 a journey. I wrote to Questel stating my objec- 
 tions, and my own views on the inutility of such 
 
 a step, but with his reply came a letter from Ayesha 
 
 o 2 
 
186 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 beseeching me to go, and to try one last time what I 
 could do. In spite of my own misgivings, of the 
 ladies' warnings, of the indifferent state of my 
 health, I made up my mind to try Fuad Pasha ; so 
 I started for Kome with my son-in-law's promise to 
 forward funds to me, and with a hundred and fifty 
 francs which he had sent me for travelling expenses. 
 
 On reaching Genoa my passport was demanded, 
 and as I was not provided with this absurd docu- 
 ment, my further progress was arrested. 
 
 Perhaps no more striking illustration of the in- 
 utility of the passport-system, as a police regula- 
 tion, could be furnished than my own case in the 
 present instance exhibits. As a rule and this fact 
 the police authorities themselves admit the parties 
 who have the strongest reasons for evading a too close 
 personal scrutiny, are just those who contrive to be 
 invariably and scrupulously en regie ; and these same 
 authorities will acknowledge that only for " other 
 means" of detection at their disposal, suspected 
 individuals and others who are " wanted," would 
 escape. Such facts suggest the inquiry why these 
 " other means " are not made use of to the benefit 
 of the genuine traveller ; and why to carry out 
 a system admitted to be inoperative the latter 
 must be subjected to the annoyances, delays, and 
 
A PASSPORT DILEMMA. 197 
 
 other minor nuisances, which the non-possession of 
 that acknowledged useless and absurd document, 
 a passport, entails. 
 
 In my dilemma, I had but the one resource of 
 applying to the Turkish Consul, an Armenian. In 
 answer to his questions I was compelled to draw 
 rather largely and boldly upon my imagination for 
 my nationality and parentage. Upon his request- 
 ing my name, I gave him one I knew to be 
 Armenian, but which certainly was not mine. 
 Next, he asked me for my father's, a query that 
 brought me to a sudden stand-still ; then I hesi- 
 tated, and said I did not know, at which he 
 laughed rather heartily, commenting upon the 
 extraordinary fact of my ignorance on so important 
 a point. I excused myself by pleading confusion of 
 ideas arising from over-fatigue, but another Ar- 
 menian name occurring to me at the moment, P 
 gave it. He looked fixedly at me, and told me I 
 did not look like an Armenian, and, in fact, that he 
 believed me to be some princess in disguise. He 
 proceeded, nevertheless, to make out my passport, 
 which he very reverently handed to me ; and upon 
 my intimating -in answer to a recommendation 
 from him not to proceed further on my journey that 
 day that the state of my finances rendered any 
 
198 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 delay on the road impossible, lie begged my accept- 
 ance of a hundred francs, and insisted upon his 
 servant's accompanying me to the steam-packet 
 office, where I wished to take my place for the next 
 departure. 
 
 I got off next morning early, by the steamer to 
 Civita Vecchia, and on my arrival in Rome found 
 that my sole fortune amounted to the hundred 
 francs which the Consul had presented me with. 
 An omnibus, waiting for passengers, took me in, in 
 a two-fold sense. I told the driver I did not wish 
 to go to an expensive hotel, and asked if his vehicle 
 in which were some English ladies belonged to 
 one of this class. He laughed, and looked at me 
 as though he were astonished I could think him 
 capable of conveying passengers to any but the 
 cheapest hotel. He went further, and assured me 
 *the one he would take me to was the best and 
 cheapest in Rome. If dearest is in the end cheapest, 
 he may have been right ; and if I had only re- 
 flected for a single moment, I might have felt 
 satisfied, from the fact of his omnibus containing 
 
 o 
 
 English ladies, that a cheap hotel was the very last 
 he would convey them to. It was midnight when 
 we reached it, and for the benefit of travellers who 
 may not like to frequent a cheap hotel, I will add 
 
A CHEAP HOTEL 199 
 
 that the one in question was the Hotel de Eome, 
 and that my entertainment for that one night 
 my supper-dinner, and my breakfast next morning 
 included was charged me only sixty francs ; though 
 how the bill was made out, has remained for me an 
 insolvable arithmetical problem. I admit the mag- 
 nificence of the apartments, the sumptuousness of 
 the refections, and the minute attentions of the 
 waiters, but sixty francs is, decidedly, not cheap, 
 for one night. 
 
 It was by way of precaution I asked for my bill 
 in the morning, the painful consciousness of a low 
 exchequer prompting me to the act : not rash under 
 such circumstances, but highly prudent. I im- 
 mediately started off to hunt for a private lodging, 
 and having fortunately discovered one, after a not 
 too long search, during which I had no unfavour- 
 able opportunity of taking stock of the accumulated 
 filth of the city of the Seven Hills, I returned to the 
 hotel, discharged my account like one of the ancient 
 princesses fabulous personages who are reputed 
 never to have checked even their dress-makers' bills 
 and departed to my new quarters. 
 
 My sole o*bject in coming to Eome was to see Fuad 
 Pasha ; and being ignorant of his abode, I questioned 
 the porter of the hotel with a view to ascertain 
 
200 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 whether he knew his Excellency's address. The 
 worthy porter who from his habit of answering 
 questions was always on the look-out for them, and 
 wore the air of a perpetual note of interrogation- 
 informed me that his Imperial Excellency had done 
 them himself and his employers the distinguished 
 honour of occupying a suite in their hotel, and that 
 if Madame myself desired an interview with his 
 
 Imperial Excellency, the mode of approaching his 
 
 i 
 
 august person was to see his physician, who also 
 officiated as his Chamberlain. I declined the im- 
 mediate honour, but made the grandiose porter 
 my friend by a present of two francs. 
 
 After my tedious and fatiguing journey I was 
 glad to take a little rest, and accordingly kept to 
 my apartment for a couple of days. I then repaired 
 to the Hotel de Eome, and upon sending in my 
 card, was ushered into the presence of the regulator 
 of Fuad Pasha's health. His Mightiness conde- 
 scended to inquire the nature of my business with 
 his master. My name had, I am sure, given him 
 a sufficiently strong suspicion of my errand, to 
 furnish him with a cue for his course. His Ex- 
 cellency was not in robust health ; had over-much to 
 attend to ; required one day's previous notice of 
 a visit ; could not be seen then, but perhaps would 
 
FUAD PASHA. 201 
 
 receive me next day. But whilst lie was thus occu- 
 pied in framing excuses for not presenting me, 
 a card was brought in, and was followed by 
 a priest, whom his Excellency apologising L for 
 quitting me at once introduced into an inner 
 room, where I felt sure the Pasha was at that 
 moment. When he returned he found me gone. 
 
 This physician was an Armenian, whose counte- 
 nance inspired me with mistrust. I resolved not to 
 allow, him to be intermediary between me and the 
 Pasha on the occasion of my second visit. I had 
 a note ready for Fuad himself, and my friend the 
 porter having informed me the Armenian was not 
 lying- in- wait, I sent in the note, and was at once 
 admitted. 
 
 Fuad Pasha was really ill : ill of the malady 
 which ultimately, and not so long after, carried 
 him off. He was, at this moment, travelling for 
 his health. He received me cordially, and expressed 
 his regret to see me in such a sad position. He 
 said it was my own fault ; I ought never to have 
 quitted Constantinople. 
 
 I reminded him that I had not done so until 
 compelled had, in fact, been driven to it by perse- 
 cutions in which he had himself participated and 
 that I had done nothing to bring down upon me 
 
202 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 such a penalty as then threatened me. My daughter 
 had sought refuge with me, and my duty, as a 
 mother, was to cherish and protect her. 
 
 Fuad Pasha then referred to the imperious, im- 
 petuous, and implacable character of my. husband, 
 dwelling upon certain violent scenes in the Council, 
 and of his disrespect when excited even of the 
 Sultan, as proofs of his obduracy to reason, and as 
 showing how unlikely he was to be influenced by 
 considerations of any kind in a ease in which his 
 pride had been outraged, and his authority set at 
 nought. He said our flight into Europe had been 
 a great scandal, and that the baptism of Ayesha 
 into the Catholic Church, then her marriage with 
 one of an Infidel race, had exasperated Kibrizli 
 to the last degree, and also greatly incensed 
 the Turks, who considered we had brought a dis- 
 grace upon them. Nevertheless, he thought, if 
 we returned to Constantinople, matters might be 
 arranged, and go on more smoothly ; but so long 
 as we remained in Europe, nothing would be done 
 for us. 
 
 Our interview lasted for upwards of an hour. 
 He could not assist me much, he said, for he did not 
 like to ask his Chamberlain for money, but he 
 handed me ten napoleons, all he had about him, 
 

 BACK TO PARIS. 203 
 
 and I took my leave quite satisfied there was no 
 hope of justice from Constantinople. 
 
 During my stay at Borne, which lasted two 
 weeks, I saw Fuad Pasha only that once. At the 
 expiration of this period, finding that no letter 
 arrived for me from home, and that my funds were 
 reduced to fifty francs, I decided to return to Paris. 
 I did not even stay to pay my respects to the Pope, 
 although Monsignor Talbot came to see me, in con- 
 sequence of a letter he had received from Madame 
 Davidoff, and would have presented me to His 
 Holiness. 
 
CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 My journey to Geneva Misadventures by the way Monseigneur de 
 Marseilles and Sister Josephine of the Convent of La Grande 
 Misericorde. 
 
 I RETURNED to Genoa by way of Florence, and 
 on my arrival at the former city, called upon my 
 friend the Consul the Armenian but he had gone 
 to the place I had just ]eft. Without delay I took 
 passage for Nice on board a small steamer. The 
 weather was miserable; rain in torrents, high wind, 
 and a heavy sea. I am not favoured by Neptune ; 
 and when upon the element which he rules so ir- 
 regularly, own to but one desire, namely, to tread 
 firm ground again as soon as possible. There were 
 very many other passengers ; but under the circum- 
 stances we were anything but a pleasant company. 
 
 I was between two spells of the aggravating 
 malady with which the majority of travellers by 
 sea are familiar, and had reached that condition of 
 doziness and inertia it engenders, when to 'be dis- 
 
ACCIDENT AT SEA. 205 
 
 turbed is the last degree of mortal misery. All at 
 once loud shouts, accompanied with rapid and 
 heavy tramping of hurried feet, roused me and my 
 fellow-sufferers from our state of torpor, and pre- 
 sently the vessel began to roll heavily from side to 
 side. We no longer heard the flapping of her 
 paddle-wheels, nor the thud-thud of her engines, 
 nor felt the uncomfortable tremor through her 
 frame indicating resistance to the power which was 
 driving her forward. The more convalescent 
 amongst the company looked up with an air of 
 alarmed inquisitiveness ; the worst did not stir, 
 satisfied that nothing more unendurable could be 
 their fate, than that the vessel should continue her 
 uneasy course ; the others uttered exclamations of 
 alarm, and shouted for the steward to inform them 
 what had happened. After a considerable lapse of 
 time he appeared. He said " it was only the engines 
 which had broken down/' and that instead of con- 
 tinuing our journey to Nice we should be compelled 
 to disembark at Port Ferrati, near Vintimille. This 
 we did, at three o'clock in the morning, in a con- 
 tinuous down-pour of rain, in the dark, and most 
 of us more dead than alive. 
 
 I think if any one had whispered in my ear that 
 I was about to be consigned to the bottom of the 
 
206 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 sea, I should have been content to accept my fate. 
 How I reached the shore I am utterly unable to 
 say. I retain a hazy recollection of gaming the 
 deck by a pre-concerted arrangement on the part of 
 those who executed me, and that it was effected by 
 a complicated movement during which my sensa- 
 tions were of being shouldered, and hoisted, and 
 dragged and borne along, a helpless inert mass ; of 
 being pitched into a boat, and almost immediately 
 afterwards of being nearly pitched out of it again ; 
 of another terrible turn of plunging, and rolling, 
 and tossing, then of a renewal of the process of 
 locomotion, with an irrepressible desire to stop the 
 world from turning round; lastly, of a conscious- 
 ness that I was not at the Antipodes of Paradise, 
 but in a carriage of some sort, and that I had lost 
 my luggage, namely, two bags, containing my 
 remnant of ready cash, my papers, and sundry 
 necessary articles of wearing apparel. 
 
 I was indebted to a fellow-passenger, a lady, for 
 the charity of a place of rest for a few hours, and 
 for refreshment as soon as I could take it. She 
 also was going to Nice, and offered to take me with 
 her. I accepted her proposal with alacrity and 
 gratitude. We started that same day, for in my 
 predicament I could not stay to make inquiries 
 
A NEW DILEMMA. 207 
 
 about my lost luggage ; an office which the landlord 
 of the hotel undertook, but without result. My 
 kind companion conducted me to her hotel, and 
 we parted next day, she continuing her journey. 
 
 Without money, luggage, or friends, I had no 
 time to lose. I went straightway to the Turkish 
 Consul Count Constantin to whom I related my 
 story and my latest misadventure. He was a fine 
 old man, and dwelt in a grand house, in the midst 
 of a beautiful garden, planted with groves of orange 
 trees, and having a fountain in the centre of the 
 flower-patch. He invited me to dinner, and was 
 most kind and courteous. He told me, however, he 
 had received the strictest orders not to assist any 
 Turks ; out of consideration for my position, never- 
 theless, he gave me sufficient to pay my way, and 
 to get to Marseilles. 
 
 I had another purpose in view in going to Mar- 
 seilles. I had a niece in Lyons the daughter of 
 my sister who was married to a wealthy silk 
 manufacturer. He supplied the Sultan and his 
 household with gold brocaded silks and other rich 
 stuffs, and I felt sure an appeal to her would be 
 successful. 
 
 But how was I to get to Lyons without money ? 
 
 There was the Turkish Consul, of course, and 
 
208 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 my first visit was to him. He was an old French- 
 man, and possessed all the national characteristics 
 of excessive politeness. I laid bare my position, 
 and asked him for money to help me forward. He 
 expressed his intense regret, his desolation at being 
 compelled to refuse assistance to a lady in such a 
 pitiable case, but his orders were not to give money- 
 help to promiscuous travellers in France, and to 
 such Turkish subjects only as were returning to 
 Constantinople. I could not make the slightest 
 impression upon him, so we parted, probably with 
 mutual unfavourable opinions of each other. 
 
 I had about me a letter given to me at my 
 request by the Abbe Bore, setting forth my name 
 and quality, and recommending me and my 
 daughter. It was, in fact, a certificate of identity. 
 I had obtained it in the earlier days of our ac- 
 quaintance, by way of precaution, to serve a special 
 purpose in case of need. Aware of the Abbe's 
 popularity in all the religious establishments in 
 France, I bethought me of making use of my letter 
 to procure an introduction to the Superior of one of 
 these in Marseilles. Accordingly, I presented my- 
 self to the Directress of the Convent of the Sisters 
 of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul ; told her, in brief, 
 my history ; exposed my position, and solicited help. 
 
CONVENT CHARITY. 209 
 
 The worthy lady listened to my narrative, expressed 
 her regret that she could not assist me, then, with 
 exquisite politeness, recommended me to apply to 
 the Lady Superior of the Convent of La Grande 
 Misericorde. Subduing by an effort my extreme 
 disappointment at such a reception, I quitted this 
 grand Sister of Charity with a heavy heart, and 
 made my way to the Convent of Great Mercy. 
 Here my reception was still less encouraging. I 
 had to send in my name, then to explain the 
 nature of my errand ; next, to wait until the Lady 
 Superior had taken her time to consider my appli- 
 cation ; and, finally, to endure the mortification of 
 receiving a curt message that she could not give me 
 anything. Thus rebuffed, I returned to my hotel 
 deeply pained and discouraged. 
 
 I then thought of the Bishop, and, notwith- 
 standing he bore the character of being extremely 
 avaricious, I proceeded to his residence, having 
 easily ascertained his address. I was received by 
 a valet, who declined to disturb Monseigneur unless 
 I communicated my business. As to do this 
 did not suit my purpose, and as I saw that the 
 valet was inflexible, whether acting upon orders 
 or otherwise I once more returned to my hotel, 
 having matured a little plot by which I hoped to 
 
210 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 obtain access to Monseigneur without being filtered 
 through his man-servant. 
 
 I re-adjusted my dress, and borrowed from the 
 landlady to whom I confided my secret a hand- 
 some shawl, which I arranged after the Oriental 
 style, so as to partially conceal my face, and, thus 
 attired, once more sallied forth. 
 
 My friend the valet did not recognise me. I 
 handed him my card, upon which was written 
 " Madame la Princesse Kibrizli," and intimated 
 that I had something to give to Monseigneur. In 
 a very few minutes I was invited to walk up-stairs ? 
 on the landing of which Monseigneur, in full 
 canonical robes, stood ready to receive me. 
 
 Monseigneur de Marseilles was a man of im- 
 posing appearance, but although his countenance 
 wore a certain air of benevolence, a closer scrutiny 
 betrayed an inner man out of harmony with his 
 vocation. Nevertheless I really expected to find 
 him ready to help the needy, of which class I felt 
 myself to be, just then, the neediest representative. 
 He was all smiles and suavity. He was probably 
 accustomed to receive gifts for charitable purposes 
 from the hands of grand ladies, and, no doubt, 
 imagined I was one come for some such purpose. 
 I handed him the Abbe Bore's letter, and became 
 
MONSEIGNEUR DE MARSEILLES. 211 
 
 almost frightened at the change it wrought in his 
 countenance. Whether he fancied I had imposed 
 upon him in obtaining access to his gracious presence 
 by an unworthy device, or whether the Abbe's recom- 
 mendation of us as worthy of receiving help in a 
 case of emergency touched the weakest of his weak 
 points, I will not venture to say : but he became a 
 transformed man. His forehead corrugated into 
 wrinkles ; his nose worked and twisted about in a 
 most extraordinary manner ; his lips trembled, and 
 his whole frame became convulsed. I feared, seeing 
 him thus moved, he was going into a fit. He 
 muttered some incoherent sentences relating to the 
 object of my visit, to the numerous claims upon 
 him, and so forth : in the meantime writing a 
 hurried note, which he hastened to place in my 
 hand, telling me it was to be taken to Sister 
 Josephine, the Lady Superior of the Convent of 
 the Grande Misericorde. Of course, I did not in- 
 form him I had already troubled Sister Josephine. 
 I accepted his letter to her, with an expression of 
 thanks, hoping it would have the effect of opening 
 her heart, and satisfied that, at any rate, it would 
 ensure me a more courteous reception. 
 
 On reaching the convent, I informed the Sister 
 
 in attendance that I had a message from the Bishop 
 
 p 2 
 
212 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 to the Lady Superior, whom I must see. She con- 
 veyed this intimation to Sister Josephine, and soon 
 returned with a request that I would follow her. 
 She conducted me into a fine, large, well-appointed 
 saloon, in which the Lady Superior occupied a com- 
 fortable arm-chair. She arose, and advanced to meet 
 me, took me by both hands, and led me to a chair 
 by the side of her own. Evidently my coming 
 quite fresh from the Bishop gave me a degree of 
 importance in her eyes I could not pretend to on my 
 own individual merits : surrounded me, in fact, with 
 an atmosphere of sanctity which, though second- 
 hand, it was agreeable to her to imbibe. She was 
 wholly wrapt up in him. Monseigneur was in 
 every sentence she uttered. I was delighted, for 
 I augured favourably for myself from her vene- 
 ration for him. I did not know the contents of his 
 letter to her. She received it from my -hands with 
 a daintiness I could not but remark ; with a touch- 
 me-not sort of air, no doubt in harmony with the 
 reverential sentiments she professed for so saintly a 
 man. 
 
