??kai, M??r, 1825-1904 / 2008-06-08 00:00:00
But I don't fancy I can know the man to whom
this letter is directed."
"Well, all I can say is that you knew him very well indeed this time
yesterday, for the man is yourself--none other."
Halil, full of astonishment, took the letter, which hitherto he had not
regarded--sure enough it was addressed to himself.
"Then he who gave me this letter must needs be a madman, and there is a
purse which I have to hand over along with it."
"Yes, I see that your name is written on that also."
"But I have nothing to do with either the purse or the letter. Of a
truth the man who confided them to me must have been a lunatic."
"It will be best if you break open the letter and read it, then you will
_know_ what you have got to do with it."
This was true enough. The best way for a man to find out what he has to
do with a letter addressed to him is, certainly, to open and read it.
And this is what was written in the letter.
"WORTHY HALIL PATRONA!
"I told you that I was a poor man, but that was not true; on the
contrary, I am pretty well to do, thank God! Nor do I wander up and down
on the face of the earth in search of herds of cattle stolen from me,
but for the sake of my only daughter, who is dearer to me than all my
treasures, and now also I am in pursuit of her, following clue after
clue, in order that I may discover her whereabouts and, if possible,
ransom her. You have been my benefactor. You fought the drunken
Janissary for my sake, you shared your dwelling with me, you made me lie
on your own bed while you slept on the bare ground, you even took off
your kaftan to make my couch the softer.
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