"Good Heavens! what a transition from absolute despair to exquisite joy. How little did I hope ever to see my friend again. Yet let me not be too sanguine; perhaps we are prisoners for life; yet if they will permit us to be together, I am careless of future circumstances."
"What is intended by bringing us together," said Ferdinand, "I am as ignorant of as yourself: For when I once questioned Heli as to the place of your confinement, he protested he was ignorant of it. In this, 'tis plain, he practised deception: Therefore I cannot pretend to judge what may be his future views.
"I have experienced civilities from him which call for confidence; and if I am deceived, I would rather suffer for my candor, than wrong him by unjust suspicions."
The Count seemed to derive hope from Ferdinand's account of Heli. They both execrated the treachery of Ismael; judging that, from such a man, they had every thing to dread, should his expectations, or demands of a large ransom, by any unforeseen means, be fruitless.
By the time appointed, Heli entered, and carefully shutting the door, seated himself by Ferdinand.—"I am now going to prove my confidence in you," said he.—"Five days ago, I received intelligence, that my kinsman Ismael was imprisoned, by the machinations of his enemies. This event nearly concerned me; yet I hoped his relations and interest at Constantinople would preserve him. The contrary has happened; the last morning that I walked out with you to the grove, I was informed of his death, the confiscation of his effects, and the determined ruin of all his family.
"I debated in my mind, whether I should fly the approaching storm, and leave you to preserve yourself as you could.—Other thoughts suggested themselves: This government, not being very important, might not be immediately thought of. If I left you, you might indeed regain your liberty, but you might run a thousand hazards.—Your friend would have but little chance of an escape for a long time to come, if ever, as he could not give information to his friends, and the persons who had the care of him, were of an inferior order of people.
"Considering all this, I fixed my plan immediately. I set off for the confinement of this gentleman, and demanded him in the Grand Seigneur's name; I was well known; and though I produced no signet, they presumed not to disobey me: By this step I have obliged you both; and if you will solemnly subscribe to the conditions I propose, I will not only give you your liberty, but open to you a way of returning to your own country, without ransom or difficulty. You may possibly entertain some doubts of my sincerity, because I denied the knowledge of your friend's residence, but it was a trust reposed in me, and I think myself entitled to the more credit, for preserving my faith; you may judge as you please."
"I assure you," replied Ferdinand, who had listened to him very attentively, that he might perfectly understand him, "I honour you for your integrity; name your conditions, therefore, without reserve; they must be hard ones indeed, if we hesitate a moment to fulfil them."
"This then is my plan," returned Heli. "I now acknowledge to you, that within this last moon, peace has been concluded upon between our great Sultan and your Emperor. All officers remaining in Turkey are declared free, and may return to their homes. Nevertheless, many of them, secured as you have been, will find great difficulties. It must be in every governor's power to retard their freedom, without he is interested to liberate them. You understand me.—And in the next place, the natural aversion the Turks have to you Christians, might subject them to many insults, without they have a proper guard.
"Now, if you will swear to take me with you, and to protect me, and one person more, in your country; I will attend you through the country to the first sea port, as the safest way of going in the habit of a Janissary, and as a guard deputed to see you on your way to the port. The other person I speak of is a woman, once a Christian, but now a true disciple of Mahomet—I cannot leave her behind. She must travel as your wife; but she must be sacred from your touch; for I swear by Allah, if in any one point you disappoint or deceive me, both shall instantly suffer death, though I were sure to die a thousand times."
"I will answer both for my friend and for myself," replied Ferdinand; 'that we will sacredly keep our faith with you; that we will amply provide both for you and the woman, and enable you to spend the remainder of your days in comfort."
"Enough," replied Heli; "in two days we will be on the road; but fear not that I shall be a burden to you; I am not destitute of riches, though hitherto they have been useless to me, because I dared not spend beyond my income. Subject to so many jealous eyes, we must have the 'wisdom of the serpent' to escape our enemies."
Heli departed with a countenance so changed from the gloom and anxiety which had for some time pervaded his features, that even Ferdinand was surprised at the alteration, and the Count viewed him with wonder and curiosity. When he had left the apartment, Ferdinand quickly informed his friend of their agreeable prospects, from the proposals of Heli. The Count was not less pleased than himself, but could not help observing, that they were more indebted to the selfish gratifications of the proposer, than to his generosity.
"This man's conduct," said he, "confirms the opinion I have early been taught to hold of the Turks, that in their dealings with us, they are selfish, deceitful, and avaricious. Was it not Heli's interest to escape from this country, I believe we should owe him no obligations, either for our liberty or lives, if the sacrifice of either, or both, were essential to his own views."
"We must not search too nicely into the motives which influences men's actions," returned Ferdinand.—"There are so many hidden springs, so many latent causes.——Sometimes scarcely known to ourselves, from which originate our best purposes, and guide our designs, that I fear few could stand the scrutiny, without the imputation of selfishness."
"I shall not now dispute that point with you," answered the Count, 'though I am inclined to think more favourably of human nature than you do."