 I am unable to suggest what she thought the 
 letter contained. Its purport was manifestly not 
 agreeable, judging from the changing expression 
 of her countenance, which I watched narrowly. 
 
SISTER JOSEPHINE. 213 
 
 Having read the note, she got up solemnly, went to 
 a drawer in her writing-table, out of which she took 
 some money, and, returning, said she felt great 
 pleasure in complying with Monseigneur's request. 
 With this, she placed in my hand, with a stately 
 air, the sum of THREE FRANCS. 
 
 Sister Josephine seemed more embarrassed in 
 giving me this benefaction than I was to receive it. 
 I felt humiliated to the very ground, but I was 
 also indignant ; and as soon as I had recovered 
 from my first surprise, gave utterance to my 
 feelings without reserve, and in plain, honest lan- 
 guage. Sister Josephine made no reply to my 
 severe strictures upon the meanness of the Bishop's 
 procedure, and on her own lack of feeling, further 
 than an observation to the effect that she had no 
 control over Monseigneur's charities, and was not 
 herself in a position to supply the wants of such 
 persons as myself. For my own part, I was in 
 none to refuse a gift, how small soever. I told her 
 so, and that I therefore accepted hers, but that I 
 sincerely pitied those persons whose necessities drove 
 them to lay her charity under contribution, and so 
 quitted her. 
 
 Finding that to expect help from the conventual 
 sisterhoods of the city was a hopeless resource, na 
 
2H SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 alternative remained to me but to dispose of a por- 
 tion of my wearing apparel ; for I had a week's 
 hotel-account to discharge, as well as the cost of my 
 journey to Lyons to provide for. I therefore sold 
 a cloth cloak and a ring, and having paid my bill 
 and obtained my ticket, found myself left with a 
 single franc. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 My first night in Lyons My wanderings in search of a shelter The 
 Hospital for the Destitute My fellow-patients Night scene in my 
 Ward Succour from Paris. 
 
 ON arriving at Lyons, I lost no time in hunting 
 up my niece. The nature of her husband's business 
 suggested to me the kind of shops to resort to for the 
 information I required. After some little wandering 
 about, I ascertained he had given up business and 
 gone with his wife to Constantinople some three 
 months before my arrival, in consequence of the 
 decease of her father, whose heiress she was. This 
 news was a grievous disappointment of my hopes. 
 
 My next experiment was to find an note], but as 
 I presented myself without baggage, payment in 
 advance was demanded of me. This I was unpre- 
 pared to make ; and after many applications of this 
 kind, I gave up the attempt. 
 
 Thoroughly disheartened, footsore, weary, and 
 hungry, and without a shelter, I was in a more 
 
216 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 pitiable plight than the veriest wretch in the city. 
 I wandered through the ill-paved streets, seeking a 
 rest but finding none, and a prey to the bitterest 
 anguish of mind. At last, in a bye-street, I met an 
 old woman, whose sharp, inquisitive glance at me as 
 I passed induced me to speak to her. I told her 1 
 was a tired traveller ; that relations whom I ex- 
 pected to find in the city had quitted it ; that I 
 had failed to get an hotel, as I was without baggage ; 
 and that I was seeking a place of accommodation 
 for the night. I wound up by asking whether she 
 could recommend me to anyone for a lodging. She 
 answered by offering to let me sleep at her own 
 place, if I would go to it. I assented at once, and 
 she straightway conducted me to her home. 
 
 It was a very humble abode, and not over tidy, 
 for she had but the one room for all purposes. In 
 a recess in it stood a good and a clean bed. This 
 she considerately gave up to me, making shift her- 
 self upon a mattress laid on the floor. I was so 
 worn-out with fatigue that I felt glad to lie down, 
 though I had not eaten a morsel that day. Nature 
 asserted her claims, nevertheless, and the fumes 
 arising from a certain earthenware pot, standing 
 in the hot embers of a wood fire, tantalized me 
 severely with their savoury odour. I did not like 
 
I SEEK A REFUGE. 217 
 
 to tell my hostess I was hungry, and fortunately 
 her hospitality spared me from this humiliation, 
 for she presently said that perhaps I might like to 
 partake of her pot-au-feM. I need scarcely add I 
 was only too glad to do so, and right welcome and 
 delicious was that by no means plenteous meal 
 after so prolonged a fast. 
 
 Ten o'clock had struck next morning before I 
 awoke, and I felt quite revived by my long sleep. 
 It was mortifying to me in the extreme to have to 
 confess to my hostess, when she claimed two francs 
 as the price of my entertainment, that I did not 
 possess the amount. I gave her my last franc, and 
 told her I was going to write to my friends in Paris 
 for a remittance, and would pay her handsomely 
 as soon as it came to hand. She replied that she 
 could riot afford to provide for me, and unless I 
 paid her the two francs I must seek shelter and 
 food elsewhere. I could not blame the woman for 
 this plain dealing, though the consequences to me 
 threatened to be serious. I was an utter stranger 
 to her ; knew no one in Lyons to whom I could 
 refer ; had no luggage, and therefore had not any 
 right to expect a poor woman to take charge of me 
 upon my bare word that I would pay her at some 
 indeterminate period. But what was I to do now ? 
 
218 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 The old lady told me there were several con- 
 vents in Lyons where the Sisters gave help to 
 necessitous persons, and that probably I should 
 obtain, at one or other of these, the assistance I 
 needed. The prospect was not cheering, nor did 
 I consider it encouraging, with my too recent ex- 
 periences of conventual benevolence still fresh in 
 my memory. But no other resource was open 
 to me. I took the address of my hostess, and 
 leaving instructions with her to receive any letter 
 coming for me, I once more set out upon my 
 wanderings. 
 
 To find a public writer was my first errand. I 
 was not long in discovering one, at the corner of a 
 street, sitting in his place of business, or bureau ; 
 an enlarged sentry-box with windows on three sides 
 of it, upon which sundry specimens of caligraphy 
 were stuck with wafers, and which did duty for 
 advertisements of his calling. I explained to him 
 my need of his services, and the kind of letter I 
 desired him to write. My appeal was to my friends 
 at the ladies' boarding-house, Kue du Bac, Paris, to 
 whom it was absolutely necessary I should state 
 how I was then circumstanced. I found the 
 writer did business upon the ready-money prin- 
 ciple only, for he at once intimated that he should 
 
VAGRANCY. 219 
 
 require payment before lie put pen to paper. As 
 no promise of mine to pay him upon receipt of 
 the remittance I felt sure would come in a few 
 days, produced the slightest effect, no alternative 
 remained to me but to try in some other quarter. 
 
 After a few turns, I entered the shop of a silk- 
 mercer, the assistant in which not only wrote my 
 letter, but put a stamp upon it : a small favour 
 this, yet one so kindly and considerately conferred 
 as to give it a certain magnitude in my estimation 
 it is gratifying to me to record. 
 
 It now became imperative to seek an asylum, 
 and means of obtaining food, until the answer to 
 my letter should arrive. I roamed through the 
 streets in search of the convents at which I had been 
 led to expect I should find what I sought, but dis- 
 appointment waited persistently upon me. At one 
 of these establishments the Sister gave me two 
 tickets one for bread, the other for meat to be 
 presented at another place. I had to inquire my 
 way, and found I should have to walk to quite the 
 remotest suburb of the city. It would have taken 
 me two hours to reach the spot, and feeling myself 
 unequal to so formidable a task, I returned to the 
 convent and gave back the tickets to the Sister, 
 explaining why I could not make use of them. 
 
220 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 She merely said she was sorry, and dismissed me 
 complacently once more into the street. 
 
 It was now near evening. I had not broken my 
 fast that day. I was sinking from exhaustion, as 
 well as from excessive fatigue. I must, by this 
 time, have visited almost every quarter of the city, 
 and being quite at the end of my devices, I had 
 made up my mind to return to my hostess of the 
 previous night and make an appeal to her womanly 
 feelings. With this object in view, I set out in the 
 direction of her dwelling, inquiring my way as I 
 proceeded. A sudden turn brought me into a large 
 street I did not recognise, in which stood a struc- 
 ture of immense extent. It turned out to be an 
 Hospital for the Destitute. My poor heart bounded. 
 Here, at any rate, I thought, I shall find a tem- 
 porary refuge. Nevertheless, I durst not at first 
 enter the place. I passed the door two or three 
 times before I could decide to go in, but, finally, 
 plucking up courage, entered, and asked to see the 
 doctor. 
 
 I was conducted into the presence of the second 
 physician, who, after feeling my pulse, gave me a 
 note to hand to the Lady Superior. He put no 
 questions to me, no doubt because he at once per- 
 ceived that mine was only a case of debility ; but 
 
IN HOSPITAL. 221 
 
 I told him I came from Turkey, and as I afterwards 
 became known by the name of <( La Turque," I 
 conclude he so described me. I found the Lady 
 Superior in a saloon up-stairs, and though I was 
 really ill of fatigue, I could not help laughing when, 
 after reading the paper, she looked over it at me, 
 and asked where the sick person was. I introduced 
 myself, then, in this capacity feeling somewhat 
 ashamed of my own lustiness whereupon she 
 called a sister-attendant, and I was taken up into a 
 ward, where lay some sixty or more patients, most 
 of them suffering from lung complaints. I was 
 given over to the care of one of the attendants, 
 who at once proceeded to undress me ; and my 
 clothes having been put up into a bundle, I went 
 to bed. 
 
 ^In the course of an hour or so I was aroused 
 from a doze by the clatter of knives and forks and 
 the odour of savoury food. The sensations thus 
 provoked I may leave to the imagination of all who 
 have, either from necessity or from accident, fasted 
 for an inordinate time. I had arrived too late for 
 the day-meal, but the prospect of supper kept under 
 control my impatience for food, though it in no 
 wise allayed my craving for it. Greedily, I may 
 honestly confess, did I watch the distribution of 
 
222 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 the rations to the other patients until all were 
 served. Yet no portion came to me. I then called 
 to the sister-attendant, who to my intense sur- 
 prise and grievous disappointment informed me 
 that the rules of the establishment prohibited the 
 giving of food to any patient until the doctor had 
 judged of the nature of the case and issued instruc- 
 tions accordingly. In vain I appealed to the sister. 
 She answered me kindly, but turned an inexorably 
 deaf ear to my entreaties, and I was obliged to 
 compose myself to doze again, and to appease the 
 wolf within, with promises to satisfy his demands 
 on the morrow. 
 
 But sleep was now impossible. This was my 
 first experience as an inmate of an hospital, and my 
 attention became concentrated upon, my companions. 
 
 No spectacle could possibly be more depressing 
 than that presented by so many wan, haggard 
 faces : so many sunken, gleaming eyes : so many 
 prostrate forms, quiescent, corpse-like under their 
 white coverlets. As I sat and gazed at them, there 
 were moments when I fancied myself an inhabitant 
 of some chamber of the dead, awaiting the resurrec- 
 tion and the judgment. Then would come full 
 consciousness of the reality, vividly brought home 
 to me by the manifestations of suffering I was com- 
 
MY GOOD DOCTOR. 
 
 pelled to witness. It was terrible to have to listen 
 to the painful breathing, the moans, the distressed 
 coughing of so many fellow-creatures, many of them 
 in the last stages of consumption ; and nothing but 
 the pressure of the direst necessity reconciled me to 
 endure the sight of such an amount of human 
 misery. Such a night I had never passed in my 
 life, and what I witnessed will remain indelibly 
 impressed upon my memory. 
 
 I cannot say I once slept through the long, weary 
 hours of that never-ending night. If I lost con- 
 sciousness for the briefest period, it was only to be 
 again startled into wakefulness by the moans of 
 some sufferer, impatient of pain, and by a renewal 
 of the distressing emotions which, in my position, 
 such sounds and such a scene were calculated to 
 engender. But morning came at last, with all the 
 quiet bustle incidental to the preparation of the 
 ward for the doctors' inspection of the patients. 
 
 It did not take mine long to sum up my case. 
 He felt my pulse, asked me sundry questions, such 
 as whence I came, whither I was travelling, how 
 long I had been in the city, what I had been doing, 
 where I had lodged the previous night, and so forth ; 
 and having written something upon a card which 
 was afterwards hung at the foot of my bed he 
 
SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 patted me encouragingly upon the shoulder, told 
 me lie thought he quite understood my malady, 
 and calling the sister-attendant, bade her provide 
 me with the best herb-drinks, and to give me two 
 full rations of food : these to be continued every day. 
 
 I fancied his intelligent, benevolent countenance 
 beamed with a humorous smile as after giving his 
 instructions he again turned to me, to add the 
 expression of a hope that in a few days I might be 
 sufficiently well to make room for another patient. 
 I responded by an assurance of the fullest confidence 
 in his treatment, and of my desire not to remain in 
 the hospital one hour longer than the time requisite 
 for the re-establishment of my strength. 
 
 The kind doctor's instructions I cannot style 
 them prescriptions were faithfully observed by the 
 equally kind sisters, and I soon began to experience 
 the benefit of them. Indeed the greatest attention 
 was paid, not only to me, but to all the patients. 
 The soups and the more material food were of the 
 best quality, and the full rations most abundant. 
 The hospital is one of the largest in France, is 
 richly endowed, and deserves all the support and 
 patronage it commands. I have the best reasons 
 for expressing my gratitude for the treatment I 
 experienced in it. 
 
MY HOSPITAL COMPANIONS. 
 
 I have said that the beds were occupied chiefly 
 by consumptive patients, or by such as were suffer- 
 ing from lung complaints. Those right and left of 
 me were of this class. One of these invalids was 
 of advanced age, and coughed incessantly : I ought 
 rather to say, barked. The other was quite young. 
 The elder invalid bored and tormented the doctor 
 and the sisters with questions respecting the chances 
 of her recovery, her own speculations being affirma- 
 tive. I believe her malady was asthma. The 
 young girl who was evidently fast taking leave 
 of life bore her sufferings meekly and resignedly, 
 and often did not stir for hours. The old lady not 
 only coughed, but groaned piteously between whiles, 
 to the disturbance and inconvenience of everybody 
 in her vicinity. When remonstrated with by the 
 sister, she would answer : " What will you ? it 
 relieves me ! " I was uncharitable enough to wish 
 the effect were less salutary ; for, between her 
 groans and her coughing-fits, sleep was most diffi- 
 cult, and not refreshing. 
 
 In the middle of the second night a priest was 
 called in to administer the last rites of the Church 
 to a dying inmate of our ward. In the deep gloom 
 scarcely relieved by the dull glimmer of a few 
 night-lights priest and sister-attendants, in their 
 
226 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 habiliments of black and white, looked like so many 
 shades gliding about. In the semi-darkness they 
 clustered, in a kneeling posture, around the bed of 
 the moribund, and so remained until the viaticum 
 and the last blessing had solaced her dying moments. 
 The young patient at my side although she had 
 not moved for some time turned her large, lustrous 
 eyes towards this lugubrious scene, and, making a 
 considerable effort, sat up. Presently she withdrew 
 from beneath her pillow a chaplet, and bowing her 
 head reverently, as the low muttering of the priest's 
 voice reached her ears, whispered her prayers whilst 
 telling off her beads, one by one, with her worn, 
 transparent fingers. As the solemn group at the 
 lower end began to disperse, she sank back, quite 
 exhausted, breathing in a succession of little pants, 
 her large eyes still open and fixed upon the figure 
 of the priest vanishing in the obscurity. Soon the 
 sister-attendant was at her bedside. 
 
 " Dost thou feel any better, my child ? " she 
 asked, as she adjusted the pillow and smoothed 
 down the coverlet. 
 
 " I hope to do soon!" the young girl re- 
 plied, in a scarcely audible whisper : " Soon 
 soon ! " 
 
 " Let us hope so too, then," responded the sister ; 
 
NEWS FROM PARIS. 227 
 
 but, as our eyes met, I saw that she hoped without 
 faith. 
 
 I had passed three nights in the establishment, 
 and such rest as I had been able to obtain and 
 abundance of good food had quite restored me. On 
 the morning of the third day, the doctor asked me 
 if I felt sufficiently well to leave ; adding, that, in 
 such case, and if I were in any trouble, he would 
 see how far he could assist me. I thanked him 
 gratefully, and told him I was hourly expecting 
 news from my friends in Paris ; but, should I be 
 disappointed, I would seek his advice and aid. 
 
 I had already made up my mind to go out, for I 
 felt reluctant to impose upon the generosity of the 
 administration, and I knew the time had more than 
 elapsed for a letter to arrive for me by return post 
 from Paris. I intended going at once to ascertain 
 whether my hostess of the first night had received 
 one ; for she did not know where I was, as I had no 
 fixed destination when I quitted her. All at once, 
 and immensely to my amazement, I saw her enter 
 the ward. She soon perceived me, and immediately 
 held up her hand, waving in it, over her head, a 
 letter. A few minutes brought her to my bed-side, 
 and placed me in possession of the contents of the 
 missive. 
 
 Q2 
 
228 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 It was a hundred francs Bank of France note. 
 
 The old lady had taken considerable trouble to 
 discover me by going the round of the charitable 
 establishments which were likely to have assisted 
 me. I was not long in dressing myself, and we 
 went out together. Whilst she obtained change, I 
 got a few lines of thanks written and addressed to 
 the doctor of the asylum, and transmitted to him 
 through the porter. The old lady would now 
 gladly enough have received me. I did not care 
 to satisfy myself of the sincerity of her delight at 
 witnessing my own, nor to accept her urgent offers 
 of service. I was impatient to get to Paris without 
 delay, and, having given her ten francs, lost no 
 time in getting to the railway station, where we 
 parted. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 My return to Paris My daughter's arrival Monsieur Questel's excuses 
 A new personage appears on the scene "We leave for Messina 
 with Monsieur Questel His change of plan He tries to lure us to 
 Constantinople, and, as we will not go, he proceeds thither himself 
 The issue, and the last of M. Questel. 
 
 To thank my friends of the ladies' boarding- 
 house was my first care ; and delighted they were 
 to see me again, though they did not fail to unite 
 in a grand chorus of " We told you how it would 
 be." The invitation to take my daily meals with 
 them was renewed and joyfully accepted. They 
 could not offer me lodging accommodation, so I had 
 to seek that in an adjoining hotel. I was, however, 
 fortunate enough, within a few days, to meet with 
 a lady, an old friend of mine, who kindly offered 
 me an apartment until my affairs should take a 
 favourable turn, or I should hear from my daughter, 
 whose apparent indifference and neglect of me were 
 severely commented upon by everybody who 
 knew us. 
 
230 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 I remained two months in a state of terrible 
 anguish, for I could obtain no reply to my repeated 
 communications. During this time of suspense, the 
 ladies were most kind to me. Now, came a present 
 of clothing ; then, a gift in money. They did not 
 leave me in want of anything. One gave me a gold 
 watch ; others begged my acceptance of trinkets. 
 Never was petted child more spoiled. I am sure no 
 spoiled and petted child was ever half so grateful. 
 
 One forenoon at the end of this period being 
 in the midst of my friends, I was startled by the 
 sound of Ayesha's voice. The door was suddenly 
 thrown open, and she came bounding in, followed 
 by her husband. In the joy of that meeting with 
 her, all my late troubles, fatigues, disappointments, 
 anxieties, were forgotten. She referred me to 
 Questel for explanations, and he was at no loss for 
 excuses. His chief reason for silence was the delay, 
 from day to day, in the settlement of his affairs. 
 He had been treating for the sale of his property in 
 Brittany, his intention being to purchase some land 
 at Messina, and settle down there. He had hoped 
 for the conclusion of this business more than two 
 months ago, and, as he wished me to accompany 
 him and Ayesha, he had deferred communicating 
 with me until matters were definitively settled. 
 
