murad the unlucky and other tales-第7部分

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Murad；　was　owing　to　the　scarlet　dye；　which　I　brought　to　perfection
with　infinite　difficulty。　　The　powder；　it　is　true；　was　accidentally
found　by　me　in　our　china　vases；　but　there　it　might　have　remained　to
this　instant；　useless；　if　I　had　not　taken　the　pains　to　make　it
useful。　　I　grant　that　we　can　only　partially　foresee　and　command
events；　yet　on　the　use　we　make　of　our　own　powers；　I　think；　depends
our　destiny。　　But；　gentlemen；　you　would　rather　hear　my　adventures；
perhaps；　than　my　reflections；　and　I　am　truly　concerned；　for　your
sakes；　that　I　have　no　wonderful　events　to　relate。　　I　am　sorry　I
cannot　tell　you　of　my　having　been　lost　in　a　sandy　desert。　　I　have
never　had　the　plague；　nor　even　been　shipwrecked：　　I　have　been　all
my　life　an　inhabitant　of　Constantinople；　and　have　passed　my　time　in
a　very　quiet　and　uniform　manner。

〃The　money　I　received　from　the　sultan's　favourite　for　my　china
vase；　as　my　brother　may　have　told　you；　enabled　me　to　trade　on　a
more　extensive　scale。　　I　went　on　steadily　with　my　business；　and
made　it　my　whole　study　to　please　my　employers　by　all　fair　and
honourable　means。　　This　industry　and　civility　succeeded　beyond　my
expectations：　　in　a　few　years　I　was　rich　for　a　man　in　my　way　of
business。

〃I　will　not　proceed　to　trouble　you　with　the　journal　of　a　petty
merchant's　life；　I　pass　on　to　the　incident　which　made　a
considerable　change　in　my　affairs。

〃A　terrible　fire　broke　out　near　the　walls　of　the　grand　seignior's
seraglio。　　As　you　are　strangers；　gentlemen；　you　may　not　have　heard
of　this　event；　though　it　produced　so　great　a　sensation　in
Constantinople。　　The　vizier's　superb　palace　was　utterly　consumed；
and　the　melted　lead　poured　down　from　the　roof　of　the　mosque　of　St。
Sophia。　　Various　were　the　opinions　formed　by　my　neighbours
respecting　the　cause　of　the　conflagration。　　Some　supposed　it　to　be
a　punishment　for　the　sultan's　having　neglected　one　Friday　to　appear
it　the　mosque　of　St。　Sophia；　others　considered　it　as　a　warning　sent
by　Mahomet　to　dissuade　the　Porte　from　persisting　in　a　war　in　which
we　were　just　engaged。　　The　generality；　however；　of　the　coffee…house
politicians　contented　themselves　with　observing　that　it　was　the
will　of　Mahomet　that　the　palace　should　be　consumed。　　Satisfied　by
this　supposition；　they　took　no　precaution　to　prevent　similar
accidents　in　their　own　houses。　　Never　were　fires　so　common　in　the
city　as　at　this　period；　scarcely　a　night　passed　without　our　being
wakened　by　the　cry　of　fire。

〃These　frequent　fires　were　rendered　still　more　dreadful　by
villains；　who　were　continually　on　the　watch　to　increase　the
confusion　by　which　they　profited；　and　to　pillage　the　houses　of　the
sufferers。　　It　was　discovered　that　these　incendiaries　frequently
skulked；　towards　evening；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　bezestein；
where　the　richest　merchants　store　their　goods。　　Some　of　these
wretches　were　detected　in　throwing　coundaks；　or　matches；　into　the
windows；　and　if　these　combustibles　remained　a　sufficient　time；　they
could　not　fail　to　set　the　house　on　fire。