"Do not mistake my general observation for an invariable rule," said Ferdinand hastily. "There are minds of a superior mould, doubtless; but they are comparatively few. And as for this Turk, as we could have no right to expect his services, I am willing to accept them upon his own terms."
In the afternoon Heli attended them, and after a long conversation, their plan and route was settled, and he bid them prepare to set off by the eleventh hour next day, when he and the woman would join them.
"The lady, I suppose," said Ferdinand, "must be silent, otherwise her language will betray her."
"Not so," returned he.—"I told you she had been a Christian; nay, more, she is your countrywoman, a German."
"And you can be contented with one woman?" asked he, smiling.
"I cannot be contented without this woman," replied Heli.—"That's all I can answer for at present."
The friends passed a night of impatience, and not entirely free from apprehension.—Should any discovery of Heli take place, they might, as accomplices, be involved in very disagreeable situations. If they discovered themselves as German officers, entitled to their liberty, he might, in revenge, accuse them of some crimes which would draw on them unpleasant consequences.—And to irritate, displease, or disappoint a Turk, is seldom done with impunity, they are in general so furious and revengeful.
Therefore, after much consultation, and revolving all circumstances together, they thought it best to submit with a good grace, and trust to the ingenuity and diligence of Heli to extricate them from impending difficulties.
The hour at length came, appointed for their departure. Heli appeared in his usual garb alone; their hearts misgave them.—"Follow me," said he, "and fear nothing."
He led them across a court, and through a small postern door, which opened upon a ragged and unfrequented part of the hill;—and it was with some difficulty they kept their feet steady in going down the declivity. At the bottom was a thick underwood, through which they easily penetrated to a small decayed building: Entering a few steps, they perceived a soldier with a drawn scimitar.—They started back, and supposed themselves
betrayed, casting a look of reproach on Heli.—He saw their thoughts in that look.—"This is a friend," said he;—and going forward, he returned with a bundle, that contained the dress of a soldier, and in which he quickly arrayed himself, throwing his other clothes under some large stones and rubbish.
"We have now the day before us," said he, "and no time to lose before we reach a place of safety. I have given out in the Castle, that I shall pass the day with you at the hermit's. No suspicion, therefore, will be entertained 'till night, nor any thoughts of a pursuit 'till morning, because no one has a right to command or leave his post, consequently much time will elapse before that is determined upon."
"But the woman," said Ferdinand.
"Will be safe with us," answered Heli, smiling, and pointing to the soldier, who was so perfectly disguised by her dress and mustaches, that they had not the least suspicion of her sex.
"Will she not be missed?" asked the Count.
"No," replied Heli.—"Yesterday she was impertinent—we quarrelled—I ordered her into confinement, and, in a feigned passion, swore she should remain there three days, sending to her room some dried figs and water. I locked the door, and secured the key.
"This morning I pretended to regret my oath, and said, I would go and consult the holy hermit, how far I dared to remit her punishment. Thus you see neither will be sought after, as I had forbidden any one to approach the door of her apartment; and I am so well beloved by the men, and so little suspected of having any cause to absent myself, as they are ignorant of Ismael's fate, which involves his kindred, that unless an order should arrive to arrest me, I dare say they will not think of my flight, or pursue me 'till after tomorrow, if then; and before that, I trust we shall be in safety."
They could not but acknowledge that he had taken every prudent precaution to preserve them from danger; and without any further conversation, they pursued their way across the plain to the next town, which was a few miles distance. Here they easily procured a carriage, under the pretence that the Count and Ferdinand were prisoners, whom the soldiers had in custody.
The Turkish soldiers are in general so formidable to the common ignorant people, that few would presume to dispute their commands. The same pretence carried them through several small towns and villages without interruption or accident, tho" not without much fatigue, as they proceeded with great speed.
It is not necessary to trace them through their journey, as they had neither time or inclination to make observations. Therefore I shall only say, that they reached the river Danube in safety, which they crossed, and after several days travelling, arrived at Belgrade. Here they rested, and were enabled to breathe, after their fatigues, both of body and mind.
Having stayed two days, they proceeded on to Vienna, and, to the great joy of the whole party, at length entered that Imperial city in perfect safety, just sixteen weeks from the day when the battle took place, and they were carried off by Ismael.
CHAPTER IX
The Count and Ferdinand soon made themselves known to some of their acquaintance, and were received with as much surprise as if they had risen from the dead; so firmly was it credited, that they had perished in battle. Proper clothes were soon procured for themselves, Heli and the woman both readily conforming to wear the German dress, though both persevered in their own tenets of religion, and the worship of the prophet Mahomet.
Heli now displayed a great many valuable jewels, worth five or six thousand pounds at least. How he had acquired them, he never thought proper to divulge; nor had they any right to inquire. He had sufficient to live on, in a moderate independence, and proposed retiring into the country, to reside free from observation. The gentlemen sent off letters to their friends immediately on their arrival, as they were very doubtful that their former ones had never gone forward from Adrianople. They purposed waiting on the Emperor, and as there was now no occasion for their active services, to obtain his permission for returning into Suabia.
The morning following, after all their clothes were brought home, Heli entered their apartment, and asked leave to introduce his Fatima in her proper habit. They readily accorded to his request, being desirous of seeing a woman whom he had preferred to all others, and who had changed her own form of worship for that of the man she loved.