ONCE MORE ON THE MOVE. 231 
 
 I frankly admit I did not wholly believe my son- 
 in-law's story, though I gave him no reason to 
 suppose this to be the fact. I strongly suspected 
 him of having in view a remoter destination which 
 he would probably devise means of preventing me 
 from reaching. Ayesha, I found, had consented to 
 go, only upon the condition of my accompanying 
 her : a proposition he had at first combated, and, 
 finally, had not agreed to, until Ayesha had told 
 him resolutely, she would not stir without me. 
 This information decided me. My friends, the 
 ladies of the boarding-house, endeavoured in vain to 
 dissuade me from my purpose, threatening never to 
 speak to me again. My daughter, they said, was 
 quite old enough to take care of herself ; and if she 
 preferred going away with her husband, I was not 
 justified in making myself a slave to her wishes and 
 caprices. I should only be treated with unkindness 
 and ingratitude by herself and her husband ; in 
 fact, they urged arguments of which I felt the full 
 force, but which were impotent against maternal 
 love and sense of duty. None of them were 
 mothers, and therefore none could enter into my 
 feelings and fears. I could only dwell upon these 
 as excuses for what they called my weakness, and 
 represent that she was my only comfort, and that I 
 
231 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 manche's Bank of General Credit, Monsieur Questel 
 expressed a wish to learn something more about it, 
 as he desired to put his capital out at interest. I 
 therefore took him to the office of Monsieur Decour- 
 demanche for further information, though nothing 
 came of the interview so far as I know. I mention 
 the incident because this visit brought me once 
 more into personal communication with Monsieur 
 Decourdemanche, whose acquaintance as will be 
 found has seriously affected my life ever since, 
 and in the most sinister manner. 
 
 Not many days after, he called upon me with an 
 invitation to meet at dinner the friends of whom 
 he had spoken, and who were to assemble in the 
 apartments of a Monsieur Paton, in the Eue de la 
 Madeleine. I did not then know that this gentleman 
 wrote upon Turkish affairs, under an anonymous 
 name, in the Gaulois newspaper, nor that a Mon- 
 sieur Leblond, another of the party, a barrister, 
 was upon intimate terms with Djemil Pasha, the 
 Turkish Ambassador in Paris. Had I been aware 
 of these facts, I should certainly not have trusted 
 myself in such suspicious company. In my igno- 
 rance I accepted the proffered invitation. 
 
 The dinner was choice in all its appointments, 
 and extreme courtesy was shown to me. The conver- 
 
NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS. 235 
 
 sation, confined to Turkey and its affairs, was left 
 principally to me ; probably, as I afterwards sus- 
 pected, with an ulterior object. If, however, the 
 Turkish Ambassador's spy lay in wait to catch me, 
 he was welcome to the truths he heard, and to re- 
 port them to his patron. 
 
 The reader must not imagine I am seeking to 
 raise myself into importance by suggesting, without 
 good reasons, that what I might say of Turkey and 
 its policy had an interest for the representatives of 
 that country. The Turkish Government is ex- 
 ceedingly sensitive to public opinion, and morbidly 
 jealous of its reputation : such as it is. It cannot 
 bear that the truth should be told of its internal 
 corruption, of its demoralizing institutions, of its 
 degrading domestic customs, habits, manners- 
 Least of all can it endure that its foreign policy 
 should be laid bare, and the reasons which govern it. 
 As a rule, no individual really capable of furnish- 
 
 ng reliable information to Europeans quits Turkey 
 without being subjected to systematic espionage, 
 with a view to counteract the effect his revelations 
 
 if unfavourable may produce. No European, 
 however acute, can acquire in Turkey any but the 
 most superficial knowledge of its internal or its 
 external polity. The harem and its mysteries are 
 
23 4 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Blanche's Bank of General Credit, Monsieur Questel 
 expressed a wish to learn something more about it, 
 as he desired to put his capital out at interest. I 
 therefore took him to the office of Monsieur Decour- 
 demanche for further information, though nothing- 
 came of the interview so far as I know. I mention 
 the incident because this visit brought me once 
 more into personal communication with Monsieur 
 Decourdemanche, whose acquaintance as will be 
 found has seriously affected my life ever since, 
 and in the most sinister manner. 
 
 Not many days after, he called upon me with an 
 invitation to meet at dinner the friends of whom 
 he had spoken, and who were to assemble in the 
 apartments of a Monsieur Paton, in the Eue de la 
 Madeleine. I did not then know that this gentleman 
 wrote upon Turkish affairs, under an anonymous 
 name, in the Gaulois newspaper, nor that a Mon- 
 sieur Leblond, another of the party, a barrister, 
 was upon intimate terms with Djemil Pasha, the 
 Turkish Ambassador in Paris. Had I been aware 
 of these facts, I should certainly not have trusted 
 myself in such suspicious company. In my igno- 
 rance I accepted the proffered invitation. 
 
 The dinner was choice in all its appointments, 
 and extreme courtesy was shown to me. The conver- 
 
NECESSARY EXPLANATIONS. 235 
 
 sation, confined to Turkey and its affairs, was left 
 principally to me ; probably, as I afterwards sus- 
 pected, with an ulterior object. If, however, the 
 Turkish Ambassador's spy lay in wait to catch me, 
 he was welcome to the truths he heard, and to re- 
 port them to his patron. 
 
 The reader must not imagine I am seeking to 
 raise myself into importance by suggesting, without 
 good reasons, that what I might say of Turkey and 
 its policy had an interest for the representatives of 
 that country. The Turkish Government is ex- 
 ceedingly sensitive to public opinion, and morbidly 
 jealous of its reputation : such as it is. It cannot 
 bear that the truth should be told of its internal 
 corruption, of its demoralizing institutions, of its 
 degrading domestic customs, habits, manners. 
 Least of all can it endure that its foreign policy 
 should be laid bare, and the reasons which govern it. 
 As a rule, no individual really capable of furnish- 
 
 ng reliable information to Europeans quits Turkey 
 without being subjected to systematic espionage, 
 with a view to counteract the effect his revelations 
 
 if unfavourable may produce. No European, 
 however acute, can acquire in Turkey any but the 
 most superficial knowledge of its internal or its 
 external polity. The harem and its mysteries are 
 
236 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 closed against him; official lips are sealed in his 
 presence ; and ignorance of the language, Turkish 
 reserve, and, I may add, dislike and suspicion of the 
 Giaour shut him out from every avenue of infor- 
 mation. Under such circumstances, it may be 
 imagined with what uneasiness and jealousy 
 Turkish subjects are watched, who may take it 
 into their heads to tell the truth and shame the 
 Grand Turk. To their honour, however, be it said, 
 Turks are faithful to their country and to their 
 fellow-countrymen, and do not depreciate either to 
 foreigners ; on the contrary, they rather seek to 
 conceal what may expose them to adverse criticism, 
 and to exaggerate whatever may tend to their glory 
 and honour. 
 
 I stood in an exceptional position. My experi- 
 ence of Turkish life, in all its phases, was such as 
 had fallen to the lot of no European woman. As 
 a wife, no secrets of the inner domestic circle of 
 Turkish society were unknown to me. As the wife 
 of the first minister of the empire, I knew facts 
 bearing upon and illustrative of the whole system of 
 its policy, home and foreign. I had myself personal 
 knowledge as a ruler ; for it was notorious that 
 Melek-Hanum Kibrizli enjoyed the fullest confi- 
 dence of her husband, and that her counsels guided 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR A FRESH JOURNEY. 237 
 
 him in his administration of public affairs. Bearing 
 in mind these facts, the reader will understand why, 
 apart from private reasons, I could not fail to be an 
 object of suspicion to the Turkish authorities, and 
 why they would have special motives for watching 
 me closely, and reporting what I said and did. I 
 have, therefore, no hesitation in avowing my belief 
 that the dinner to which I was invited was no mere 
 compliment to me, but had for its object to draw 
 me into a trap, of which certain Turkish officials 
 held the strings. The sequel will demonstrate 
 how far I am justified in entertaining this 
 conviction. 
 
 We had now been about three weeks in Paris, 
 and the preparations for our journey were com- 
 pleted. I noticed, however, as our arrangements 
 advanced, that Questel seemed more and more dis- 
 inclined to let me accompany him and his wife ; 
 but my daughter's entreaties that I should not leave 
 her rendered me obtuse to all his hints, and in- 
 different to all his manoeuvres and excuses for 
 delay. Entirely baffled, and further subterfuges 
 failing, he was compelled to make a decisive move, 
 and, accordingly, he took out our tickets for 
 Marseilles. 
 
 I had resolved merely to see Ayesha settled at 
 
238 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Messina, then, to return to Paris in the event of my 
 finding it impossible to remain with her. I had 
 a good stock of clothes, four or five hundred francs 
 in gold, my watch and trinkets, and sundry other 
 small valuables. My money with such articles as 
 might readily be converted into cash, I took with 
 me ; but my trunk I left behind, my sole luggage 
 consisting of a travelling-bag containing a few in- 
 dispensable garments. We were to start for Mes- 
 sina, from Marseilles, by steamer. Upon our arrival 
 at the station, I expected to see Questel busy him- 
 self about his luggage. Seeing he made no move, I 
 remarked to Ayesha upon the strangeness of the 
 fact. She then asked him where their baggage was. 
 He replied that it had been sent forward to Messina 
 from Vannes. The explanation struck me as sus- 
 picious ; yet it was feasible, and might be the reason 
 why Ayesha and Questel were not more burdened 
 with effects than I myself was. 
 
 We took the steamer, in due course, for Messina, 
 but during the voyage, Monsieur Questel did not 
 pay us the smallest attention. I overheard him 
 several times making game of us to the passengers. 
 He also told them he intended to take his wife back 
 to her father, as he had no inclination to remain 
 burdened with her. When he addressed us it was 
 
QUESTEL MEANS MISCHIEF. 239 
 
 in terms of insult and reproach ; and he would give 
 way for no apparent reason to fits of ungovern- 
 able fury. Withal I observed, that as we ap- 
 proached our destination, he manifested extreme 
 uneasiness, and that his irritability towards us 
 increased. 
 
 Having overheard so much relating to his inten- 
 tions, and all along entertained suspicions of his 
 ulterior design, I was fully prepared, upon our 
 arrival at Messina, for the announcement he then 
 made of a change of purpose. He now said he 
 should go to Athens ; the luggage would be sent 
 forward ; he would go and judge for himself 
 whether it were better to settle there or at Messina, 
 and then decide ; so we set off for Piraeus. 
 
 Of course I was not Questel's dupe. I believe 
 that he saw this, and that it enraged him he could 
 not shake me off. It was clearly his object to 
 disarm our suspicions by affecting indecision re- 
 specting his plans of settlement, meanwhile draw- 
 ing us nearer and nearer to Constantinople. I took 
 care to put Ayesha upon her guard, who declared 
 no power on earth should compel her to go thither, 
 and that she would not leave me to proceed further 
 alone with him. 
 
 We arrived at Piraeus in the height of the sea- 
 
240 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 son, and put up at a small hotel near the sea-side. 
 The little watering-place was overflowing with 
 visitors from Athens and its vicinity, and we soon 
 found ourselves surrounded by faces more or less 
 familiar. 
 
 We had not been more than a couple of days 
 here before my son-in-law boldly avowed his pur- 
 pose of going to Constantinople and taking us 
 with him. I told him very resolutely, but quietly, 
 that neither I nor my daughter intended to journey 
 any further in that direction, and that he might 
 rest assured our decision was final. Ayesha was 
 less calm. To his assertion of marital authority 
 she opposed an open defiance ; to his threats that 
 he would assert his right to compel her as his 
 wife to accompany him, she retorted by declaring 
 she would resist violence by violence. As might be 
 expected, her resolute opposition excited him to the 
 highest pitch of fury, and, day after day, the most 
 terrible altercations took place. He swore the 
 most horrible oaths, threatened us with his ven- 
 geance, and, in fact, demeaned himself more like a 
 maniac than a man in full possession of his senses ; 
 but all to no purpose. The result was the same, 
 we were neither * to be moved nor terrorized. 
 Knowing, indeed, what we did, it was not likely 
 
QUESTEI/S SELF-DELUSION. 
 
 wfe should yield to his wishes and fling ourselves 
 headlong into the lion's mouth. On the other hand, 
 he, with his mind fixed upon the prize promised 
 for the betrayal of his wife into her father's hands 
 a prize now almost within his grasp was 
 equally unlikely to relinquish the pursuit of his 
 object, so long as any means of accomplishing it 
 remained untried. But the most extraordinary fact 
 was, that, after his open avowal of his intention, 
 he could delude himself with the idea of our trusting 
 ourselves in his hands. I could account for such 
 simplicity on his part only by the supposition that 
 he hoped to rid himself somehow of my presence, 
 then to inveigle Ayesha to Constantinople. 
 
 During ten days the scenes referred to continued. 
 Our position became almost unendurable. My own 
 was aggravated by the knowedge that my daughter 
 was subjected to personal ill-treatment. I had, 
 besides, to suffer the consequences of M. Questel's 
 miserly arrangements at the hotel, and of his own 
 selfishness. Only the remains of the meals served 
 up for him came to my share, and I was otherwise 
 accommodated in a manner which offered the very 
 minimum' of comfort or convenience. This treat- 
 ment I knew to be premeditated, therefore I en- 
 dured it, awaiting the end, and feeling that no 
 
SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 remonstrance either on my part or Ayesha's would 
 alter matters for the better. 
 
 All this time M. Questel was paying daily visits 
 to Athens, going thither in the forenoon and re- 
 turning in the evening. At length we learnt from 
 himself the object of these mysterious journeys. He 
 informed us, one morning, that he had been con- 
 ferring about us and our affairs with the Turkish 
 Ambassador and the French Consul, and that the 
 former had assured him we should come to no 
 harm if we went to Constantinople. He did not 
 impart to us, what we afterwards learnt, that the 
 latter had told him he would not be justified in 
 attempting to convey his wife thither by force, 
 for that no law gave him the right of compulsion 
 over her. Finding we still declined to be charmed 
 away by the smooth assurances of the Turkish 
 Ambassador, especially coming second-hand through 
 him, he surprised us with the intelligence that 
 all the baggage had been sent forward direct to 
 Constantinople from France, and as we could not 
 go to that city, he intended proceeding thither 
 himself. 
 
 I was not so greatly startled by this revelation,, 
 as I had, all along, been anticipating some such 
 act of treachery. He gave us to understand, how- 
 
OUR LODGINGS AT PIR^US. 
 
 ever, that he should not remain long absent. He 
 would stay only a sufficient time to put matters 
 in train for asserting our rights, upon the strength 
 of the procuration he held, and return to report 
 progress to us. As this arrangement suited us 
 very well, it was agreed he should procure us a 
 new abode, which having done, he handed me the 
 key, gave his wife fifty francs, promising to send 
 more, and without further leave-taking set out on 
 his traitor's journey. 
 
 At that moment I knew he had at least twenty- 
 five thousand francs about him, for before we left 
 Paris, I had sewn the notes up in the lining of his 
 coat. This amount was the balance remaining to 
 him from the sale of his property in Brittany, 
 after discharge of his debts. 
 
 We had not had the opportunity of inspecting the 
 apartments he had retained for us. They were in 
 a one-story house, situated in a remote suburb. 
 The landlady, her husband, with two male and two 
 female pledges of their affections, more than filled 
 the upper floor. A room on the ground floor was 
 occupied by a Greek and his partner : a veritable 
 Xantippe, as we soon discovered. The remainder 
 of the premises on the same level two rooms and 
 a kitchen fell to our share. 
 
 R 2 
 
244 SIX YEAES IN EUKOPE. 
 
 If Monsieur Questcl had purposely sought for 
 us an abode where the extremes of penury and 
 wretchedness were to be brought home to our 
 apprehension in their most repulsive form, he could 
 not have made a better selection. The house itself 
 lay open to the thirty-two winds of heaven ; neither 
 doors nor windows closed, and the rain trickled 
 down upon us on every side from the eaves. A 
 cane-bottomed square couch and a straw palliasse 
 did duty for one bed my own Ayesha being 
 somewhat better accommodated. The scanty furni- 
 ture was in the last stage of decrepitude and 
 rickets, and as for the crockery, scarcely a piece 
 was whole, and each owned a different origin. 
 
 I have referred to the tenants. Sincerely do I 
 wish there had been no others than those I have 
 mentioned ; or, that the particular ones I do not 
 care to name, and which so villanously tormented 
 us, had been of a kind to be got rid of by a 
 summary writ of ejectment. Flies of the most 
 voracious nature and mosquitoes of the most blood- 
 thirsty propensities, feasted upon our poor bodies 
 at all hours ; and what they left was gratefully 
 accepted and duly appreciated by resident tribes 
 of other flesh-puncturing insects whose legions suc- 
 cessfully held their own, notwithstanding the ex- 
 
AYliSHA TUENS AGAINST QUESTEL, 245 
 
 terminatory warfare we incessantly waged against 
 them. As I had the strongest reasons for not 
 making Ayesha acquainted with the exact con- 
 dition of my purse, I determined though I could 
 have changed our abode to remain in the lodgings 
 the munificence of her husband had provided for 
 us ; at least until we heard from him. 
 
 "We had been nearly a whole month in this 
 horrible den before a letter came from Questel, whose 
 advance had then long been exhausted. He sent a 
 remittance of a hundred francs, and informed us he 
 had seen Ayesha's father and her husband, Shevket. 
 He said both were kindly disposed towards her, and 
 would receive her kindly if she would go* back, but 
 that Kibrizli's animosity against me knew no 
 bounds. He concluded by requesting us not to lay 
 out any money upon furniture, and to expect him 
 shortly to fetch us away. 
 
 Ayesha's eyes, were now, however, thoroughly 
 opened to her husband's perfidy. I ought, perhaps, 
 rather to say she had made up her mind to resent it. 
 I had no need to prompt her to this decision, but I 
 did my utmost in the way of exposition, to demon- 
 strate the consistency of his course, from the first, 
 with his ultimate object of inveigling us into the 
 power of those we must unhappily regard as our 
 
246 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 worst enemies, notwithstanding they stood towards 
 us in the relation of natural protectors. 
 
 To remain in our present dwelling was out of the 
 question. We, therefore, changed lodgings and 
 wrote to Questel, informing him of our removal, 
 complaining of the insufficiency of his remittance, 
 and urging pressing necessities as a plea for re- 
 questing an immediate and a more liberal supply of 
 money. Three weeks elapsed before any reply 
 came to this communication. It was to say he did 
 not intend to remain in Constantinople, as he saw 
 we were quite determined not to return to that city. 
 He purposed now to settle at Kutaya, some three or 
 four days' journey from Scutari. He would not 
 send us any money then as he was about returning 
 to Piraeus, and would bring what was necessary, as 
 also some handsome presents. 
 
 It occurred forcibly to me, upon receipt of this 
 letter, that the moment had arrived for us to take a 
 decisive step. Kutaya was too dangerously near 
 to Scutari and Constantinople to render it an 
 eligible abode for us, and Questel was manifestly 
 seeking, in selecting it, to lure us within the grasp 
 of the Turkish authorities. Perhaps he calculated 
 that by keeping us pinched for means of living, 
 sheer want would drive us to fall in with his plans ; 
 
THE LAST OF M. QUESTEL. 247 
 
 or, perliaps, he still hoped to succeed in bamboo- 
 zling us, and that, taken off our guard, we should fall 
 into the trap he had so craftily set. He was doomed 
 to be undeceived. 
 