〃Notwithstanding　all　these　circumstances；　many　even　of　those　who
had　property　to　preserve　continued　to　repeat；　'It　is　the　will　of
Mahomet；'　and　consequently　to　neglect　all　means　of　preservation。
I；　on　the　contrary；　recollecting　the　lesson　I　had　learned　from　the
sensible　foreigner；　neither　suffered　my　spirits　to　sink　with
superstitious　fears　of　ill…luck；　nor　did　I　trust　presumptuously　to
my　good　fortune。　　I　took　every　possible　means　to　secure　myself。　　I
never　went　to　bed　without　having　seen　that　all　the　lights　and　fires
in　the　house　were　extinguished；　and　that　I　had　a　supply　of　water　in
the　cistern。　　I　had　likewise　learned　from　my　Frenchman　that　wet
mortar　was　the　most　effectual　thing　for　stopping　the　progress　of
flames。　　I；　therefore；　had　a　quantity　of　mortar　made　up　in　one　of
my　outhouses；　which　I　could　use　at　a　moment's　warning。　　These
precautions　were　all　useful　to　me。　　My　own　house；　indeed；　was　never
actually　on　fire；　but　the　houses　of　my　next…door　neighbours　were　no
less　than　five　times　in　flames　in　the　course　of　one　winter。　　By　my
exertions；　or　rather　by　my　precautions；　they　suffered　but　little
damage；　and　all　my　neighbours　looked　upon　me　as　their　deliverer　and
friend；　they　loaded　me　with　presents；　and　offered　more；　indeed；
than　I　would　accept。　　All　repeated　that　I　was　Saladin　the　Lucky。
This　compliment　I　disclaimed；　feeling　more　ambitious　of　being
called　Saladin　the　Prudent。　　It　is　thus　that　what　we　call　modesty
is　often　only　a　more　refined　species　of　pride。　　But　to　proceed　with
my　story。

〃One　night　I　had　been　later　than　usual　at　supper　at　a　friend's
house；　none　but　the　watch　were　in　the　streets；　and　even　they；　I
believe；　were　asleep。

〃As　I　passed　one　of　the　conduits　which　convey　water　to　the　city；　I
heard　a　trickling　noise；　and；　upon　examination；　I　found　that　the
cook　of　the　water…spout　was　half　turned；　so　that　the　water　was
running　out。　　I　turned　it　back　to　its　proper　place；　thought　it　had
been　left　unturned　by　accident；　and　walked　on；　but　I　had　not
proceeded　far　before　I　came　to　another　spout；　and　another；　which
were　in　the　same　condition。　　I　was　convinced　that　this　could　not　be
the　effect　merely　of　accident；　and　suspected　that　some　ill…
intentioned　persons　designed　to　let　out　and　waste　the　water　of　the
city；　that　there　might　be　none　to　extinguish　any　fire　that　should
break　out　in　the　course　of　the　night。

〃I　stood　still　for　a　few　moments；　to　consider　how　it　would　be　most
prudent　to　act。　　It　would　be　impossible　for　me　to　run　to　all　parts
of　the　city；　that　I　might　stop　the　pipes　that　were　running　to
waste。　　I　first　thought　of　wakening　the　watch　and　the　firemen；　who
were　most　of　them　slumbering　at　their　stations；　but　I　reflected
that　they　were　perhaps　not　to　be　trusted；　and　that　they　were　in　a
confederacy　with　the　incendiaries；　otherwise　they　would　certainly
before　this　hour　have　observed　and　stopped　the　running　of　the
sewers　in　their　neighbourhood。　　I　determined　to　waken　a　rich
merchant；　called　Damat　Zade；　who　lived　near　me；　and　who　had　a
number　of　slaves　whom　he　could　send　to　different　parts　of　the　city；
to　prevent　mischief　and　give　notice　to　the　inhabitants　of　their
danger。

〃He　was　a　very　sensible；　active　man；　and　one　that　could　easily　be
wakened；　he　was　not　like　some　Turks；　an　hour　in　recovering　their
lethargic　senses。　　He　was　quick　in　decision　and　action；　and　his
slaves　resembled　their　master。　　He　despatched　a　messenger
immediately　to　the　grand　vizier；　that　the　sultan's　safety　might　be
secured；　and　sent　others　to　the　magistrates　in　each　quarter　of
Constantinople。　　The　large　drums　in　the　janissary　aga's　tower　beat
to　rouse　the　inhabitants；　and　scarcely　had　they　been　heard　to　beat
half　an　hour　before　the　fire　broke　out　in　the　lower　apartments　of
Damat　Zade's　house；　owing　to　a　coundak　which　had　been　left　behind
one　of　the　doors。

