* * * * *
Early in the morning the gigantic Halil Pelivan, accompanied by twelve
bostanjis, appeared among the Janissaries with three asses laden with
five little panniers, containing five thousand ducats which he emptied
upon the ground and distributed among the brave fellows.
"The Grand Vizier sends you this, my worthy comrades," cried he.
This was the only way of talking sense to the Janissaries.
"And now I have to ask something of you."
"Say on!"
"Is there among you any fellow who loves nobody, who would be capable of
slaying his own dear father if he were commanded so to do and well paid
for it, who is afraid of nothing, has no bowels of compassion, and
cannot be made to falter by the words of the wise?"
In response to this challenge, hundreds and hundreds of the Janissaries
stepped out of their ranks, declaring that they were just the boys to
satisfy Pelivan's demands.
Pelivan selected from amongst them two-and-thirty of the most muscular
and truculent, and commanded them to follow him into the Seraglio.
Once there he conducted them into the Porcelain Chamber, made them squat
down on the precious carpets, put before them quantities of the most
savoury food, which they washed down with the rich wine of Cypress and
the heating Muskoveto, a mysterious beverage generally reserved for the
Sultan's use, which is supposed to confer courage and virility. When
they had well eaten and drunken moreover, Pelivan supplied them with as
much opium as they wanted.
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