 We answered Monsieur Questel's communication 
 much as follows : 
 
 " MONSIEUR JEAN-MARIE QUESTEL, 
 
 " We do not want your handsome presents, 
 nor money when you may choose to bring it We 
 are in want of money now, at once. We wish 
 you to understand we do not intend to go to 
 Kutaya, nor to Constantinople. We are going 
 back to Paris. You have played the rogue with 
 us. You have left us without money ; you have 
 left us to sleep upon straw ; you have not cared 
 whether we starved. We have not the smallest 
 confidence in you. All we ask you to do is to 
 send us sufficient to pay what we owe here, and 
 to defray our expenses to Paris. If you choose 
 to rejoin us there, you will hear of us at the 
 address of M. TAbb6 Bore. We shall expect an 
 immediate reply to this letter." 
 
 This, however, was not precisely the fact. We 
 merely fancied he might send us an answer, and we 
 
:M3 SIX YEAES IX EUROPE. 
 
 remained at Piraeus long enough to test his inten- 
 tions. But he never wrote, that we knew of, nor 
 have we since seen or heard anything more of Jean- 
 Marie Questel. 
 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Changed demeanour of the Greeks towards us Deceitful conduct of the 
 French Vice-Consul Attempt to inveigle us on board ,a Turkish war 
 steamer We are in danger from foot-pads We receive an offer of a 
 tour into the interior Facts and inferences We leave for Corfu. 
 
 OUR stay at Piraeus after sending this message to 
 Monsieur Questel, extended over about eight to ten 
 days. Four would have amply sufficed to bring us 
 an answer, in the ordinary course. I had decided 
 to leave without unnecessary delay, for numerous 
 incidents occurred, of minor importance in them- 
 selves, but which, taken together, satisfied me we 
 were still objects of special attention to our friends 
 at Constantinople. 
 
 I have stated, in an earlier chapter, that when 
 offers of assistance were made to me by the Greek 
 officials, on the occasion of my former visit, I de- 
 clined to take advantage of them, because I knew 
 they originated in a desire to annoy the authorities 
 at Constantinople, and felt satisfied that when the 
 war terminated, to the advantage of the Turks as 
 
250 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 
 
 was certain obsequiousness to the powers there 
 would take the place of opposition. I was, there- 
 fore, not surprised to find we were now avoided 
 rather than courted by our former friendly acquain- 
 tances. We were not positively tabooed, only per- 
 ceptibly slighted. I might have failed to precise 
 a circumstance to justify my challenging an expla- 
 nation, but I could speak positively as to the 
 change. Remembering the calumnies against us 
 set afloat in Paris, by agents, official and others, 
 acting under instructions from my husband and his 
 entourage, I concluded that similar influences were 
 active in creating a prejudice against us in the 
 social circles in which we were now moving. We 
 were constantly dogged by low Turks, who would 
 mutter curses at us as they passed, calling us 
 Giaours and other infamous names. These inci- 
 dents alarmed me, for I knew that Turks were 
 capable of carrying their vindictiveness to any ex- 
 treme against their co-religionists guilty of infi- 
 delity to Mahomet, and for this offence Ayesha was 
 marked, and I likewise, being regarded as the cause 
 of her apostacy. 
 
 I also noticed a great intimacy between the 
 Turkish Ambassador and the French Vice-Consul, 
 who arrived at Piraeus from Athens shortly after the 
 
SUSPICIOUS INTIMACIES. 251 
 
 departure of M. Questel for Constantinople. They 
 came to pass a time at the sea-side. The Vice- 
 Consul was quite new in the service and ambitious 
 of acquiring influence. This he could do only by 
 currying favour with the Turkish Ambassador. 
 Now, our history was well known, and he could not 
 but be aware of the desire of the Ottoman officials 
 at the seat of Government to get us back, and of the 
 policy of their representatives abroad, to promote 
 that object. I therefore, and naturally enough, re- 
 garded with a degree of suspicion, the constant in- 
 terchange of visits and presents between the Vice- 
 Con sul and the Ambassador ; and my mistrust of the 
 former became decided when I heard that he had 
 received the Cross of the Order of the Medjidi, 
 although he had not rendered any service whatever 
 to the Porte, that I could discover. Nevertheless, I 
 strove to believe I deceived myself, for he paid us 
 two or three visits, and seemed to sympathize with 
 us in our unfortunate position. 
 
 The time came when his sincerity was to be put to 
 the test. The regular Corfu steamer was to sail 
 within a few days, and I had decided to go by it, 
 my intention being to proceed to Trieste, and thence 
 to Vienna, where I hoped to prevail upon the Am- 
 bassador, an old acquaintance of mine, to support a 
 
252 SIX YEARS IX EUROPE. 
 
 petition in our favour to the Grand Vizier, Ali 
 Pasha. I was short of funds for the journey, and 
 for the discharge of our small liabilities, but did not 
 like to apply to the Turkish Ambassador, a Greco- 
 Turk, lest he should refuse help on the plea that I 
 had only to return to Constantinople to be placed 
 beyond want. Presuming, therefore, upon the Vice- 
 Consurs professions of interest, I waited upon him 
 and submitted my case. Nothing could be more 
 polite than his reception, only, he said he could not 
 give me any money until next morning, if I would 
 do him the favour of calling. Quite satisfied now 
 that I had misjudged him, I withdrew, thanking him 
 most sincerely. Next day I waited upon him, ac- 
 cording to appointment, and was informed he had 
 left, unexpectedly, an hour or two before, and had 
 gone a journey into the interior. 
 
 This was certainly a startling and an unpleasant 
 piece of intelligence, not calculated to allay my 
 suspicions, which returned with tenfold force. Why 
 this deliberate deception ? I could not compre- 
 hend it, and turned from his threshhold, indig- 
 nant and disgusted. 
 
 Another singular incident occurred that same 
 evening. 
 
 A war steamer, bearing the Ottoman flag, lay in 
 
A NEW DEVICE TO CATCH US. 253 
 
 the port. She was intended to convey the Turkish 
 Ambassador to Corfu to attend the ceremonial of the 
 baptism of the Prince Royal of Greece. Her cap- 
 tain and her officers were Turks of the fanatical 
 school, imbued with the hereditary traditions of 
 their race against the Giaour and all apostates from 
 the faith of the Prophet. They were frequenters of 
 the public promenade, and generally kept pretty 
 closely behind us. We could hear their remarks 
 upon us, which were not complimentary. They 
 could not reconcile themselves to seeing Ayesha a 
 girl of high birth, a descendant of the Prophet, 
 the daughter of a great minister appear openly 
 amongst the Giaours, with her face unveiled. It 
 was a scandal upon the religion they professed ; an 
 unpardonable iniquity. The proper place for the 
 daughter of Kibrizli Mehemet Pasha was Constanti- 
 nople, with her relatives, not with the Giaours. Of 
 all this, as it came from time to time, not a word 
 was lost upon me. My astonishment may be con- 
 ceived, when, on the evening referred to, the Cap- 
 tain suddenly, and for the first time, addressed me 
 on the promenade, and after a few preliminary, un- 
 meaning, complimentary phrases, offered me and my 
 daughter a free passage on board his vessel to 
 Corfu. As I had spoken only to the French Consul 
 
254 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 of my intention to go to that city, there could be 
 no doubt of the source whence the Captain had 
 derived his information. This fact at once placed 
 me upon my guard; and Ayesha let me perceive 
 that she also regarded the proposition with dis- 
 favour. I remembered, also, that the secretary to 
 the Turkish Ambassador, whom we met frequently 
 upon the promenade, and with whom we were on 
 very good how-do-you-do terms, had more than 
 once hinted of course under instructions that 
 as we would not go to Constantinople, we ought 
 to go to London : and, also, that the same sugges- 
 tion had been made by the French Consul. Coupling 
 these facts together, and the Captain's unexpected 
 offer, I came to the conclusion that if I accepted it, 
 the probabilities were, I should never see either 
 London or Corfu. I therefore declined it, and 
 believe that in doing so I avoided a snare. This, 
 too, was the first time Ayesha appeared to have 
 had an instinctive perception of danger. Nor 
 were our apprehensions ill-founded. 
 
 Our residence was situated in one of the suburbs. 
 One evening, some three or four days after the depar- 
 ture of the French Consul, we had remained unusually 
 late on the public promenade. It was a lovely 
 moonlight night, and Ayesha had entreated me to 
 
WAYLAID BY FOOTPADS. 255 
 
 delay our return home, so we outstaid all the pro- 
 menaders. The way to our house, which stood in 
 a retired spot, lay through a small alley of trees ; 
 and as we approached it, I suddenly perceived the 
 dark figures of two men gliding behind the trees 
 bordering the path. They saw us, and stopped 
 when we did. It was not absolutely necessary, 
 except to make a short cut, for us to go through 
 the alley, and, having calmed Ayesha, I proposed 
 to skirt it until we reached the more open road, 
 near by which stood the residence of the French 
 Consul. As we moved, the men moved, still en- 
 deavouring to hide themselves. I now felt con- 
 vinced we were the objects of their sinister 
 intentions. I began to be seriously alarmed ; for 
 there appeared to me to be equal danger whether 
 we proceeded or turned back. Happily, our anxiety 
 was removed by the appearance of two police 
 agents, coming from the city, under whose pro- 
 tection we placed ourselves. One of them con- 
 ducted us home ; the other succeeded in preventing 
 the escape of the men until his comrade rejoined 
 him, when they were both captured. Next morning 
 they were brought to us. They could not render 
 a satisfactory account of themselves, nor of their 
 object in prowling about at that spot at so late an 
 
56 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 hour ; and as they were recognized as belonging to 
 the very worst of the low classes which infest the 
 environs of Athens, they were imprisoned as vaga- 
 bonds. 
 
 These rascals may have been mere vulgar foot- 
 pads, bent upon robbery only; but I had the 
 strongest suspicions that a more sinister purpose 
 actuated them, for the accomplishment of which 
 the locality and the late hour afforded them every 
 facility. Assassination was by no means rare, and 
 when political considerations were in question, the 
 police authorities became, under the inspiration of 
 the government officials, unusually obtuse, even to 
 the most obvious facts. 
 
 It was an odd circumstance, too, that on this 
 same evening, upon meeting on the promenade the 
 secretary of the Turkish Ambassador, he again ad- 
 vised me to go to London without delay, adding 
 that if I would call next morning, he had some- 
 thing more to say. Of course, I complied with his 
 request. He then placed in my hands a hundred 
 and fifty francs, saying they were from the Am- 
 bassador, towards my expenses to London. The 
 donation was as welcome as the hint to go to 
 England was unpleasant. I accepted the one with 
 thanks, but held my peace upon the subject of the 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 257 
 
 destination I might select. The suggestion, coming 
 from such a quarter, was of itself sufficient to cause 
 me to receive it with suspicion. 
 
 The steamer for Corfu was to leave the next day, 
 early in the forenoon, and I at once took places in 
 it. I disposed of my very small remnant of valua- 
 bles, and of sundry articles of wearing apparel in 
 our position luxurious and with the proceeds dis- 
 charged our liabilities ; but I did not intimate to 
 anyone that I intended to leave. My reasons for 
 silence must be obvious. 
 
 In the evening, I and my daughter were taking 
 refreshments at one of the open-air cafes on the 
 promenade, when two gentlemen came up; one, an 
 acquaintance and a friend of the Turkish Am- 
 bassador's Secretary, the other an individual we 
 had frequently seen in the company of the French 
 Vice-Consul and of the French Admiral on the 
 station, who, I may add, we heard had accompanied 
 his political colleague on his little journey into the 
 interior. He turned out to be the Admiral's Secre- 
 tary, and was presented by our other friend as ex- 
 tremely desirous of making our acquaintance. 
 
 The usual unmeaning conversational aperients 
 having been exhausted, Mr. Secretary brought 
 round the conversation to the subject of our de- 
 
258 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 parture, and considerably astonished me by ex- 
 pressing his regret that we had not accepted the 
 offer of the Captain of the war steamer to convey 
 us to Corfu. I did not perceive how my refusal 
 could possibly concern Mr. Secretary, nor what in- 
 terest he could take in our movements ; but I pre- 
 sently found he had sought us out to submit a 
 proposal on his own account. It was to take myself 
 and Ayesha a tour of some eight or ten days in the 
 environs of Athens. He would show us everything 
 worth seeing, and defray all expenses. We should 
 benefit by the change of scene ; the journey would 
 be a succession of delightful surprises ; would, in 
 fact, enchant us ; and he declared he would not 
 take a denial. 
 
 Of course, I could make but one reply to this 
 unexpected and singularly ill-timed proposition. I 
 declined it, without giving any reason. But Mr. 
 Secretary was so persistent, I found I could not 
 easily shake him off. The advanced state of our 
 preparations for leaving, urged as one reason for 
 refusing his offer, would, he said, facilitate our 
 going with him all the sooner. Had we already 
 taken out our tickets for Corfu ? They could be 
 cancelled, and he would renew them, or make an 
 arrangement for the extension of the date. In a 
 
A STARTLING PROPOSITION. 259 
 
 word, his importunity left me without argument or 
 excuse ; for I had the best reasons for keeping my 
 intended departure secret, or I might have urged 
 the fact as a decisive objection. I satisfied him at 
 last by making an appointment to see him next day 
 at two o'clock, to receive my final answer. As he 
 did not know I already had our passage-tickets in 
 my pocket, and the rendezvous was for an hour con- 
 siderably later than that at which the steamer 
 started, he probably left under the impression that 
 my reply would be affirmative. I should not, 
 under any circumstances, have entertained such a 
 proposition, notwithstanding that Ayesha, intent 
 upon change and pleasure, did not see any impro- 
 priety in accepting it, nor suspect the risks we 
 might incur in surrendering our movements to the 
 control of a stranger, whom we knew to be inti- 
 mately associated with our enemies and their allies. 
 The recompense of eight thousand pounds to whom- 
 soever should restore Ayesha into the hands of her 
 father, was sufficiently large to induce unscrupulous 
 persons to attempt her abduction by force or by 
 fraud, to which I was the only obstacle. To wit : 
 the Captain of the Turkish war steamer might easily 
 have whisked us off to Constantinople, had we 
 trusted ourselves on board his vessel, and advance- 
 
 8 2 
 
260 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ment as we]l as money would probably have re- 
 warded so bold a stroke. Again, if the author of 
 the last proposition contemplated treachery, nothing 
 was easier than to arrange an attack upon us in the 
 wild districts around Athens, leaving me to be ran- 
 somed, or to my fate, whilst Ayesha was being con- 
 veyed away. Keal occurrences of this kind were 
 far from uncommon : and a sham capture of us by 
 sham Greek brigands, for a sufficient bribe, pre- 
 sented no difficulty. 
 
 My suspicions may have been ill-founded, and I 
 am conscious that many persons may regard me as 
 influenced by a morbid tendency to ascribe evil in- 
 tentions where none of the kind exist. On the 
 other hand, I may urge my experience of treachery, 
 when I had not suspected any, as a complete answer 
 to such a theory, and as a full justification of my- 
 self, even if I have taken alarm at only imaginary 
 dangers, and exaggerated simple circumstances into 
 undue importance. In recording actual facts, I 
 must leave the reader to determine how far they 
 harmonize with ascribed motives. 
 
 I cannot, for instance, affirm that the Captain of 
 the Turkish war-steamer, who might have taken us 
 to Constantinople instead of Corfu ; that the French 
 Admiral's secretary, who might have effected, in the 
 
FACTS AND DEDUCTIONS. 26 L 
 
 manner suggested, my detention and Ayesha's ab- 
 duction ; that the two footpads, who could not have 
 any but a sinister object in view in waylaying us 
 and might easily have disposed of me and borne off 
 my daughter, were acting under common instruc- 
 tions. Nor could I say that the course of the 
 French Consul was in pursuance of some ulterior 
 design of his own. Nevertheless, the facts were 
 these : we were waylaid by footpads, and were 
 in absolute peril from them ; the French Consul 
 had an interest in cultivating the favour of the 
 Turkish officials ; he broke a special appointment 
 of his own making with me, and set out, unex- 
 pectedly to everybody, on a journey into the 
 interior of a country notoriously unsafe ; the 
 French Admiral accompanied him, leaving his 
 secretary free ; almost simultaneously with their 
 departure, the Secretary proposed to take us a tour 
 into the very region to which his superior and the 
 Consul were reported to be gone ; the Consul and 
 the Turkish Ambassador were in constant and 
 close communication ; a large reward awaited him 
 who should take my daughter back to Constan- 
 tinople, with me or without me ; further, the fact 
 of the offer of this reward was notorious in the 
 circles in which we moved. In presence of these 
 
262 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 facts, the inference seems conclusive that plans for 
 our abduction, by some means, were in contempla- 
 tion, and that several parties were interested in 
 carrying them out. 
 
 Early next morning we went on board the 
 steamer ; and if the Admiral's Secretary kept 
 the appointment I made with him, he probably 
 soon arrived at the conclusion that we were, at that 
 hour, well on our way to Corfu. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 From Corfu to Trieste Haida Effendi's strange request He is baffled 
 We reach Trieste Visits to Haida Effendi His proposals How we 
 got to Paris. 
 
 WE hired a furnished apartment at Corfu in a 
 house situated near the sea. Shortly after our 
 arrival, the infant Prince Koyal of Greece was 
 christened in the cathedral church of Saint Spiri- 
 dion. We received through an anonymous source, 
 tickets to witness the ceremonial, which was grand 
 and imposing, and attracted a numerous and distin- 
 guished company, amongst which we recognized 
 many familiar faces. 
 
 We were not interfered with in any way during 
 our stay at Corfu, which lasted about four .weeks, 
 whence I concluded that the proofs we had recently 
 given of vigilance over ourselves, had induced those 
 who so pertinaciously pursued us to change their 
 tactics, and leave us quiet for a time. One circum- 
 stance, nevertheless, struck me as singular, and 
 sufficiently significant. 
 
264 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 The Turkish Consul upon whom I called, and 
 afterwards met several times taking up the cue of 
 his colleagues at Piraeus pressed me to go to Lon- 
 don, saying that Musurus Bey had great power, and 
 would certainly be able to obtain something for us. 
 He even expressed surprise that we had come to 
 Corfu, and added that he knew we had received 
 money towards our expenses to England. On the 
 last occasion I told him the lack of sufficient funds 
 precluded us from travelling, save by stages, to any 
 place whatever, whereupon he gave me a hundred 
 francs to help us on to Trieste, still urging us, how- 
 ever, to proceed to London. 
 
 I had no desire to remain any time at Trieste, my 
 object being to reach Vienna as soon as possible. 
 The Turkish Consul a Greek- met my application 
 for means to go forward, by saying he must tele- 
 graph to Vienna for instructions. I had presented 
 Ayesha to him in her true name that is, as the 
 daughter of Kibrizli-Mehemet Pasha but repre- 
 sented myself as her companion. I requested him 
 not to mention me in his telegram, for as I 
 entertained the conviction that the separation of 
 myself and daughter was contemplated though 
 of course I did not disclose my reason to him 
 I thought it would be more prudent, under 
 
A SINGULAR REQUEST. 265 
 
 actual circumstances, to keep myself in the back- 
 ground. 
 
 The reply came in due course. It was, to send 
 Ayesha on, if alone, and in such case to advance just 
 sufficient to defray her travelling expenses to Vienna. 
 The Consul a highly honourable, worthy man- 
 expressed considerable astonishment at this answer, 
 and commented warmly upon the indecorum of his 
 superior's course ; he himself being struck with the 
 impropriety of Ayesha's travelling alone, and plac- 
 ing herself in the hands of the Ambassador. I had 
 my own opinion of the matter, but kept it to 
 myself. 
 