He quickly returned, leading in a very beautiful woman, whom he no sooner introduced to Ferdinand, than the latter recoiled a few paces back, with all the marks of strong surprise, and even terror, in his countenance. Heli, observing his emotions, was instantly seized with a jealous fit. He changed colour, and pulled down her veil, drawing her on one side, as if to leave the room.
"Be not offended or hurt, my friend," said Ferdinand, recovering himself, "nor leave the room, I beseech you.—To account for my emotions, I must tell you that this lady bears the strongest resemblance to my late dear and honoured father, that ever I beheld in two persons of different ages and sex. Very striking it must be, to have such an effect on my mind. Let me entreat you, Heli, to uncloud that face, and permit me to ask your lady a few questions."
Heli complied, but it was with an ill grace, his looks betraying suspicion and vexation.
"You say, Madam," said Ferdinand, 'that you are a German.—Have the goodness to inform me who, and what you are;—for I am strongly persuaded you are somehow connected with my father's family.—Do not hesitate," added he, seeing she appeared in great confusion.—"Whoever you are, in me you will find a friend ready to promote your happiness with Heli, since he is the man of your choice."
Those words he repeated in the Turkish language to him, to quiet a little the turbulence of his agitations. After some little hesitation, Fatima began the following little narrative:—
"I have heard my mother say, that I was born in Baden; that my father was a nobleman, who had an estate near that city, and seduced her, at an early part of her life, under a promise of being faithful to her, and never marrying, as the difference in their rank precluded him from giving his hand to her."
"Did she never mention his name to you?" asked Ferdinand eagerly.
"She did," resumed Fatima; "it was Count Renaud."
Ferdinand struck his breast, greatly agitated, but requested she would proceed without attending to him.
"My mother informed me, that after my birth, he grew fonder of her every hour; but at length his father compelled him to marry a lady of rank and fortune, under the penalty of being disinherited, if he refused. This caused equal grief to both; and it was long before my mother could be reconciled to see him, or receive his visits; but her dependence on him, and affection for me, at length prevailed, and she had every reason to be convinced that all his real love was confined to her. Under this conviction, she submitted to her situation.
"After some time, she perceived a coldness in his attentions, and a profound melancholy in his looks, for which he assigned no cause, and pretended it was her fancy only; but being convinced, she said, that his dejection must spring from a new attachment, as he was daily more negligent towards her.—She had him carefully watched, and at length discovered that he was passionately in love with a young lady, on a visit to his wife, who, being of family, and virtuous, repulsed him, though it was believed she was equally attached.
"My mother, made desperate by this discovery, gave his wife information of the attachment, and driven to despair, in a fit of madness and jealousy, she accepted the protection of a German officer, who had long persecuted her with his addresses, and accompanied by me and my nurse, quitted Baden for ever, without deigning to see or to reproach him.
"With this officer she resided some years; and although she had a daughter by him, she loved me most affectionately, and has often said I was a perfect resemblance of her once beloved Count. We lived very happily, until I was about twelve years old, my sister only ten, when my mother's protector died, leaving his property divided between her and his daughter, with a small legacy to me. My sister and her fortune was left in the care of my mother, and the latter always assured me,
her share should be mine at her death; which unfortunately happened in less than a twelvemonth after, and so suddenly, that she had not time to make a will; and as she had lived very retired, and her situation had prevented her from having proper acquaintance, whose honour and integrity might have been useful to us, we were left solely in the care of my old nurse, and a man who had been a kind of humble friend and dependant on the Colonel.
"How they managed I know not; but in less than four years we were informed our fortunes were spent, and that we must seek some employment for our support. Within the last twelvemonth, I had been noticed and followed by a nobleman, who was very amiable, and held high rank in the army.—Want of birth was an invincible obstacle to our marriage, and I had rejected, with disdain, every other overture; but when my nurse explained our situation, I confess, with shame, I no longer kept him at that distance which I ought to have done, and gave him but too much encouragement.
"One morning my nurse came into my room; said she, 'we will sell the furniture, turn everything into money, and leave this place. I have been making inquiries; your father still lives; we will go to Baden; I will find some way of making you known to him, without alarming his family, and oblige him to provide for you, which either fear or affection will make him do. Your sister has also an uncle in Suabia—I will find him out; 'tis fit those relations should maintain you.'"
"This proposal of Dupree's.—"
"Dupree!" exclaimed Ferdinand;——"Great God! what do I hear—but go on."
"This proposal," resumed Fatima, "did not please me. I was not willing to run the risk of being rejected as a burden, or treated with contempt, when I had the alternative of independence, pleasure, and an agreeable lover. I therefore accepted the nobleman's proposals, put myself under his protection, and one evening quitted the house to reside in a more elegant one. In a few days, Dupree found me out, and made such an uproar, and behaved so clamorous, that my protector was compelled to give her a handsome sum to hold her tongue, which perfectly contented her.
The Complete Northanger Horrid Novel Collection (9 Books of Gothic Romance and Horror) Page 183
