aga had taken away the life of my master, that it
would not hurt him if I took away a little from his character. I
answered that I really knew nothing, but that, the other day, a black
slave had disappeared in a very suspicious manner--that my master made
very little inquiry after him--and I now strongly suspected that he must
have suffered the same fate. I added, that my master had expressed
himself very sorry that his highness had taken away the pipe of wine, as
he would have reserved it.

"Cursed Jew!" replied the aga; "I don't doubt but he has murdered a
dozen in the same manner."

"I am afraid so, sir," replied I, "and suspect that I was to have been
his next victim; for when I talked of going away, he persuaded me to
stay, and gave me this paper, by which I was to become his partner with
one third of the profits. I presume that I should not have enjoyed them
long."

"Well, Greek," observed the aga, "this is fortunate for you; as, upon
certain conditions, you may enter upon the whole property. One is, that
you keep this pipe of wine with the rascally Jew in it, that I may have
the pleasure occasionally to look at my revenge. You will also keep the
pipe with the other body in it, that it may keep my anger alive. The
last is, that you will supply me with what wine I may require, of the
very best quality, without making any charge. Do you consent to these
terms, or am I to consider you as a party to this infamous transaction?"

I hardly need observe that the terms were gladly accepted. Your
highness must be aware that nobody thinks much about a Jew. When I was
questioned as to his disappearance, I shrugged up my shoulders, and told
the inquirers, confidentially, that the aga of the janissaries had put
him _in prison_ and that I was carrying on the business until his
release.

In compliance with the wishes of the aga, the two casks containing the
Jew and the Ethiopian slave, were placed together on settles higher than
the rest, in the centre of the store. He would come in the evening, and
rail at the cask containing my late master for hours at a time; during
which he drank so much wine, that it was a very common circumstance for
him to remain in the house until the next morning.

You must not suppose, your highness, that I neglected to avail myself
(unknown to the aga) of the peculiar properties of the wine which those
casks contained. I had them spiled underneath, and, constantly running
off the wine