 In answer to my request for an advance upon the 
 sum specified for my daughter's expenses, in order 
 to enable me to accompany her, he said his general 
 orders rendered his compliance with my request im- 
 possible, save at the risk of consequences for dis- 
 obeying instructions. I suggested a compromise as 
 a solution of the dilemma. He advanced me forty 
 francs, and I placed in his hands a velvet paletot, as 
 security, giving him an acknowledgment of the loan, 
 he returning me a receipt for the article deposited. 
 He then telegraphed that Ayesha would leave by a 
 particular train, but of course omitted the fact of her 
 travelling with a companion. 
 
260 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 On our arrival at the station at Vienna, I observed 
 the Ambassador's carriage in waiting, and a servant 
 on the look-out for somebody. We passed on, and 
 proceeded to the Hotel du Lion d'Or. Next morning 
 we made our call upon Haida EfFendi, who received 
 us with a profusion of compliments, and with every 
 manifestation of pleasure. If he was astonished at 
 seeing me, he did not betray himself ; nor did I 
 touch upon the subject I knew he must be desirous 
 to avoid. It sufficed for me to know, that my pre- 
 sence was unwelcome, and had baffled his object in 
 wishing Ayesha to come alone. 
 
 Haida Effendi was at this time about forty-five 
 years of age. I had known him in the time of my 
 prosperity, when he was quite a lad, and used to 
 run of errands for me. His father, one of the old 
 Jannissaries, was head tailor of the Sultan's harem ; 
 but his mother neglected him for a new-born child^ 
 and he was left to the tender mercies of the Provi- 
 dence which regulates the destinies of vagabonds. 
 He was an ugly little elf, but sharp, talented, and of 
 a kind disposition. He was also sufficiently philo- 
 sophical to put up patiently with occasional rough 
 usage, to wear coarse clothes, and in a word, to 
 endure the thousand and one petty miseries of a 
 dependent upon the stranger's bounty. By degrees 
 
HAIDA EFFENDI. 267 
 
 he educated himself, and having been brought under 
 the notice of All Pasha, the great minister encou- 
 raged him, and ultimately employed him in a sub- 
 ordinate capacity at the Ministere of Foreign Affairs. 
 Having now more leisure and favourable oppor- 
 tunities, he soon acquired a mastery of the Persian, 
 Arabic, French, and other languages, and was finally 
 appointed to the higher offices of his department. 
 His nomination to the post of full Ambassador to 
 Vienna was only a suitable reward for so much 
 perseverance, and for his devotion to the policy of 
 Ali Pasha. 
 
 Haida Effendi invited us to stay and breakfast 
 with him, and in the course of conversation adverted 
 to our journey. I could see he seemed embarrassed 
 to explain his strange request for Ayesha to be sent 
 forward, if alone, and I felt that he could not let the 
 incident pass unnoticed. He brought the explana- 
 tion about presently, by expressing his regret at our 
 having been missed, on our arrival, by his domestics. 
 The fact was they were looking out for only one lady, 
 which accounted for us two having passed unnoticed, 
 He had instructed the Consul to send on Ayesha, if 
 alone, because he was not certain her husband might 
 not be with her, and he did not wish to see that 
 personage. 
 
SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Now, this was a very lame excuse, for my diplo- 
 matic friend must have known that Ayesha's husband 
 was at Constantinople. I did not, however, permit 
 him to perceive that I discredited his explanation, 
 especially in the teeth of his reiterated assurances of 
 the great pleasure it had afforded him to see me 
 arrive with my daughter. I none the less clung 
 to the conviction that some secret reason had 
 prompted his request to the Consul. Nor was I 
 mistaken. 
 
 Our position and the condition of our affairs at 
 Constantinople, naturally occupied the attention of 
 our friend, whose influence with his patron, Ali 
 Pasha, we were most anxious to secure, and hoped 
 he would not refuse to exercise in our favour. He 
 promised, unhesitatingly, to do this, but suggested 
 that it depended solely upon ourselves not to require 
 any appeal to Ali Pasha, nor to anyone else. If we 
 pleased, a position of independence might be secured 
 for us in Europe ; yes, even in Vienna. In fact 
 not to prolong this recital by unnecessary details- 
 he ended by proposing to marry Ayesha, whose 
 independence he would secure by a handsome 
 settlement. He left the table to fetch a quantity of 
 diamonds which he set before her, saying he would 
 ive her these and many more, if she would consent 
 
THE AMOROUS AMBASSADOR. 269 
 
 to his proposition. He would devote himself to 
 secure her happiness ; would take her to Constanti- 
 nople, and her father, seeing her re-married to one 
 of her own race and religion, would be pacified, and 
 not interfere with her any more. As for me, if I 
 too would go back, I should be greatly benefited ; if 
 not, he would not trouble himself about what might 
 happen to me. 
 
 In making this proposition, Haida Effendi who 
 had a wife at Constantinople whom I knew had 
 not the remotest idea he was outraging us. He 
 treated us in Vienna as he would have treated us 
 in Constantinople. His notions of the social rela- 
 tions between the sexes were strictly Oriental, 
 and as in our country such an offer could be 
 made and accepted without impropriety. I must 
 candidly confess our sense of delicacy was not 
 so much shocked by it as it ought to have been, 
 and as it nb doubt would have been, but for our 
 Eastern education and habits : a striking illus- 
 tration of the demoralizing tendency of Turkish 
 institutions. In Turkey, indeed, marriage and 
 divorce are reduced absolutely to their simplest 
 forms. With regard to the latter, both parties 
 enjoy equal privileges, the penalty on the one side 
 being the obligation to provide for the partner the 
 
270 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 i 
 
 husband has repudiated, and on the other, the for- 
 feiture by the wife seeking a separation, of her 
 right to any provision for her future maintenance. 
 
 Ayesha regarded his Excellency's proposal in the 
 light of a device, a trick, and said so bluntly, adding 
 that she could place no kind of confidence in any 
 one who talked to her of going back to Constanti- 
 nople. All she wanted was her liberty, and an allow- 
 ance from her father, sufficient to enable her to live 
 comfortably. If his Excellency would intercede to ob- 
 tain it for her, he would earn her gratitude for life. 
 
 My old friend reiterated his promise to communi- 
 cate with Ali Pasha, and when we took leave, gave 
 me five hundred francs to meet our present require- 
 ments, and invited us to dine with him next day. 
 He entertained us in magnificent Oriental style, but 
 renewed his overtures of the previous day with a 
 like result; only, that this time I gave him to 
 understand he must not again subject us to the same 
 importunities. 
 
 During the remainder of our stay, which lasted 
 about a week, we visited Haida Effendi several 
 times. On the last occasion he urged me to adopt a 
 suggestion he had more than once made, that we 
 should establish ourselves in a shop, to be stocked 
 with Turkish perfumes and fancy articles of Oriental 
 
A STROKE OF DIPLOMACY. 271 
 
 origin, his opinion being that the novelty of the 
 enterprise and the beauty of the younger vendor, 
 would attract a large amount of custom. I dare say 
 he was right. No doubt the speculation would 
 have succeeded, but I had no fancy for trading upon 
 my daughter's attractions. I told my friend I should 
 prefer hiring a house, but he raised so many objec- 
 tions to this course that I gave in. The only question 
 was one of money. He settled it at once by 
 placing in my hands five hundred florins in notes, 
 towards the expenses of the projected establishment, 
 expressing his regret that, owing to the influence of 
 my husband, he durst not assist me materially by 
 making me a permanent allowance. This I under- 
 stood, but although I accepted his gift, I could not 
 make up my mind to carry out the project he had 
 suggested, notwithstanding that upon quitting him, 
 he fully believed my intention was to do so. 
 
 I may confess I entertained serious apprehensions 
 of protracting our stay in Vienna, and as the means 
 of quitting it without delay seemed to have fallen 
 into my hands as if from some providential source, 
 I turned the whole matter over in my mind that 
 same night, and decided to start for Paris by the 
 earliest train. Sharp practice, some will say, but 
 in my case the most prudent course. 
 
272 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Upon our arrival in Paris, I wrote to him, explain- 
 ing matters, adding expressions of regret that the 
 very peculiar circumstances in which we were 
 placed, rendered it impossible for us to carry out 
 his suggestion ; but as his desire was to serve us, we 
 thought he would approve of our decision to turn 
 his gift to account in Paris, where we felt our- 
 selves in greater surety than in Vienna. In due 
 course we received a reply, thanking us for our 
 excellent wishes for his prosperity, and calling our 
 attention to an enclosure from Ali Pasha. This 
 letter, couched in the most amicable terms, intimated 
 that he could not interfere between us and the 
 person respecting whom we had written, so long as 
 we remained absent from Constantinople, for the 
 latter was simply mad upon the subject ; but if we 
 would return, he, on his side, promised to assist us 
 to the utmost extent of his power. As, however, we 
 had decided not to go back to the Turkish capital, Ali 
 Pasha's good offices were never called into requisi- 
 tion. To conclude the episode of this my last visit to 
 Vienna, I may add that upon the death of Ali Pasha, 
 his proteg$ Haida Effendi was disgraced and exiled 
 to Mitylene, where, by the strangest of chances, he oc- 
 cupied the very house in which I and my daughter 
 had resided during my own banishment. What- 
 
 
EXILE OF HAIDA EFFENDI. 273 
 
 ever the ostensible reason given for his exile, the 
 real cause was his marriage with a German lady a 
 governess in Vienna, whose European manners,' 
 especially her custom of going out unveiled, 
 scandalized Turkish society far more than his re- 
 pudiation of his first wife, after a married life of 
 over twenty years. 
 
 Before we left Vienna, the paletot I had left in 
 the hands of the Turkish Consul at Trieste, was re- 
 turned to me. Whether his superior reimbursed 
 him the advance of forty francs made to me upon it, as 
 security, I know not. I do know that Haida Effendi 
 wrote him a very sharp letter for not giving me 
 the money, and for taking the garment in pledge ; 
 but I am quite sure it would have been a much 
 sharper one had the good-hearted, perhaps, over- 
 timid Consul followed his own inclination, and paid 
 my expenses to Vienna, as well as my daughter's. 
 
CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 Conversations with Haida Effendi upon matters personal to myself. 
 
 BEFORE I take final leave in these pages of my 
 friend Haida Effendi, it behoves me to record, in a 
 summarized form, sundry conversations I had with 
 him on the subject of those events only slightly 
 referred to in my former volume which, on account 
 of their fatal influence over my fortunes, merit 
 serious notice, and also because they have been pur- 
 posely misrepresented to my detriment. I need 
 scarcely say that they relate to the causes of my se- 
 paration from the Pasha, my husband. Apart from 
 their immediate bearing upon this narrative, they 
 will forcibly illustrate the peculiar character of 
 Turkish society. 
 
 Haida Effendi like the majority of his official 
 colleagues had the slenderest knowledge of the 
 occurrences which led to my disgrace and exile ; 
 and although, as he assured me, knowing me so inti- 
 mately, he gave no ear to the disparaging state- 
 
A DOMESTIC INTRIGUE. 275 
 
 ments industriously circulated against me, he felt 
 anxious, nevertheless, to be made acquainted with 
 the facts from an authoritative source. 
 
 The charge of encompassing a cold-blooded 
 murder is a heavy one to lie under. Where 
 mystery accompanies the crime, and the scene of 
 it is in a distant land, it is difficult for the party 
 incriminated to vindicate himself, though wholly 
 innocent, especially where special pains are taken to 
 fix it upon him, by concealing the circumstances 
 which establish the improbability of his guilt. This 
 has been my case ; wherefore I may claim to plead 
 my own cause without seeking an excuse at the 
 hands of the reader. 
 
 Bessir, the Nubian eunuch, who was murdered 
 by Fatmah and her paramour Omer, was a lad of 
 about thirteen, and a great favourite with me, be- 
 cause attached to my personal service, which 
 afforded me the opportunity of appreciating his 
 fidelity and his many other qualities. He was un- 
 popular with all his fellow domestics and slaves, for 
 the one reason that he resented their calling me Giaour, 
 and rebuked them for speaking otherwise disrespect- 
 fully of me. Fatmah was jealous of him, and hated 
 him because he noted and reported^her thefts and 
 other misdoings, and because he knew of her shame- 
 
 T2 
 
276 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 less profligacy, not only with Omer the Turk, but 
 with other servants of the household. She, too, 
 was disliked by her colleagues ; and they with a 
 view to get rid of her encouraged Bessir to watch 
 and report her movements to me, believing that I 
 should discharge her. The other two eunuchs, 
 Bessir's elders, were also jealous of him, because he 
 enjoyed my confidence, and was continually receiving 
 marks of my favour. These rival and stormy elements 
 in a household such as ours, could not fail some day 
 to come into open collision, even had they been left 
 undisturbed ; but they were constantly wrought 
 upon by an outward influence not yet mentioned. 
 
 My husband had many near male relatives in 
 Constantinople and in Cyprus of which island it 
 may be remembered he was a native who were 
 looking forward to inherit his wealth, and were 
 therefore enraged when they learnt that a son had 
 been born to him at Belgrade. Whether they for 
 some half-dozen were in the Pasha's suite actu- 
 ally bribed Fatmah to act as she did, or held out pro- 
 mises of a considerable share of the inheritance, if it 
 should come to them in consequence of the death of 
 this child, or of any doubt being thrown upon his legi- 
 timacy, certain it is, she originated rumours of this 
 kind, which, however, deceived no one, and acquired 
 
A POLITICAL INTRIGUE. 277 
 
 consistency only after the event occurred I am about 
 more particularly to refer to. They had also gained 
 over the intendant of my household a Turk by 
 promises of a high post ; for men in subordinate, 
 even menial positions, not unfrequently rise to be 
 ministers through some intrigue of this sort, and as 
 he was very ambitious, corruption did its work with 
 him, and he became the leader of the hostile band in 
 my own house. 
 
 It may appear puerile to enter into the minute 
 details of the strictly domestic circle, but the reader 
 is requested to bear in mind that a great abyss 
 separates an Eastern from a Western household ; and 
 that, more frequently than is suspected, changes and 
 revolutions which overturn dynasties in the East, as 
 also tragedies of the most appalling character, involv- 
 ing whole families in life-long misery, may be traced 
 to some wretched intrigue in that nest of iniquity 
 and demoralization, the harem. 
 
 Another element in this unfortunate affair was the 
 political one. Kibrizli had become a power in the 
 country. Eeschid-Pasha, Grand Vizier, and Fetih- 
 Pasha his friend, private secretary to the Sultan, 
 and also brother-in-law to him, were my particular 
 friends, and for this reason alone became my hus- 
 band's patrons. My friendship with them had com- 
 
278 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 menced long antecedent to their attainment of 
 ministerial authority. On the same side were All 
 Pasha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Rusti-Me- 
 hemet-Pasha, Minister of War. Opposed to these 
 were Mehemet Ali-Pasha, Minister of Marine, and 
 another brother-in-law of the Sultan's ; Riza-Pasha, 
 an ex-minister of Abdul Mejid's, and the reputed 
 intimate friend of the Valideh-Sultan ; Eifed-Pasha, 
 President of the Council ; the Valideh-Sultan herself; 
 Mehemet-Pasha, Minister of Justice, and Basha, the 
 chief eunuch of the Sultan. The one object this 
 tribe of opponents had in view, and for which they 
 steadily intrigued, was to destroy the influence of 
 my husband and of his patrons, and as it was no- 
 torious that he owed his position to my old intimacy 
 with Reschid and Fetih Pasha, their special imme- 
 diate aim, during his absence on his embassy in 
 London, was to depreciate me by whatever means. 
 The reports set afloat by Fatmah were, of course, 
 known to them, through the domestics of their own 
 households, but up to the time mentioned, no oppor- 
 tunity had presented itself to turn these rumours 
 to account against me. 
 
 I have already stated, and I again affirm the fact, 
 that it was with my husband's full knowledge and 
 consent, the substitution of another child for Mus- 
 
MY SON MUSTAPHA-D JEHAD. 279 
 
 tapha-Djehad, in the event of the decease of the 
 latter imminent at any moment was to be made, 
 the object being to secure to me, Ayesha and the 
 lad, the wealth which, in default of direct male 
 issue to the Pasha, would be divided amongst a 
 horde of rapacious male relatives of his, who did 
 not care for him, and who would not have given 
 him a crown piece to save him from starvation. 
 
 "We had agreed upon our course before the 
 Pasha left for London; whilst there he received 
 frequent intelligence of the child's critical con- 
 dition, and when, upon the physician's report, he 
 was informed that no hope of the boy's recovery 
 remained, his reply was quite decisive, and left 
 me no alternative but to carry out his last instruc- 
 tions. His wish was my law. If Mustapha-Djehad 
 died, then another son was to be born to the 
 Pasha ; that was all. 
 
 But Djehad did not die, and the infant who would 
 in the contrary case have taken his place, re- 
 mained with his nurse, shut up in Fatmah's 
 apartments. 
 
 The Pasha had been away about eight months 
 when Dj chad's intended successor appeared upon 
 the scene. Any gossip relating to the affair 
 was confined to the slaves, from whom conceal- 
 
280 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ment was impossible, but whose testimony was 
 worth nothing. I awaited the issue without the 
 smallest anxiety, for I knew that the Pasha 
 would, in due time, determine whether the infant 
 introduced by Fatmah should be retained and taken 
 care of, or be restored to its own parents. Strange 
 to say, a political incident in which I was not the 
 least concerned, brought about the catastrophe. 
 
 Eeschid Pasha, anxious to consolidate his power, 
 cherished the design of marrying his favourite son, 
 Ali Galup Pasha, to Fatmah-Sultan, the eldest 
 daughter of the Sultan Abdul-Mejid ; in accomplish- 
 ing which object he ultimately succeeded. The 
 other ministers, however, opposed this design, and 
 Eeschid, with a view to strengthen himself with a 
 new ally, determined to recall my husband from 
 London, and give him the portfolio of Foreign 
 Affairs. The fact soon became known, and imme- 
 diately all our enemies were on the alert. 
 
 The ground had as it unfortunately happened 
 been only too well prepared for their operations, 
 and circumstances favoured their designs. The old 
 outstanding feud between Fatmah and Bessir had 
 augmented in intensity to such a degree, that one 
 day they came to a hand-to-hand conflict, which, 
 had the combatants not been separated, would cer- 
 
FATMAH AND BESSIR THE EUNUCH. 281 
 
 tainly have resulted in a murder. Their quarrels be- 
 came so frequent and terrible, and their threats of 
 inflicting personal violence on each other assumed so 
 practical and desperate a form, that I found it abso- 
 lutely indispensable to send Fatmah away. I made 
 her a present of a sum equivalent to forty pounds 
 sterling, and bade her return when the Pasha came 
 back, who would determine the question of restor- 
 ing her to her place in the household, or of making a 
 suitable provision for her. After a protracted dis- 
 cussion she agreed to adopt my suggestion, and 
 went to Pera, where she took up her abode in the 
 family of a major in the Turkish army. When, 
 however, the news of my husband's promotion 
 to his new ministerial office was conveyed to her, 
 her cupidity was excited by the prospect of being re- 
 instated in her former position, in a grander house- 
 hold, and with enlarged opportunities of peculation. 
 For my own part, I had no intention of again re- 
 ceiving this astute, wicked woman into my house. 
 I had even conferred with my intendant concerning 
 the best mode of satisfying her, and of inducing her 
 to go back into her own country. I did not then 
 know he was in close league with our secret foes, the 
 relatives of Kibrizli, and was at that very moment in 
 constant communication with Fatmah, urging her 
 
282 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 to return to the house, and risk my displeasure ; his 
 object being to bring her and Bessir once more into 
 collision. 
 