〃The　wretches　who　had　prepared　the　mischief　came　to　enjoy　it；　and
to　pillage；　but　they　were　disappointed。　　Astonished　to　find
themselves　taken　into　custody；　they　could　not　comprehend　how　their
designs　had　been　frustrated。　　By　timely　exertions；　the　fire　in　my
friend's　house　was　extinguished；　and　though　fires　broke　out　during
the　night　in　many　parts　of　the　city；　but　little　damage　was
sustained；　because　there　was　time　for　precautions；　and；　by　the
stopping　of　the　spouts；　sufficient　water　was　preserved。　　People
were　awakened　and　warned　of　the　danger；　and　they　consequently
escaped　unhurt。

〃The　next　day；　as　soon　as　I　made　my　appearance　at　the　bezestein；
the　merchants　crowded　round；　called　me　their　benefactor；　and　the
preserver　of　their　lives　and　fortunes。　　Damat　Zade；　the　merchant
whom　I　had　awakened　the　preceding　night；　presented　to　me　a　heavy
purse　of　gold；　and　put　upon　my　finger　a　diamond　ring　of
considerable　value；　each　of　the　merchants　followed　his　example　in
making　me　rich　presents；　the　magistrates　also　sent　me　tokens　of
their　approbation；　and　the　grand　vizier　sent　me　a　diamond　of　the
first　water；　with　a　line　written　by　his　own　hand；　'To　the　man　who
has　saved　Constantinople。'　　Excuse　me；　gentlemen；　for　the　vanity　I
seem　to　show　in　mentioning　these　circumstances。　　You　desired　to
hear　my　history；　and　I　cannot；　therefore；　omit　the　principal
circumstance　of　my　life。　　In　the　course　of　four…and…twenty　hours　I
found　myself　raised；　by　the　munificent　gratitude　of　the　inhabitants
of　this　city；　to　a　state　of　affluence　far　beyond　what　I　had　ever
dreamed　of　attaining。

〃I　now　took　a　house　suited　to　my　circumstances；　and　bought　a　few
slaves。　　As　I　was　carrying　my　slaves　home；　I　was　met　by　a　Jew；　who
stopped　me；　saying；　in　his　language；　'My　lord；　I　see；　has　been
purchasing　slaves；　I　could　clothe　them　cheaply。'　　There　was
something　mysterious　in　the　manner　of　this　Jew；　and　I　did　not　like
his　countenance；　but　I　considered　that　I　ought　not　to　be　governed
by　caprice　in　my　dealings；　and　that；　if　this　man　could　really
clothe　my　slaves　more　cheaply　than　another；　I　ought　not　to　neglect
his　offer　merely　because　I　took　a　dislike　to　the　cut　of　his　beard；
the　turn　of　his　eye；　or　the　tone　of　his　voice。　　I；　therefore；　bade
the　Jew　follow　me　home；　saying　that　I　would　consider　of　his
proposal。

〃When　we　came　to　talk　over　the　matter；　I　was　surprised　to　find　him
so　reasonable　in　his　demands。　　On　one　point；　indeed；　he　appeared
unwilling　to　comply。　　I　required　not　only　to　see　the　clothes　I　was
offered；　but　also　to　know　how　they　came　into　his　possession。　　On
this　subject　he　equivocated；　I；　therefore；　suspected　there　must　be
something　wrong。　　I　reflected　what　it　could　be；　and　judged　that　the
goods　had　been　stolen；　or　that　they　had　been　the　apparel　of　persons
who　had　died　of　some　contagious　distemper。　　The　Jew　showed　me　a
chest；　from　which　he　said　I　might　choose　whatever　suited　me　best。
I　observed　that；　as　he　was　going　to　unlock　the　chest；　he　stuffed
his　nose　with　some　aromatic　herbs。　　He　told　me　that　he　did　so　to
prevent　his　smelling　the　musk　with　which　the　chest　was　perfumed；
musk；　he　said；　had　an　extraordinary　effect　upon　his　nerves。　　I
begged　to　have　some　of　the　herbs　which　he　used　himself；　declaring
that　musk　was　likewise　offensive　to　me。

〃The　Jew；　either　struck　by　his　own　conscience　or　observing　my
suspicions；　turn