d to impose
a tax in his name. You give this little box to the Pasha and I wager
that he will reward you with enough for your lifetime."

The Aga caught at the offer greedily, received the carefully sealed
box which Zulfikar should have given over to the Pasha, and presented
it with the following words:

"See, most gracious Pasha. Here I bring you that princely present
which Dionysius Banfy sent you instead of the tax."

Ali Pasha took the box and when he had cut the string, broken the seal
and raised the cover, there fell out on his caftan a dried-up grey
pig's tail, the most fearful insult, the most horrible disgrace, a man
can offer a Turk.

Ali Pasha jumped almost to the ceiling in his anger, threw his turban
on the ground, and gave orders to have the Aga, who stood petrified,
impaled that instant outside the gate.

Zulfikar walked off, his two hundred gold pieces intact.

CHAPTER XII

A GREAT LORD IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

There was racing and running in the castle of Bonczida. Dionysius
Banfy was expected back from Ebesfalva. The castle gate, which
displayed a huge crest between the claws of a gilded lion, was
overshadowed with green boughs and gay flags. On the street in a long
line stood the school children, dressed in their Sunday clothes, with
the teacher at their head. Farther back, with Sunday mien, stood the
dependents, and in front of a hill were drawn up in orderly ranks the
mounted nobility of the county of Klausenburg, about eight hundred
men, noble, warlike figures, armed with broad swords and clubs. They
had come to greet their superior officer, the general of the nobility.
On the walls were Banfy's own warriors; about six hundred, in full
armor, with long Turkish guns and with Scythian helmets. On the
bastion toward Szamos were eight mortars, and several feet away burned
a fire in which the cannoneers heated the ends of their long iron rods
to use as a slow match. At every gate, at every door, stood two pages
in scarlet cloaks and blue stockings, their entire costume adorned
with silver lacings. At the window of the high tower was stationed a
lookout to announce with the trumpet the arrival of the lord. The wind
struggled above his head with a great purple banner, only swaying the
heavy gold tassels that hung from it. From every window eager servants
looked out. Lords and ladies appeared expectant. Only three windows
were without gay groups. In their place were fragrant jasmine an