 She made her re-appearance in it on the occasion 
 of the feast given in honour of Ayesha's first reading 
 of the Koran in public as stated in my former 
 volume and resolutely refused to leave it again. I 
 communicated my fears of a renewal of the quarrels 
 between the two rivals and enemies, but my inten- 
 dant laughed at me, and endeavoured to satisfy me 
 that their mutual threats of murder were only empty 
 words. They quarrelled and made it up constantly : 
 nothing came of it. Yet at this time he was inciting 
 Bessir against Fatmah, and Fatmah against Bessir, 
 and urging their fellow-servants to do the same. 
 
 This fact with many others did not come to 
 light immediately, but in the course of the judicial 
 inquiry which followed the event now to be 
 spoken of. 
 
 It was important to those I must call the con- 
 spirators, to provoke a public scandal before my 
 husband's return. They knew him too well to be 
 under any kind of delusion as to what his course 
 would be towards the detractors of his wife and his 
 own self. Any attempt on their part to procure an 
 investigation into the truth of the report in circu- 
 
PLOT TO MUEDER BESSIE. 283 
 
 lation concerning the legitimacy of Mustapha-Djehad 
 would be at once crushed, and the parties sum- 
 marily punished, perhaps disposed of. If, however, 
 by any means, fair or foul, the interference of the 
 police authorities could be secured, their immediate 
 object would be gained. The deadly feud between 
 Fatmah and Bessir suggested a diabolical means of 
 achieving it, and these two became unconscious 
 instruments in the hands of the conspirators. 
 Whether Fatmah killed Bessir, or Bessir killed 
 Fatmah, the origin of the deed was to be attributed 
 to me, the ostensible reason for the crime being the 
 silencing of an inconvenient witness to the alleged 
 illegitimacy of Mustapha-Djehad. Under such cir- 
 cumstances, the judicial authorities must investigate 
 the crime, and the motives for it, and in all probability 
 would examine the question of legitimacy. This was 
 what the conspirators desired. The reported recall 
 of my husband by Keschid Pasha, in furtherance 
 as I have already stated of his ambitious views 
 for his favourite son, stimulated the parties into 
 activity, and quickened their perceptions for oppor- 
 tunities of accomplishing that sinister design. 
 
 When Fatmah returned to the house she had 
 been one month absent, and five had elapsed since 
 the introduction of the infant of which I was to have 
 
284) SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 assumed the maternity. Misled by my intendant's 
 assurances of the harmlessness of the feud between 
 this woman and Bessir, and disinclined to interfere 
 again in the anticipation of my husband's return 
 I took no steps, as I might have done, to remove 
 Fatmah by force, or to place the matter in the hands 
 of the police authorities. I contented myself with 
 laying strict injunctions upon both parties to confine 
 themselves to their own quarters, and for a few days 
 the peace of the household was not disturbed. It 
 proved to be the calm before the tempest. 
 
 It was the period of the festival of the Eamazan, 
 when it is customary to keep open house, and 
 mutual invitations to eat, drink, and be merry, are 
 the order of the day. On these occasions the suites 
 of the great folks interchange similar courtesies, and 
 an invitation to the slaves of one household to attend 
 a feast at another, is considered as an act of special 
 politeness to the owner of those slaves, because, 
 though these alone benefit by it, the civility is 
 intended for the master, and is so acknowledged. 
 My intendant, taking advantage of this custom, 
 solicited my permission to invite my slaves to a 
 feast at his house, to meet the slaves of some other 
 households. This was within a week after Fatmah's 
 return. Nothing suspecting, I consented, though I 
 
ASSASSINATION OF BESSIR. 285 
 
 should be inconvenienced by their absence, as I my- 
 self entertained that same day a considerable com- 
 pany. Instead, however, of conducting them to his 
 house, he concealed them in a large stable on our 
 premises contiguous to the bath-room, where they 
 found the domestics of the house, and the Cyprus 
 men of the Pasha's suite, his relatives, already hidden : 
 in all, fourteen of them. This was at about five in 
 the afternoon. 
 
 Why, all this mystery ? Why this gathering \ 
 
 Early that morning, one of the male domestics 
 made a singular revelation to his comrades. Passing 
 along the dark corridor leading to the men's quarters, 
 he saw Fatmah at the door giving access to them. 
 She was whispering loudly to some one on the other 
 side, who turned out to be her paramour Omer. The 
 words she uttered were : 
 
 " Send him to me, to the bath-room, and we will 
 settle him. Mind, you are to help me." 
 
 It was an easy matter to decoy Bessir to the bath- 
 room, where his services were constantly in requisi- 
 tion. At the appointed hour just about sun-down 
 and at a preconcerted signal, Omer told the lad 
 somebody wanted him there, and he proceeded at 
 once on the errand. Scarcely had the door opened 
 than he found himself a prisoner in the powerful 
 
286 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 grasp of Fatmah, a woman of immense strength, a 
 match for any man, and in whose hands the poor 
 eunuch, weak and sickly as are all of his caste, was 
 as a hind in the claws of a tiger. He struggled, 
 nevertheless, and turned to flee, when he was con- 
 fronted by Omer. Throttled by Fatmah, dragged 
 to the water-tap by Omer, and the water turned 
 upon him, his poor life was soon extinguished. Omer 
 returned to his quarters, and Fatmah, having locked 
 the door of the bath-room, made her way back to 
 the harem. 
 
 . I was in the midst of my friends, exerting my- 
 self to the utmost to entertain them, when the 
 awful words : " Bessir is dead ! " were uttered in a 
 whisper in my ear. I looked round and beheld 
 Fatmah ! 
 
 "Bessir dead?" I shrieked. "Then you have 
 murdered him ! " I could say no more, for I lost 
 consciousness. 
 
 The commotion amongst the guests was terrible, 
 as soon as my words were circulated. Some sur- 
 rounded me ; some ran one way, others another. One 
 of my slaves, who held the rank of Treasurer, sped 
 to what was called the treasure-chamber, for a resto- 
 rative, not observing she was closely followed by Fat- 
 mah, nor that Fatmah made good use of the oppor- 
 
TUMULT IN THE HAREM. 287 
 
 tunity to seize from an open casket a necklace of 
 large pearls with a diamond clasp, worth some thou- 
 sands of pounds, which she tucked under her arm 
 and disappeared with, though only for the moment, 
 as she was presently stopped by the slaves on her way 
 out. 
 
 The commotion without equalled that within. 
 Omer had been caught, and was being beaten in the 
 court-yard by three negro slaves, armed with staves. 
 The others, similarly provided, headed by my Inten- 
 dant, and one Achmed-Effendi, a relative of my 
 husband's, invaded the harem in a tumultuous body; 
 an outrageous act, and an offence, the enormity of 
 which is not to be appreciated by persons unfamiliar 
 with Eastern customs. Fatmah, in the midst of 
 them, was dragged and hustled, thrown to the 
 ground and beaten, her assailants urging her, with 
 loud shouts and menaces of death, to declare I had 
 ordered her to commit the crime. At last after re- 
 ceiving terrible punishment, and I believe to save 
 herself from being beaten or trampled to death she 
 accused me. 
 
 I stood aghast, but said nothing. I could not 
 understand what was passing before me. I saw that 
 I stood in imminent peril, and that an imprudence 
 in word or deed might cost me my life. I began to 
 
288 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 comprehend something, only when the wretches 
 from Cyprus, my husband's own relatives, whose 
 benefactress I was, surrounded me and exclaimed : 
 
 " Ah ! you want to secure the Pasha's property. 
 But the children are not yours. They are not the 
 Pasha's children. Ah ! you shall see whether we will 
 let ourselves be cheated ! " 
 
 It is needless, as I am merely reiterating the 
 principal incidents of this crime, to relate in detail 
 what followed : how a general rummage of my 
 effects took place by this mob of ruffians, each taking 
 what came nearest to his hand ; how the women of 
 the establishment also helped themselves, and how 
 I came off with only a remnant of my jewels and 
 other valuables. All these facts came out in the 
 course of the inquiry that followed, but the issue of 
 which, so far as concerned my acquittal of any parti- 
 cipation in the murder of my unfortunate eunuch, 
 I do not to this day know. I only know that Fat- 
 mah was banished to her own country, and that 
 Omer was condemned to ten years' imprisonment. 
 
 I have no need to seek to exculpate myself from 
 the accusation of having instigated this crimo. I 
 will merely say I had no interest so dreadful an act 
 could promote, and had I contemplated its commis- 
 sion to serve any purpose whatsoever, I could have 
 
KIBRIZLI SACRIFICES ME. 289 
 
 accomplished the removal of the poor lad, as indeed 
 of any one of my own slaves, without awakening 
 suspicion, and especially without creating a public 
 scandal. The facts speak for themselves, and I leave 
 my vindication to them. 
 
 My husband did not return to Constantinople 
 until five months after this lugubrious event. J 
 wished to see him, and he desired to see me, for his 
 affection for me at that time was unaltered. But we 
 were prevented from meeting, so that I never had 
 the opportunity of an explanation with him, 
 although I had the satisfaction of knowing he was 
 satisfied of my innocence. Then, our relations, 
 were changed. I was already his divorced wife. 
 
 It was represented to my husband whilst he was 
 still in London, that this affair had created so great 
 a scandal, not only in the country but abroad, 
 on account of the implication in it of his wife, 
 no alternative remained to him of maintaining his 
 position, but to divorce me. To this suggestion he 
 would not listen, until, after several communications, 
 it was finally urged upon him that, unless he took 
 this step, he would lose the support of Eeschid 
 Pasha and his party, and be relegated into obscurity. 
 My husband, who had risen to eminence from the 
 humblest position, no doubt shrank from the 
 
290 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 sacrifice his definite refusal to comply with this 
 last intimation would entail, and yielded. 
 
 The political opposition to him may be briefly 
 explained. As a man of influence, a minister, and 
 one of the supporters of Eeschid Pasha, to discredit 
 him in public opinion was to bring into disrepute 
 those with whom he was associated. Eeschid 
 strong as he was could not sustain a colleague, over 
 whose wife hung the infamy of a great public 
 scandal. By divorcing me, though against his 
 inclination, he placed himself on the side of his 
 enemies, clamouring for my disgrace, and deprived 
 them of a weapon against himself. Then came his 
 re-marriage, also forced upon him, lest, after a cer- 
 tain lapse of time, when the scandal had blown over, 
 he should take me again, and I should resume over 
 him the influence I had once exercised, with the 
 political power I had wielded through him. But 
 this act of perfidy on the part of my husband I 
 could not forgive. When almost immediately 
 after his return from London he married Ees- 
 chid Pasha's sister, he strengthened his political 
 position, but he fell below zero in my estimation, 
 and I steadily refused the secret overtures he after- 
 wards made to me. All I demanded of him were 
 my property and my valuables of which latter I 
 
MY LAST DEMAND OF KIBRIZLI. 291 
 
 heard he had made a distribution or, their equiva- 
 lent in the shape of an allowance, suitable to my 
 rank. This was the extent of my new demand 
 through Haida Effendi and Ali Pasha. 
 
 My recital to Hai'da Effendi was in substance 
 with the exception of certain political and local 
 details with which he was familiar, but which it 
 was necessary the reader should know much as I 
 have now given it. I believe it satisfied him on 
 every point, if ever he had entertained a doubt on 
 any. 
 
 u 2 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 How I came to write a book How I set about it, and how I fared The 
 war We leave Paris for Brussels Misadventure by the way An old 
 acquaintance suddenly crops up. 
 
 No readier means of covering our expenses 
 occurred to me, on our arrival in Paris, nor of 
 turning to account Haida Effendi's donation, than 
 furnishing and letting such portions of a house as 
 we ourselves did not require. My speculation, 
 however, proved unsuccessful, and pecuniary diffi- 
 culties once more set in. My embarrassments 
 augmented as time rolled on, nor did I see any 
 prospect of avoiding a catastrophe. In my dilemma 
 I solicited advice of M. Decourdemanche. 
 
 " Why not write a book ? " said he. " Yours 
 has been an eventful life ; you must have much to 
 relate that would interest the public. What say you 
 to my proposition ? " 
 
 I had only one objection to make to it ; my 
 inability to write any European language. The 
 
A NEW OPENING OFFERS. 293 
 
 alternative of dictation offered a ready solution of 
 this difficulty, and it was agreed that if his friend 
 Monsieur Paton, of the " Gaulois," could arrange for 
 the publication of the work, in that journal, in a 
 series of feuilletons, I might earn a few thousand 
 francs very honourably. 
 
 I ought to state that the most pressing necessity 
 alone induced me to yield to this proposition. The 
 idea of writing a book had never once crossed my 
 mind, and I felt great reluctance to make myself the 
 heroine of a romance which turned on details of 
 family life, and involved disclosures I would rather 
 not have to make. There is, however, no reasoning 
 with necessity and clamouring creditors. I there- 
 fore yielded to its ignorance of all laws. 
 
 Under these circumstances I commenced the 
 dictation of my memoirs, in the form suggested, 
 the eldest son of M. Decourdemanche whom I shall 
 call Monsieur Alphonse acting as amanuensis. 
 He devoted about two hours every evening to 
 this work, and as I could not suspect that either he 
 or Monsieur Paton entertained any relations with 
 my husband and his kinsfolk and friends at Con- 
 stantinople, I kept nothing back. When, however, 
 I asked him to read over what he had written, he 
 would answer that he had taken notes only, and 
 
294 SIX YEAKS IN EUROPE. 
 
 would read them when he had amplified them. 
 This he never did, so that for aught I knew to the 
 contrary, he might have been writing a new version 
 of the Arabian Nights' Entertainment. It was not 
 until long after that I discovered how, through inat- 
 tention, incapacity, or design, he had distorted facts 
 and misrepresented my motives on several occasions, 
 tending to create an impression of me by no means 
 true or nattering. 
 
 The manuscript was completed in almost two 
 months, when he informed me it had been agreed 
 he should submit it to Monsieur Paton for ap- 
 proval. The opinion of this gentleman could not 
 be more favourable than Monsieur Alphonse repre- 
 sented it to be ; a piece of intelligence which filled 
 me with pleasant anticipations of being soon relieved 
 of my embarrassments, and remaining with some- 
 thing to the good. 
 
 But a bitter disappointment awaited me. A few 
 days later Monsieur Alphonse informed me that 
 Monsieur Paton had taken the manuscript to the 
 Turkish Embassy, and been prevailed upon not to 
 issue the narrative, as originally agreed, but to set 
 the book aside, and write instead, a series of articles 
 on the subject of the intended introduction of the 
 railway system into Turkey, for which the sum of 
 
DISAPPOINTMENTS. 295 
 
 ten thousand francs would be paid him ; and that for 
 the services he had already rendered to the Turkish 
 government, the order of the Medjidi would be con- 
 ferred upon him. In this way I learnt to my 
 
 astonishment of the relations of Monsieur Paton 
 
 * 
 
 and his friends with those I had every reason to 
 regard as my enemies, and as spies upon my 
 actions. 
 
 I could not get back the manuscript from Mon- 
 sieur Alphonse, though I importuned him almost 
 daily to return it. At the end of a month he handed 
 me his rough notes, saying he had not had time to 
 amplify them, nor to write out a fair copy. Of course 
 my annoyance and disappointment were extreme, 
 and I did not spare my reproaches ; but as the notes 
 crude though they were had a certain value, I 
 was glad enough to bring them away. 
 
 I at once made application to two other popular 
 daily newspapers, the editor of one of which went 
 so far as to advertise the publication of the work, 
 under the title of " Memoirs of a Turkish Lady." 
 Three or four days after, the editor informed me he 
 had changed his mind, and if he published the work 
 at all, it would not be until the next year. He declined 
 to give me any explanation of his course, and I had 
 to submit to another disappointment. I was also 
 
296 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 unsuccessful in the other instance, and was so dis- 
 couraged that I shut up the manuscript in my 
 trunk, and abandoned the idea of publishing it. 
 
 I related my failures to Monsieur Alphonse, who 
 suggested that the same occult influences which had 
 been so adverse to me were still in operation to 
 interfere with, and, if possible, destroy, my prospects 
 of success in any undertaking. Do the facts I have 
 related justify such a theory ? I have no proofs to 
 cite in support of it. I leave the simple facts to 
 the judgment of the reader. 
 
 Without resources, without a prospect of obtain- 
 ing any, yet clinging desperately to the hope of re- 
 ceiving something from Constantinople, we lived on 
 from day to day, I may say absolutely upon the 
 bounty of the tradespeople of our neighbourhood. 
 My unhappy history had come to their knowledge, 
 and they regarded us with interest and commiseration. 
 The trustfulness of the French is proverbial. Trades- 
 people will give credit voluntarily, and are not 
 pressing creditors. Evidence of a desire to pay, not 
 unfrequently, as I have experienced, is accepted as 
 cash. I paid as long as I could, and when this was 
 no longer possible, my bare promise to do so as soon 
 as resources came in, was taken in good faith, upon 
 the strength of the honourable discharge of liabilities 
 
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR. 297 
 
 in the past. I was compelled to leave my neighbour- 
 hood considerably in debt; but those to whom I 
 owed knew well the circumstances under which I 
 became their debtor, and, were I to return to it, the 
 good people who trusted me then would do it again 
 if they believed such help as they could give would 
 be likely to aid me. 
 
 We were in this position when the declaration of 
 war surprised us, as it did many more. It came 
 upon us as a new and serious trouble, for we 
 had to consider what might be the contingencies 
 of the contest, and to provide for our personal 
 safety. 
 
 I had a strange presentiment that the struggle 
 would terminate disastrously for France, and that 
 at the close there would be civil war. As I do not 
 wish to be classed amongst those who are always 
 wise after the event, I abstain from recording the 
 particular reasons which gave this presentiment 
 force, from day to day, and increased my anxiety to 
 leave Paris without delay. 
 
 To do this, I felt to be imperative ; for I had an 
 instinctive conviction, that if I remained, it would 
 be at imminent personal risk. In a time of turmoil, 
 and in such a city as Paris, my persecutors could 
 not fail to find instruments to their hand, and every 
 
.SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 facility for carrying out their hostile designs against 
 me, and I was not disposed to afford them the op- 
 portunity. Then, as the prospects of victory di- 
 minished, a vague sense of alarm began to pervade 
 all ranks, which was not lessened by the culpable 
 reticence of the French Government, and by its 
 more culpable mendacity, when it condescended to 
 give news, relating to the movements of the army 
 on the frontier. The disasters which befel it from 
 the commencement leaked out through the English 
 newspapers and other channels many hours, some- 
 times days, before the same events were permitted 
 to be recorded in the journals of the capital, and 
 even then the gravest facts were either toned down 
 or altogether ignored. Again, as time wore on, and 
 the catastrophes in the field could no longer be con- 
 cealed, I observed a singular ferment in the popu- 
 lace, scarcely to be repressed even by the fear of the 
 yet all-powerful police ; and here I ask permission 
 to digress a little. 
 
