Damad Ibrahim was well aware of the nature of this secret message, and
thanked Allah for setting a term to the life of man.
* * * * *
Meanwhile Sultan Achmed was sitting in the Hall of Delectation with the
beautiful Adsalis by his side, and in front of him were the four tulips
which Abdi Pasha had presented to him the day before.
The four tulips were now in full bloom.
Adsalis had thrown her arms round the Sultan's neck, and was kissing his
forehead as if she would charm away from his soul the thoughts which
suffered him not to rest, or rejoice, or to love.
He had an eye for nothing but the tulips before him, which he could not
protect or cherish sufficiently. He scarce noticed that Elhaj Beshir,
the Kizlar-Aga, was standing before him with a long MS. parchment
stretched out in his hand.
"Master," cried the Kizlar-Aga, "deign to read the answer which the
Ulemas are sending to Halil Patrona, and if it be according to thy will
give it the confirmation of thy signature."
"What do they require?" asked the Sultan softly, withdrawing, as he
spoke, a tiny knife from his girdle, with the point of which he began
picking away at the earth all round the tulips in order to make it
looser and softer.
"The rebels demand a full assurance that they will not be persecuted in
the future for what they have done in the past."
"Be it so!"
"Next they demand that the Kiaja Aga be handed over to them."
The Sultan cut off one of the tulips with his knife and handed it to the
Kizlar-Aga.
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