e I feel not to die in this creed, which I nominally profess; but
if it can be done in no other way, I propose to confess and publicly cry
aloud my faith in Jesus Christ, from which I lapsed by reason of my
youth and want of understanding. Such a confession I know will cost me
my life, which I will give freely, that I may not lose my soul. From all
this I would have you infer, and be assured, that my friendship may be
of some use to you. But that I may know what remedies or palliations
your case may admit of, it is necessary that you explain it to me, as
the sick man does to the doctor, taking my word for it, that I will
maintain the strictest secrecy concerning it."

Ricardo, who had listened in silence all this while, finding himself at
last obliged to reply, did so as follows: "If, as you have guessed
rightly, respecting my misfortune, friend Mahmoud," (that was the Turk's
name,) "so also you could hit upon the remedy for it, I should think my
liberty well lost, and would not exchange my mischance for the greatest
imaginable good fortune. But I know that it is such, that though all the
world should know the cause whence it proceeds, no one ever would make
bold to find for it a remedy, or even an alleviation. That you may be
satisfied of this truth, I will relate my story to you, as briefly as I
can; but before I enter upon the confused labyrinth of my woes, tell me
what is the reason why my master, Hassan Pasha, has caused these
pavilions to be pitched here in the plain, before he enters Nicosia, to
which he has been appointed pasha, as the Turks call their viceroys."

"I will satisfy you briefly," replied Mahmoud. "You must know, then,
that it is the custom among the Turks, for those who are sent as
viceroys of any province, not to enter the city in which their
predecessor dwells until he quits it, and leaves the new comer to take
up his residence freely; and when the new pasha has done so, the old one
remains encamped beyond the walls, waiting the result of the inquiry
into his administration, which is made without his being able to
interfere, and avail himself of bribery or affection, unless he has done
so beforehand. The result of the inquiry, enrolled on a sealed
parchment, is then given to the departing pasha, and this he must
present to the Sublime Porte, that is to say, the court in front of the
grand council of the Turk. It is then read by the vizier pasha and the
four lesser pashas, (or, as we should say, b