 The general opinion here, so far as I have had 
 opportunities of judging, is, that the war declared 
 against Prussia by the Emperor was popular. I am 
 of quite the contrary view. I took some pains to 
 ascertain, from the general bearing of the people, 
 how far their sentiments harmonized with the glowing 
 
WHAT I SAW IN PARIS. 299 
 
 reports of their enthusiasm for the approaching con- 
 test, but failed to discover the unmistakeable signs 
 of its popularity. The outward demonstrations on 
 the Boulevards, the cries of " a Berlin ! " and other 
 vociferous manifestations of eagerness for the fray, 
 were not genuine, but were got up for a purpose. 
 Bands of men, lads, boys, women, and girls might 
 always be detected, gathered in small groups here and 
 there in the crowd, all acting in concert. They would, 
 on occasions, set fiercely upon respectable people 
 who expressed an opinion condemnatory of the war, 
 designating them as spies, or Prussians, and hunting 
 them down without mercy. That the poor soldiers 
 whose way to death lay through Paris were warmly 
 received, and conducted to the railway stations with 
 enthusiastic shouts, after being feasted and drenched 
 on their way with cheap beer, indifferent wine, and 
 bad spirits, is perfectly true ; but these ovations, 
 natural under the circumstances, were the outward 
 signs of an inward sentiment of gratitude and com- 
 passion excited by the spectacle of so many brave 
 men marching to the front to meet the enemy, and 
 in nowise indicated enthusiasm for the war. The 
 leave-taking scenes between parents and their sons 
 were simply heart-rending, and suggested the deep- 
 est sorrow on each side. In fact, if the war was 
 
SOO SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 popular at all, its popularity was confined to those 
 who at that time did not appear likely to suffer 
 from it in any way ; and what passed under my 
 own eyes in Paris, from which I derived my impres- 
 sions, I know to have had its counterpart through- 
 out the empire. 
 
 Our equivocal friend, Monsieur Alphonse, had 
 disappeared furtively before the declaration of war. 
 All his father's grand projects had also vanished into 
 the bottomless abyss of impracticable speculations. 
 I saw him one day, towards the end of August, 
 when he informed me that his hopeful heir had be- 
 come entangled with some undesirable acquaintances, 
 and he had, therefore, despatched the young gentle- 
 man to Lisbon with a letter to Marshal Viscount de 
 Saldahna, soliciting some employment under Govern- 
 ment, He warned me in a very mysterious manner 
 to avoid all intercourse with Monsieur Alphonse a 
 warning of which I could not comprehend the signi- 
 fication, as his father's reasons for the injunction 
 were most inconclusive. It was certainly a gratuitous 
 suggestion, as I had lost all interest in the young 
 man. But the old gentleman was keener-sighted 
 than I, and had observed symptoms of a mutual 
 attachment between our two young people. He did 
 not tell me so ; but when I discovered the fact, I 
 
I RESOLVE TO QUIT PARIS. 301 
 
 understood his warning: and the manner of the 
 discovery was this : 
 
 Some few days after my strange conversation with 
 Monsieur Decourdemanche, I received from my 
 banker at Constantinople a small sum, being the 
 half-year's interest upon an amount in his hands, 
 belonging to myself, and deposited with him. My un- 
 easiness had then reached its height, and I determined 
 to devote this money to defray our expenses to 
 Brussels. When I communicated my intention to 
 my daughter, she strenuously protested against our 
 quitting Paris ; and at last I elicited that she was 
 expecting letters from Monsieur Alphouse, and that, 
 in fact, a strong friendship had sprung up between 
 them. I prevailed upon her, nevertheless, after con- 
 siderable trouble, to agree to my proposal, and we 
 straightway commenced our preparations for the 
 journey. 
 
 I left everything in my apartments for my credi- 
 tors to make the best of, and took away a few per- 
 sonal effects only, and these absolute necessaries. The 
 march of the Prussians upon Paris was already no 
 longer doubtful ; in other words, it was known that 
 it had not been intercepted nor materially impeded by 
 the French Generals. Every precaution was already 
 being taken to prevent the egress of foreigners who 
 
302 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 had reasons, as I had, for not making their names 
 known to anybody; the line of fortifications was being 
 put into the best condition for defence, and the enrol- 
 ment of the National Guard had let loose upon Paris 
 a horde of the lowest and most dangerous characters, 
 whose words, looks, and bearing at least of those I 
 noticed in my quarter boded no good to the citi- 
 zens. Everyone was leaving Paris who could do so, 
 and thousands from its vicinity were flocking into it, 
 who had abandoned their homes, terrified at the 
 rapid advance of the enemy. The public sentiment 
 was manifesting itself more strongly every day 
 against the return of the Emperor, and the discus- 
 sions in the Chamber became daily more hostile to 
 the Government. All these circumstances combined 
 to make me hasten our departure, which took place 
 only two or three days before the overthrow of the 
 Empire by the revolution in Paris. 
 
 We were lost in the flock hurrying away north- 
 wards, and numbers more joined it on the way. At 
 the Valenciennes station I got out for refreshments, 
 where our journey was arrested in consequence of a 
 mishap, as ludicrous as it was inconvenient. I had 
 wrapped up in a small shawl, which was tied around 
 my waist, a considerable quantity of letters, papers, 
 and other sundries of trifling value. In stepping 
 
A LUDICROUS DILEMMA. 303 
 
 out of the carriage, the tape which confined the 
 shawl slipped, and out tumbled the contents upon 
 the platform. I was at once surrounded by the 
 railway officials and military on duty, and accused 
 of being a spy. I remonstrated, in vain. My 
 scattered papers were most carefully gathered up, 
 my daughter was compelled to alight, and we were 
 both marched off and conducted to a large room, 
 under an escort numerous and strong enough to 
 have guarded ten men, a crowd following us, and 
 repeating the words, " spies, spies." 
 
 The awful tribunal, into the presence of which we 
 were roughly introduced by the shoulders, consisted 
 of the chief of the station, two or three subordinates, 
 certain police agents, and sundry smaller official fr^ 
 concerned in our capture, and swelling with the 
 glory of it. The dreadful evidences of our guilt- 
 were deposited with solemnity upon the table, and 
 our interrogatory commenced. 
 
 As I knew the papers were of the most innocent 
 kind, I entertained no apprehension of the issue; 
 but had they been of a compromising character, no 
 protestations of mine would have prevented the 
 inspection of them. I informed my interlocutor 
 that we were Turkish ladies, on our way from Paris 
 to Brussels, and that I would, if they pleased, sit 
 
304 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 down whilst they examined the papers at their lei- 
 sure. The judicial assembly was very speedily 
 satisfied that there could not possibly exist any con- 
 nection between essays on Turkish manners and the 
 harem and Prussian policy; that Haida Effendi 
 had not selected me to correspond with M. de 
 Moltke concerning the movements of the French 
 troops ; and that Ali Pasha and I were not weaving 
 a conspiracy, to be consummated at Brussels, for the 
 capture of the French Emperor, or even for the es- 
 tablishment of a republic instead of the empire. As 
 the signatures were genuine, and the communica- 
 tions were couched in admirably clear French, and 
 as the other papers were of a miscellaneous kind, 
 the letters bearing witness for themselves in our 
 favour, the mistake soon became apparent, and 
 excuses, smiles, and pleasantries took the place of 
 accusations, frowns, and threats. We were forth- 
 with released, and conducted to an hotel, and re- 
 sumed our journey by the first train next morning. 
 At the frontier our passports were demanded. Our 
 excuse for not having one was, that we had left 
 Paris hurriedly, quite in a fright, and had not had 
 time to procure one. On the exhibition, however, of 
 Ayesha's certificate of marriage with Questel, as 
 evidence of our identity, we were allowed to pass, 
 
WE ARRIVE AT BRUSSELS. 305 
 
 and readied Brussels in due course, without any 
 further accident. 
 
 We had a friend in this city. His father was my 
 banker at Constantinople ; and he kindly assisted 
 us with money, in small sums, as we came to need 
 it He was also the Turkish Charge d' Affaires in 
 the Belgian capital. 
 
 We had been here about six weeks when our 
 peripatetic friend Monsieur Alphonse suddenly 
 cropped up from Lisbon via London. He had 
 learnt from his sister of our flight, and now informed 
 us that some friends of his in the British metro- 
 polis, who had in hand certain great financial pro- 
 jects had sent for him, requiring his assistance ; but 
 as he would have to wait a time until their first 
 scheme should be advanced to a certain point, he 
 had resolved to make Brussels his abiding- place 
 until he was wanted. 
 
 Monsieur Alphonse's grand friends did not appear 
 in any hurry to send for him, and whilst they were 
 maturing the projects which were to convert every 
 individual concerned^ in their promotion into a mil- 
 lionnaire at the very least, he was waiting upon Pro- 
 vidence and eating dry bread. At the end of three 
 months, and after a long period of silence on the part 
 of his friends, he one day received a letter containing 
 
306 SIX YEAES IN EUEOPE. 
 
 a remittance, and an order for his immediate depar- 
 ture. He leaped at once from the lowest depths of 
 despondency to the sublimest heights of hopefulness, 
 in anticipation of the golden harvest he was called to 
 help gather in, and left us, promising to write to us 
 soon, giving us full particulars of the progress of his 
 fortunes. 
 
 I little suspected how intimately we were mixed 
 up with these auriferous dreams. 
 
(.TIAPTER XXII. 
 
 lly landlady Jiml " l.;i j,;uitcrne" -An old acquaintance suddenly crops up 
 We go to l.oim'oii -We get into mysterious company Our visit to 
 the Turk is! i Aml.ass^ior. 
 
 OUR Lmdl.ady to whom we were indebted for 
 numerous sum II. ,-n-ts of kindness, and who seemed 
 never tired. < >f ol lining us suffered from a complaint 
 I do not 1 1 1 i 1 1 k is r< be found in the medical books, but 
 which I ]ii;iv lr permitted to designate as mystery 
 on the br;iiii. Sin- spoke under her voice always, 
 except win ML sin- quarrelled with her husband, when 
 its shrill tn ]>! wuld mount to the highest pitch. 
 Her step nbout rlie house was velvety as a cat's, 
 and her movements all partook of a feline character. 
 She never rni<Mvd our apartment nor quitted it 
 without gliiitcinu' furtively all around, and into 
 every con KM- of if. She delivered letters as though 
 she had stolen I|MMU, and were handing them to a 
 receiver ; ;inl WJKMI she brought in our food she never 
 fililed to scan it suspiciously though she had pre- 
 
 x 2 
 
308 SIX YEAES IN EUEOPE. 
 
 pared it herself conveying to us the uncomfortable 
 notion that she fancied it might nevertheless be 
 poisoned. Mystery enveloped her as in a fog. I 
 had made up my mind that she had perpetrated 
 same crime, or was in the habit of committing 
 minor misdemeanors, such as smuggling, for she 
 never spoke but in half sentences and riddles, and 
 never appeared completely free from restraint, as if 
 she ever dwelt in fear of some one being on the 
 watch behind her. 
 
 One day the conversation having turned upon the 
 ex-Empress, she ranged herself upon the side of this 
 lady's detractors, and lauded Monsieur de Boche- 
 fort's " Lanterne " as a model of wit and satire. She 
 had good reason to speak well of it, she said, for it 
 had put a considerable sum of money into her 
 pocket. 
 
 The publication in Paris of this venomous 
 pamphlet was it will be remembered prohibited, 
 and its author laid under a fine and condemned to 
 a term of imprisonment. The latter he evaded by 
 a flight to Brussels, whence he re-issued the obnoxious 
 print with increased success, and augmented profits, 
 the prohibition having only stimulated its sale. An 
 enormous demand for it arose across the frontier, 
 and thousands of copies thus found their way surrep- 
 
THE SHOWER OF " LANTEKNES." 309 
 
 titiously into France. These were, of course, 
 smuggled over the border, and my landlady was 
 one of the smugglers. Her plan was to enlarge her 
 natural outlines by laj^ers of the " Lanterne," skil- 
 fully packed, take her place in the train and dis- 
 charge cargo, at a given place, into the hands of 
 one of De Eochefort's agents. But a lady, a fre- 
 cjuent traveller, whose bulk collapsed every time 
 she returned across the frontier, was a phenomenon 
 not likely long to escape the lynx-eyed police 
 officials, and one of them one day politely requested 
 her presence in an inner room, where a female at- 
 tendant proceeded to diagnose the seat of the malady 
 productive of such extraordinary symptoms. The 
 result was a shower of "Lanternes," an inform- 
 ation, a trial, and three months' imprisonment ; a 
 mild penalty considering that the legal one by 
 special command was a term of years in the hulks. 
 Our landlady got off as she did by pleading ignorance 
 of the character of the book, and of the law pro- 
 hibiting its introduction into France. She for- 
 tunately had to deal with a tribunal individually 
 addicted to read the national politics by the 
 glimmer of the " Lanterne." 
 
 My judgment of her was, therefore, correct. She 
 dabbled in smuggling ; hence her mysterious airs. 
 
310 SIX YEARS IN EUttol/K. 
 
 Within a week after Monsieur .\lj>lioiis<-',s arrival 
 in London, we received a letter informing us that 
 he was lying dangerously ill in the lions.- of a friend, 
 who was also his employer and patron. ;ind that the 
 greatest doubts of his recovery wen* entertained. 
 
 This news caused us much uneasiness. We had 
 become accustomed to the society of Monsieur 
 Alphonse, and we believed in his friendship, for he 
 had never given us cause to call his loyalty in 
 question. In the affair of my book, In- had acted 
 only as an intermediary, he being in. rhe hands 
 of his patron, Monsieur Paton, and \vln.-n. I came to 
 learn upon his authority that his fulim- to make a 
 fair copy of his notes, according to ;i UP 'Client, was 
 
 due to the pressure of other duties ii[ \\-liich his 
 
 daily bread depended, I felt inclinrd to pity rather 
 than to blame him, notwithstanding rJmt I was made 
 the victim of his negligence, Undrr rhfsi.i circum- 
 stances, to wish ourselves near him ;it M moment 
 when his life seemed in danger, w;.- ,-i most natural 
 impulse, and the transition to tin- thought of 
 making an endeavour to get to him w;is not less so. 
 I remembered too, the strong recommendation of 
 the Turkish Ambassador at Piraeus, ivirrnitedby his- 
 colleagues at Corfu, that we should g<> to I .oiidon, and 
 now that a real motive for the joirrn.-y Imd sprung 
 
RETURN OF MUST APHA-D JEHAD. 311 
 
 up, I began to consider seriously whether we might 
 not, after all, as well act upon the suggestion. 
 Further, I still hoped my husband's obduracy 
 might at last yield to my importunity, on our 
 daughter's account, and the good offices t of the 
 Turkish Ambassador in London seemed to me 
 likely to be of service, if I could only prevail upon 
 him to interfere in our behalf. Having considered 
 the matter very fully, I finally resolved to make the 
 venture. 
 
 On the very day of our departure I was astounded 
 by the sudden appearance of Mustapha-Djehad. 
 He had come from Venice, after serving three years 
 in the Papal Zouaves, and he, like ourselves, was 
 without resources. I had no alternative but to take 
 him with us, though his presence added to the em- 
 barrassment of my position. 
 
 It was late ten o'clock at night when we reached 
 the Victoria Station. Not knowing whither to go, 
 and having only the address of Monsieur Alphonse, 
 we called a coach and showed the driver the paper 
 on which the direction was written. This indi- 
 vidual, thoroughly imbued with the traditions of his 
 class, took the fullest advantage of our being 
 strangers, and ignorant of the topography of the 
 metropolis, by indulging us in a ride which lasted 
 
312 SIX YEAES IN EUROPE. 
 
 until midnight, when he landed us at the foot of a 
 steep street, somewhere on the south side of London ; 
 but not until I had harangued him at a rate which 
 attracted the attention of a benevolent policeman, 
 who soon relieved the embarrassment of our erratic 
 coachman as to the direction in which he ought to 
 take us. 
 
 At last he stopped in front of a fine house one 
 of a terrace into which I entered, alone, and asked 
 to see Monsieur Alphonse. I did not choose to give 
 my own name, but my voice was recognised by the 
 invalid who occupied a large sitting-room on the 
 ground floor, converted into a bed room for his 
 special use. I found him in bed, but the well-fur- 
 nished apartment was brilliantly illuminated, and he 
 Avas surrounded by four of his male friends, who 
 eyed me with apparent indifference when I entered, 
 but whom I detected scrutinizing me narrowly 
 when they fancied I was not observing them. 
 
 Monsieur Alphonse appeared to me to be remark- 
 ably lively for a man at the point of death, the only 
 indication of illness that I could perceive being a 
 spotty redness of the face, as of measles or scarlet 
 fever, though he was not suffering from either of 
 these complaints. His surprise on seeing me was 
 undisguised, but he said that his intention had been 
 
MONSIEUR HENRI. 313 
 
 to invite us to pay a visit to London as soon as 
 convalescence set in. He introduced me to one of 
 his friends present, a tall handsome man of some 
 thirty years of age, with fierce owl-eyes, whose fixed 
 glare made me uncomfortable. This individual 
 whom I will call Monsieur Henri = saluted me with 
 stiff courtesy, and Monsieur Alphonse then confided 
 us to the care of Monsieur Henri, who, he said, 
 would see us comfortably provided for till morning. 
 
 I do not know to what hotel our new guide had 
 us conducted. It was a grand establishment, and I 
 believe it to have been in the immediate vicinity of 
 the station whence we had come. We were ac- 
 commodated in splendid style ; but haunted by the 
 spectral eyes which had been fixed on me during our 
 drive to the hotel, I could not sleep, though ill 
 from fatigue and excitement. 
 
 Who was this Monsieur Henri ? Who were his 
 companions ? Why were they so deeply interested 
 in Monsieur Alphonse's recovery \ I remembered 
 their physiognomies, and the mingled expression of 
 alarm and suspicion these wore. Monsieur Alphonse 
 was not in so critical a state as to need four anxious 
 male attendants at his bedside, and a midnight con- 
 sultation on business matters was, to say the least of 
 it, open to suspicion. Then, on the way to the hotel, 
 
oU SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 Monsieur Henri assured me, in confidential tones, 
 that he would not abandon Monsieur Alphonse, but 
 would give him permanent and good employ- 
 ment, and be his stanch friend, happen what might. 
 What could be the relations between these two 
 men, that Monsieur Henri should assume the airs 
 and the tone of the patron of Monsieur Alphonse, and 
 at the same time be waiting upon him as a tender 
 nurse ? Was any plot a-foot for the accomplishment 
 of which the latter was an indispensable instrument ? 
 I could not divine, but my suspicions were seriously 
 awakened, and my conclusions took an unfavourable 
 direction. 
 
 Next morning a messenger arrived from Monsieur 
 Henri, who re-conducted us to a furnished house, con- 
 tiguous to the one in which lay his friend Monsieur 
 Alphonse, and we were told to make ourselves at 
 home in it ; but how to do this without money was 
 not even suggested. 
 
 I lost no time in seeking an audience of the 
 Ambassador of the Sublime Porte, who, when he 
 saw Ayesha, wept freely, and besought her and me to 
 return to Constantinople. We adhered to our reso- 
 lution, so many times affirmed, not to trust our- 
 selves within the limits of an empire, to the 
 furthermost corners of which the power of my 
 
AYESHA AND THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR. 315 
 
 husband extended. The Ambassador then advised 
 my daughter to write a letter to her father, setting 
 forth her privations and her position, and appealing 
 to his paternal affection to rescue her from it ; but 
 she was on no account to mention the name of her 
 adviser, and he declined to give us any reason for 
 a reticence which appeared to me inexplicable. 
 
 Had he told me, what he then knew, that his 
 friend Kibrizli-Mehemet Pasha to whom he was 
 sincerely attached lay at that moment ill of a 
 mortal malady; that on seeing Ayesha, he wept 
 at the thought that her father would die without 
 embracing her ; that it was under these circum- 
 stances he advised our return to Constantinople, I 
 should have risked all consequences, and acted upon 
 his suggestion, and upon the natural impulses of 
 my own heart. 
 
