almsgiving, and whereas I had fondly believed that our garden at least would be productive, the reverse proved to be the case. Indeed it swallowed more than all the other expenses put together, for I was compelled to grow the same sorts of flowers as were to be seen in the gardens of the Seraglio. I soon ceased to wonder that so apparently humble a post as that of Seraglio gardener was regarded as one of the most desirable and lucrative of any in the realm. The Indian and Chinese ornamental fish alone cost a small fortune, and as many of these died for lack of care Giulia was able to persuade me that in the end it would be cheaper to buy a skilled man to tend them. I prefer not to recall the price of this dried-up, shivering Indian.
There were thus limits to my happiness, as I sat on my billowing down cushions, wandered among the brilliant flowers in my garden, or lingered by the pool to feed the colored fish. Constant money worries chafed me like an ill- fitting shoe. I had hoped that Giulia and I might enjoy our new-found abundance in peaceful seclusion, but she soon made it clear that we could derive neither profit nor enjoyment from our house unless we invited important guests to view it for themselves.
Though it entailed a day’s exile from my domain I was undeniably flattered when Sultana Khurrem herself, accompanied by some of her ladies, arrived in her lord’s pleasure barge to admire our house and wander through the gardens. The honor this visit conferred upon us far outweighed the expense of a new marble landing stage, thought Giulia. Armed eunuchs stood guard about our house all day, so that even the dullest must observe in what high regard my wife and I were held. Soon the Grand Vizier with his suite came to visit us and see what had become of all his money; Sinan the Builder and I had to undergo a thorough cross-examination before he was smilingly pleased to understand that it was solely out of regard for his own dignity that we had been compelled to build so fine and handsomely appointed a house.
Proud of his work, Sinan the Builder often brought distinguished pashas and sandshaks to inspect it, in the hope of further commissions. I had thus the opportunity of making useful acquaintances, though some of the more eminent among them treated me haughtily because I was a renegade. These guests put me to great expense, as each of them had to be entertained in a manner befitting our respective dignities.
I grew thin and pale from this life of luxury, and pangs would shoot through the pit of my stomach at the thought of the future. But one day Giulia came to me and putting her arms about my neck for once she said tenderly, “Dearest Michael, we can go on like this no longer. You must see that for yourself.”
Much moved I replied, “Ah, dear Giulia, you’re quite right. A roof and a dry crust are enough for me so long as I have you beside me. We have forged golden fetters for ourselves, and already I feel a silken noose about my neck. Let us humbly confess our error, sell this place, and return to that simple life which is surely better suited to us both.”
But her face darkened and she said, “You misunderstand me. A crust of bread and a cup of water in your company would of course satisfy me, but we have our daughter Mirmah’s future to think of. I’ve put up with your lack of ambition too long. I must take the reins into my own hands, since you seem unable to handle them.”
She paused to choose her words before continuing, “It’s not for a simple woman to meddle with statecraft, but a certain exalted lady feels alarm at the perils threatening the Ottoman Empire and is not convinced that the Grand Vizier’s precautions are the best. His overweening pride and conceit are no secret from her.” Noting the expression on my face she went on hurriedly, “But why enlarge on that? All I meant to say was that many of the most influential men in the realm are dubious of those dangerous schemes of conquest in the West. If the janissaries must be sent into battle they would do better in Persia, which is a weak, divided country.”
To this I replied, “All in good time. The great menace of the Emperor must first be removed. That is the sum of the Grand Vizier’s policy.”
“You speak like a fool, Michael,” said Giulia impatiently. “How can the Sultan defeat the Emperor, who has himself conquered and imprisoned the King of France and the Pope? It may be that Charles bears no ill will to the Sultan and would have nothing against his expansion in the East, so long as he maintained peace with him and his brother. Let the Emperor rule the West and the Sultan the East; there’s room in the world for them both.”
She spoke with such assurance that I began to feel misgivings, for she could never have worked these things out for herself. She gripped me with both hands and shook me, whispering, “Great sums are at stake, Michael! Though the Grand Vizier may boast of his incorruptibility there are other more receptive purses. I’ve good reason to think that the Sultan is secretly inclined to a lasting peace with the Emperor, for he realizes the terrible consequences of defeat. And I know from reliable sources that the Emperor desires nothing better than a secret treaty with the Sultan for the partition of the world. But these of course are very secret matters and for appearances’ sake the Sultan must feign hostility to any such plans.”