 Ayesha agreed to folloAV his advice, assuring 
 his Excellency that she had never lost her affection 
 for her father, but that her experience of his cruelty 
 had terrified her. He had exiled her, had perse- 
 cuted her whilst she was in her own country, and 
 she had fled before a threat of his to imprison her 
 for life in a subterranean dungeon. She would 
 gladly embrace him at that moment, for she still 
 loved him. 
 
316 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 We got Monsieur Alplionse to write this letter, 
 and we took it to the Embassy, as the best channel 
 for conveying it to its destination. Here all kinds 
 of objections were raised to enclosing it in the 
 official bag, but these were finally overcome, and 
 we left under the impression that it would be for- 
 warded. Whether this was done I know not, but 
 no reply to it ever reached us. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Monsieur Alphonse and his friends Singular and suspicious incidents 
 One of my husband's body-guard turns up in an unexpected manner 
 Last visit to the Turkish Ambassador I determine to go away 
 Scene with my daughter We part. 
 
 THE convalescence of Monsieur Alphonse, which 
 commenced at the end of a month, altered our posi- 
 tion. The small amount of ready money I had brought 
 with me was quite exhausted, and no news came 
 in from Constantinople. I had fortunately been 
 relieved of one burden through the kindness of 
 Madame Davidoff, who paid Mustapha-Dj chad's 
 expenses to Paris where he found employment, 
 of a kind, through her interest. Our position did 
 not improve, as the days rolled on, and was at its 
 worst when Monsieur Alphonse proposed to me to 
 take a house and let him apartments in it. The 
 project commended itself to me under an econo- 
 mical aspect, and we removed' without delay into a 
 suitable dwelling in the immediate neighbourhood. 
 
318 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 I never learnt what matters en^a^ed Monsieur 
 
 o o 
 
 Alplionse's time and attention, nor what were the 
 grand projects he and his associates were constantly 
 considering and discussing in secret conclave. 
 Shortly after our installation, despatches, telegrams, 
 registered letters, and others in quantities began to 
 arrive, which he conveyed morning and evening to 
 his patron. In answer to our questions, he used to 
 say these communications related to financial ope- 
 rations of immense importance, and that if they 
 succeeded, his own share would be enormous, and 
 then he would leave the country. Whenever I and 
 my daughter visited at Monsieur Henri's for his 
 wife and his mother dwelt in the house we always 
 found that he was closeted with Monsieur Alphonse 
 and some eight or ten others, and their delibera- 
 tions would often last until long after midnight. 
 The absence of any other ladies but those I have 
 mentioned, and the constant attendance of the few 
 gentlemen associated with Monsieur Henri no 
 others ever visiting at the house impressed me very 
 unfavourably, and I set the whole party down, in my 
 own mind, as a gang of adventurers, living upon 
 the gullibility of an easily deluded public. 
 
 Monsieur Alphonse was a frequent visitor to the 
 city, where his patron had an office. I also discovered 
 
DUPLICITY OF M. ALPHONSE. 319 
 
 he often went to the Ottoman Embassy. Leaving 
 it one day, I saw him come out, but pretended not 
 to do so, and passed on. He concealed his face 
 when he perceived me, and ran behind a lamp-post. 
 The circumstance was suspicious. He had never 
 once hinted a word of his having any connection 
 with the Legation ; but even had this been the 
 case, and his purpose an honest one, he could have 
 no motive for concealment. I suppose he felt he 
 had placed himself in a false position, and feared I 
 should speak to my daughter of this strange inci- 
 dent, for he could not be sure I had not seen him. 
 I was, therefore, not surprised when Ayesha told 
 me he had informed her, that having been over- 
 taken by a shower of rain, close by the Legation, he 
 had run in there for shelter. I laughed at her 
 simplicity, told her there had been no rain, and 
 that Monsieur Alphonse had invented the shower 
 to impose upon her credulity, and to forestall any 
 inquiry of mine why he had been at the Legation 
 at all. 
 
 Another time he brought news that if I had not 
 been with my daughter, the Pasha, my husband, 
 would long since have made Ayesha an allowance, 
 but his fury against me was so great, that so long 
 as she remained with me, he would not give her a 
 
320 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 farthing. He made this communication confi- 
 dentially to Ayesha, adding that he had obtained 
 the intelligence from some Pasha, newly come from 
 Constantinople. I ascertained that no such personage 
 had arrived, and as the main fact was indisputable, 
 I had a rieflit to conclude the information had been 
 
 o 
 
 derived from a higher authority. 
 
 Still another incident. One morning he received 
 a telegram, which he opened and partly read. So 
 far as he did so it was to the effect that if he suc- 
 ceeded in " that business, the decoration of the 
 Medji " here he stopped short, stammered and 
 corrected his slip of the tongue by saying : " no, 
 no ; how stupid of me ; a decoration from the King 
 of Portugal, I should have read." 
 
 As Monsieur Alphonse already wore at his button- 
 hole a riband of some Portuguese order, the pro- 
 mise of a second did not appear probable. More- 
 over, there was no mistaking his reference to that 
 of the Medjidi, nor his confusion and embarrass- 
 ment at having betrayed himself in the exuberance 
 of his delight at the prospect of this equivocal 
 honour. I was not deceived, and from this moment 
 no longer doubted that he was in communication 
 with those unfriendly to me at Constantinople. 
 
 That I also dwelt in personal danger from them 
 
A RETAINER OF KIBRIZLl's. 321 
 
 was brought home to me about this time, by another 
 circumstance. 
 
 I was taking a walk in our neighbourhood with a 
 friend, when I noticed a common-looking Turk 
 following us. Presently he passed us, and I at once 
 recognized him as one of my husband's followers. 
 He came from Adrianople, and was one of the most 
 desperate of ruffians, who had earned a fearful repu- 
 tation in the country as a robber and an assassin. 
 He was captured at last, and brought before the 
 Pasha, my husband, and would have been hanged at 
 once if the Pasha had not taken him into his 
 service, on the promise of good behaviour for the 
 future. 
 
 I may record, as illustrative of Turkish customs, 
 that the governors of provinces and officials invested 
 with arbitrary authority, are privileged to save the 
 life of a criminal, upon a promise of this kind, and 
 to employ him as a thief-taker, or in any similar 
 capacity. Such men are usually taken into the 
 service of their benefactor, who holds them on pain 
 of death by a summary process to their promise 
 not to rob nor murder, nor to commit any misde- 
 meanor : but his command to them is law. 
 
 I determined to speak to this ruffian, who, when 
 I stopped him, regarded me with eyes flaming with 
 
322 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 ferocity. He recognized me though he did not 
 address me by name, and I took care not to betray 
 myself. He said he had arrived only a few days 
 before ; he had come over to see the country : he 
 had not been to the Legation, and did not know the 
 Ambassador. He asked me if the lady by my side 
 was my daughter : a singular question if I had been 
 a stranger to him, for he could have no interest in the 
 fact, but it was one of great significance in the pre- 
 sent instance, implying foreknowledge, and seeing 
 that he asked no other question. I met him a second 
 time, some days later, when, upon sight of me, he 
 ran into a news- shop and sat down on a chair 
 behind the door. I followed him in my friend 
 being with me and challenged him upon his mode 
 of seeing the country by prowling about in one 
 neighbourhood. He answered not a word, but went 
 crimson in the face, and hung his head. Satisfied at 
 having confronted him, and with a vivid impression 
 of the nature of his errand, I went out, resolved to 
 take a decisive step. 
 
 I paid another visit to the Turkish Ambassador, 
 and solicited him to help me to funds sufficient to 
 enable me to rejoin my eldest daughter in Venice. 
 His Excellency urged me not to quit the country, 
 for he knew very positively, was, in fact, sure, that 
 
I AM IN NEW PERIL. 323 
 
 within a few days I should receive a reply from my 
 husband. Thus assured, and upon such high au- 
 thority, I renounced the idea of my journey into 
 Italy. 
 
 Still the days passed and nothing came, and the 
 incidents I have detailed having aggravated my 
 apprehensions and confirmed my convictions of im- 
 minent personal danger, I felt that my own safety 
 could be insured only by flight. I was also strongly 
 influenced by a desire to disentangle myself from 
 the vicious circle in which Monsieur Alphonse and 
 his associates moved. I had no proofs of their being 
 engaged in nefarious transactions, but the mystery 
 which enveloped them and their proceedings, the 
 dark words which continually fell from the lips of 
 Monsieur Alphonse, and the tone and manners of 
 the whole band, amply justified the unfavourable 
 opinion I entertained of the parties, and left me no 
 alternative but to sever the connection at once, if I 
 desired to preserve my own self-respect. 
 
 I communicated my views and intentions to my 
 daughter, not doubting she would be prepared to 
 accompany me anywhere. To my utter amazement 
 she replied to the reasons I gave her for taking this 
 step, by ridiculing me for entertaining apprehensions 
 purely imaginary, and by stating that if I went 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 away she should remain. I remonstrated with her 
 upon the impropriety of her course, and pointed out 
 the result. She retorted that she was quite old 
 enough to take care of herself, and people might 
 comment upon her conduct as they pleased. In a 
 word, a scene too painful to my feelings to describe 
 resulted from this conversation. She was obdurate, 
 and turned a deaf ear to reason. I was obstinate, 
 because I felt I was right in condemning the impru- 
 dence of my daughter in exposing herself to the 
 scandalous reports which must result from her re- 
 maining in the house after I had quitted it, and 
 because I also felt that my self-respect was involved 
 as well as my personal safety, and that between these 
 and an undutiful caprice on the part of my daughter, 
 I could not consent to any compromise. Under 
 such circumstances, no medium course was possible, 
 and I therefore acted upon my conviction of what 
 was right. 
 
 The predominant feeling in my heart that night 
 was of complete abandonment. No mother ever 
 loved a daughter with an affection exceeding my 
 own ; none had sacrificed more for one than I had 
 done for her. I had endured the loss of position, 
 property, friends, consideration ; had undergone the 
 excess of privation, submitted to all kinds of humi- 
 
I QUIT AYESHA. 
 
 liation, to vexations of spirit without end, and for 
 what, at the last ? ingratitude, contempt of reputa- 
 tion, deliberate desertion ! The struggle between 
 my motherly love and my sense of right and 
 propriety was terrible, but I could not bring my- 
 self to come back upon a decision my conscience 
 approved. 
 
 I rose quite early the next morning, heart-broken, 
 weary, ill. The streets were unpeopled, the night- 
 lamps were not yet extinguished, everything seemed 
 dead, and responded to the death in my heart. I 
 gathered up the few effects I could take away, 
 and instinctively took a step or two in the passage 
 leading to my child's room. Then I hesitated. The 
 impulse to look at her once more ere I quitted her, 
 perhaps for ever, was strong as nature, but I resisted 
 it. I should disturb her with my kisses, and I 
 remembered, too, her defiant look and carriage the 
 previous night, and her unkind, undutiful, ungrate- 
 ful words. I stifled my sobs, turned away from the 
 door of her bed-chamber, and staggered rather than 
 walked out of the house. 
 
 Yet, not until I found myself in the street, 
 with the cool air fanning my burning cheek and 
 eyes, did I truly realize that I was alone in the 
 world. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 The last blow. 
 
 I MADE the best of my way to the residence of the 
 friend to whom I have already alluded, surprising 
 her considerably by my early arrival. But for her 
 kindness and sympathy I think I must have died. 
 We concluded it would be desirable for me to take 
 change and rest, and we proceeded the same day to 
 the sea-side. 
 
 If I were to say that during our brief stay my 
 heart became less sensitive to its loss, I should be 
 misleading the reader. Nature, however, has en- 
 dowed the mind with an elastic faculty which 
 enables it to bear the shock of the heaviest misfor- 
 tunes, and to recover from it more or less speedily,, 
 whilst retaining its consciousness of calamity. But 
 for this faculty, it must infallibly give way under 
 the poignant anguish of a heavy visitation. So was 
 it with me. I could not throw off my deep grief. I 
 
DESPONDENCY. 327 
 
 could not dismiss my darling child from my thoughts ; 
 but my bleeding heart begun to reconcile itself to 
 the consciousness of separation from its idol, finding 
 comfort and consolation in the knowledge that its 
 loved object still lived, and that a reunion was not 
 impossible. 
 
 With respect to my own prospects, I had lost all 
 hope, now, of help from my husband. I placed no 
 reliance on the assurances that a communication 
 from the Pasha was on its way to me, fixing my 
 settlement. How came the fact to be known, I had 
 asked myself, and what had brought about such a 
 change in the Pasha's sentiments towards me ? My 
 conviction was that I was being cajoled, and that 
 the recommendations to patience were of a piece 
 with former suggestions, plausible in form and sub- 
 stance, but delusive, hollow, false in reality. In my 
 greater trouble at the loss of my daughter, I thought 
 little of what was to become of myself. I seemed to 
 need only to be left alone to indulge in the sorrow 
 which was breaking me down, yet which seemed to 
 me a luxury. I had staked upon my child the sum 
 of what remained to me of happiness, but fortune 
 had deceived me, and all was lost; save this sorrow 
 at my heart. 
 
 "We had been about a fortnight absent, and I was 
 
-328 SIX YEARS IN EUKOPE. 
 
 beginning to recover from the first bitterness of 
 grief. My friend, knowing how deep an interest I 
 took in Turkish affairs, usually read the telegrams 
 from Constantinople before any other intelligence. 
 One morning, on looking over the newspaper, she 
 suddenly uttered a loud exclamation, and cast the 
 paper down. She could scarcely reply to my in- 
 quiry as to the cause of her emotion, but at length 
 gasped out the words : 
 
 " Oh, Madame, dear Madame ! Your husband is 
 dead. The telegram says that he died after a long 
 and lingering malady." 
 
 My blood ran cold : my head swam ; I fainted. 
 On recovering myself, tears came to my relief. 
 Death extinguishes all animosities, and at this 
 moment I lost sight of the sufferings 1 had en- 
 dured at the hands of the Pasha, and remembered 
 only the husband I had loved tenderly, who had 
 loved me passionately, and with whom I had passed 
 so many years of my young life. From the bottom 
 of my heart I forgave him all the ill he had done me, 
 and even found excuses for him, for paradoxical as 
 it may seem I knew that the source of his cruel 
 displeasure and of his persecution lay in his intense 
 love for me, diverted from its channel through his 
 own weakness by the intrigues and misrepresenta- 
 
DEATH OF KIBRIZLI. 329 
 
 tions of those who surrounded him, and who had an 
 interest in placing an abyss between us. 
 
 I sincerely trust God will forgive me the ill I 
 may have done in my life-time as fully as I do 
 Kibrizli. I have, however, no forgiveness in my 
 heart for those who listened to the revengeful ravings 
 of a man burning with love for his daughter whom 
 he had lost, and irritated by a malady which left 
 him scarcely a respite from intense suffering and 
 took advantage of them to persecute me up to the 
 time of his death, and to this present moment, their 
 aim being the advancement of their own selfish 
 ends. 
 
 But this intelligence also brought with it a revela- 
 tion. What had been dark, suddenly became clear. 
 All at once it broke in upon me that my daughter 
 and I had been duped by Monsieur Alphonse and 
 his friends, their ultimate object being to secure 
 the Pasha's wealth through Ayesha. Here was the 
 plot. 
 
 Through their friends at Constantinople and at 
 the various Ottoman Legations, and through their 
 spies, they had heard of the Pasha's illness, and of 
 its hopeless character ; so declared from the moment 
 his malady reached its final stage. 
 
 His wealth was notoriously enormous, and was 
 
330 SIX YEAES IN EUEOPE. 
 
 as I have already stated coveted by liis rapacious 
 male next of kin, amongst whom it would be distri- 
 buted in the absence of direct heirs. If Mustapha- 
 Djehad coiild be proved illegitimate that is, only an 
 adopted child of the Pasha's the bulk of the inheri- 
 tance would revert to Ayesha. If the lad's legitimacy 
 were established, three-fourths of the inheritance 
 would be his, and the remainder Ayesha's. Now, 
 the Pasha had over and over again deposed to the 
 legitimacy of Mustapha, and had even driven out 
 with violence, sundry of his colleagues in the govern- 
 ment, who had ventured to trouble him with a 
 repetition of the rumours his relatives had circu- 
 lated concerning the parentage of the young man. 
 He had also made a similar declaration in writing. 
 Thus, before these harpies could secure Mustapha's 
 share of the inheritance, they would have to estab- 
 lish his illegitimacy as an adopted child ; but so long 
 as I could enter on the scene against them, their 
 chances of success were reduced to the slenderest 
 proportions, for who could gainsay my word, and 
 overthrow my proofs, sustained as they would 
 have been, by the verbal and written acknowledg- 
 ment of the Pasha ! Hence the intrigues to get rid 
 of me, and to impair, by every means, the validity 
 of my testimony : intrigues stimulated by Kibrizli's. 
 
I SEEK AYESHA. 331 
 
 own, to revenge himself upon me for quitting Turkey 
 witfh our daughter. 
 
 I had not, myself, anything to expect from the 
 Pasha's inheritance, and had never demanded but 
 what was my own, of right, or its equivalent. 
 Ayesha's portion, however immense, if Mustapha- 
 Djehad's legitimacy were disproved ; and much can 
 be done in Turkey, by a judicious distribution of 
 bribes ; would still be considerable enough, in the 
 contrary contingency, to render her a grand prize 
 to whomsoever could secure control over her. Here, 
 again, I stood in the way, so that to all parties I 
 was an obstacle to the success of their designs, and 
 all had a direct interest in disposing of me somehow. 
 It is simply marvellous how I have escaped from 
 such an unscrupulous band. 
 
 Ayesha's own folly now left her at the mercy of 
 those who had for so many months sought to 
 entangle her in their snares. One of their objects 
 had been to isolate her from me, but all their 
 machinations in this direction had failed, and were 
 likely to fail so long as I watched over her. My 
 apprehensions for her safety were now again excited 
 to the last degree by the intelligence of my husband's 
 death, and I could not rest until I had once more 
 seen her, and made her acquainted with the event 
 
332 SIX YEARS IN EUROPE. 
 
 which so affected her prospects. Accordingly I and 
 my friend hastened to the house I had so recently 
 quitted, but to our surprise, we found it vacated, and 
 in charge of a strange woman. 
 
 " Madam/' said she, in reply to my inquiry what 
 had become of my daughter, "your daughter was 
 married about ten days ago to Monsieur Alphonse. 
 He received news of her husband's death, and they 
 were married immediately after. I don't know where 
 they are." 
 
 This was the last blow. The cup was full. 
 Husband, daughter, wealth, position, prospects, 
 gone ! I turned sick ! Hope died within me : 
 smitten out of my heart suddenly, at once, by this 
 final stroke. The bitterness of the hour was aggra- 
 vated by the thought that my enemies had at length 
 triumphed, and were rejoicing over my defeat. I felt 
 that nothing now remained to me that I at all 
 cared to live for. Bewildered, scarcely conscious, I 
 allowed my friend to lead me away, like a passive 
 infant. She took me back to the sea-side, where a 
 raging fever seized me, and where, for a period of 
 five months, I hung between lunacy and death. 
 
 It was my fate to recover. With convalescence 
 came thoughts for the means of supplying the 
 necessaries of existence. I remembered the rough 
 
T REMAIN ALONE. 333 
 
 record of my life, lying useless in my trunk. I had 
 no ambition to appear before the world as an author, 
 but daily needs are imperative, and my sole, imme- 
 diately available resource lay in that trunk. I 
 sought a publisher, and found one. I leave " Thirty 
 Years in the Harem " and this present narrative of 
 my experiences in Europe to tell their own tale. 
 Their sole merit is their truthfulness. Between me 
 and my persecutors I leave the reader as Judge. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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