“But,” I objected, “how can the Sultan trust the Emperor? Even now the Persian envoy is at Charles’s Court. How can we be sure that Charles will not attack these dominions as soon as the Sultan’s back is turned?”
“Whether he likes it or not, the Sultan is forced to wage war on Persia to crush Shah Tahmasp, who otherwise with the Emperor’s support will attack him. But this would prove costly for Charles, who is disinclined to meddle with Oriental affairs in which he is not directly concerned. Look at it how you will, Michael, you must see that peace with the Emperor can only be to the Sultan’s advantage. You can lose nothing by working for so good a cause.”
This conspiratorial talk did not appeal to me at all, for to my mind reason and not secret gifts of money determined the rights and wrongs of a case. But when I hinted as much to Giulia she shook her head at my simplicity and said, “God pity you, Michael! Nothing you can say will tip the scale either for or against peace, but our style of living has persuaded certain credulous persons that you enjoy the Grand Vizier’s confidence. By this you see the importance of outward show. A hundred thousand ducats have been staked on peace, though I dare not hint even to you whence this money comes. But gold speaks for itself, and here are a thousand ducats to prove that those of whom I speak are in earnest. When the Sultan has made peace with Ferdinand there’ll be another five thousand for you.”
Taking out a little leather bag Giulia broke the seal and let the coins roll jingling across the floor. I freely admit that the ring of money spoke more eloquently in the cause of peace than ever Giulia could. Yet she went on persuasively, “Blessed are the peacemakers. The distinguished lady I spoke of wishes to save the Sultan all unnecessary opposition, and Grand Vizier Ibrahim can easily be sent to Persia as seraskier. The lady sincerely hopes to gain the Grand Vizier’s trust and friendship, for she believes that they both have the Sultan’s interests at heart. For this reason she is deeply hurt at the malicious rumors put about by him concerning Sultana Khurrem and her sons. It is slander to say that Prince Selim is epileptic. Prince Jehangir’s deformity is no more than a trial sent by Allah, such as any woman might have to bear, and the other two Princes are certainly more gifted than the haughty Mustafa, who in no circumstances should be favored at his half-brothers’ expense.”
I fancy Giulia was somewhat carried away by her enthusiasm and said more than she intended. I was so greatly agitated by her proposal that I lay awake until nearly morning. Conflicting ideas whirled round in my head and when at last I fell asleep I was tormented by nightmares in which I seemed to be wandering over a quagmire and vainly seeking firm foothold. I stumbled and fell; the purse dragged me down and down until my mouth was filled with marsh water and I was all but suffocated. I awoke with a shriek, bathed in cold sweat.
It seemed to me that this dream was an omen, and early in the morning I ordered the boatman to row me to the city. Having performed my devotions in the great mosque I turned my steps to Ibrahim’s palace, where I sought out a clerk of the secret intelligence and told him I had a matter of the greatest importance to communicate to the Grand Vizier in person.
I had to wait all day and far into the night until Ibrahim returned from the Seraglio, and when at last he received me it was with coolness and the request that I would not add to the great burden of his cares.
I told him all that Giulia had said and in confirmation would gladly have handed him the thousand ducats, had not Giulia already taken charge of it and dropped it into Alberto’s bottomless purse. The Grand Vizier flushed with anger and ground his teeth as he said, “Enough is enough! If that false, fanatical, scheming woman dares to meddle in statecraft I shall give her something to remember it by. God knows what devil beguiled the Sultan into laying his cloth upon that feline shoulder. She has brought him nothing but her sickly, epileptic blood. Better had her puny brats been strangled in the cradle-though not the Sultan’s best friend could have suggested such a measure.”
When he had stormed for some time I ventured to ask what I should do with the money.
“Keep it,” he said. “It’s of no significance. I am the one who decides questions of peace and war, for no one is powerful enough to oppose me. The Sultan follows my advice for he knows I’m the only one who cannot be bought- the only one with whom his interests come first. By the most sacred oaths of Islam he has sworn never to remove me from my appointment as Grand Vizier or do anything to harm me, for in all the world I am his only true friend.
