The Pacha of Many Tales

commenced his fourth voy

YAGE OF H

ty in perspective. Yet I cannot say that it was my case in the present instance, for I was forced to embark against my inclination. I had travelled through France to Marseilles, with a small sum of money presented me by the captain of the ship who gave me a passage home, for I could no

basin still turned round in obedience to the wind; but when I entered the shop, which was crowded with people (for it was Saturday afternoon), I perceived that all the operators were unknown to m

onsiderable dimensions had been added, and the whole

r, Monsieur?" obse

I was last here I used to frequent this shop. There was a short sto

He is dead; he died a

s become of

heard of him since: he is supposed to have been lost at sea, as the vessel in which he embarked never arrived at the port to which

the lady you w

he abbess, and she was supposed to be able to explain it. I believe she was pronounced 'contumaci

count, and was faithful even to the last. I fell into a reverie of most painful feelings.

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ave no more of Cerise," cried the pacha.

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of abandoning all claim to my father's property. I had formerly dressed the peruke of an elderly gentleman who practised in the law, and with whom I was a great favourite. Although five years had elapsed since I first ran away from my father, I thought it very likely that h

red the old man, peering at

ask your opinion relative

s the p

urepas, who died som

y one party already, you must go elsewhere. I wish Fran?oi

eman had still a regard for me, I ma

?ois, sir,

coming close to me, looked at me earnest

; and pray, sir, where hav

ry well tell, but I have

. Don't be afraid, Fran?ois: it is a part of our profession to be confidants to strange secrets, and

f my life is

hang half Marseilles. But laying my professional duty aside, I

erefore commenced a detail of my adventures. When I stated m

ere the ho

w

y respects to you: and when it was whispered that a man had personified the holy abbess, I sa

e you to do, is, to compromise with the party that employs me. Make over to him a conveyance of all the property, on condition of your receiving one half, or more if we can get it. I will represen

sing me not to show myself too much, he offered me a bed at his house. I left him to procure a more decent wardrobe; and for bet

ry though-I don't know whether I ought to trust you with my housekeeper, for she is very young and very pretty. Promise me, on your honour

mournfully; "my heart is dead and buried

introduce yourself. I have peo

ful figure working at her needle, with her back towards me. She turned her head

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d the pacha, "is that wo

will occupy your attention more than o

re will be no m

your highness: for afte

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n the floor. I caught her in my arms, and as she lay senseless, c

came in, and witnessed the scene. "Upon my honour, sir, consi

e, my dear

e de F

dear girl whom I h

room, and returning with a tumbler of water. Cerise was soon restored, and lay trembling in my ar

ness, buy love ready made; I shall therefore narrate the history of Cerise, which at

lix (or what is your nam

proachfully, an

e is Fr

h an observation, which my acquaintance with you, and subsequent reflections, have deeply impressed upon my mind. It unfortunately happens, that those who are highest in rank, in this world, pay dearly for it in a point upon which almost all the real happiness of

are little better off, at least the female part of it, for they are dragged from convents to the altar, and offered up as a sacrifice

ertainly, my Cerise, for I took o

om that moment-but to continue: I was then going down to the chateau, to be introduced

you the house; but he little knew how situation and opportunity will overcome time; and I knew more of you in a few

come back-my father was grave, and the bishop more gloomy than usual. Two days afterwards I was informed by my father that you were an impostor, that all had been discovered, and that if tak

y future husband appeared-he was odious. The time fixed for our wedding drew nigh-I had but one resource, which was flight. A young girl who attended me (you recollect her, she came and told us the bishop was coming, when we were in the garden), I knew to be attached to me. I took her in confidence, and through her means I obtained a peasant's dress, with the promise of shelter in her father's cottage, some leagues distant. The night before the marriage was to take place, I ran down to the river that flows past the chateau, threw my bonnet and shawl on the bank, and then made my e

and believing you dead, I never ceased to lament you, nor have I looked at a woman since. Our old f

only for her sake. That I always intended to return, and when I quitted Valencia, and had become a man of property, I immediately proceeded to make inquiries, and heard the news of her death. Neither did I acquaint her with the profession which I had followed; I merely

d that of all the secrets in his possession ours would be the most dangerou

une from the claimant, and with

he year I found one-third of my property had been spent. My affection would not permit me to reduce my wife to beggary, and I determined to take some measures to secure the means of future existence. Consulting her on the occasion, with many tears

began to think that fortune was tired of persecuting me, but knowing how treacherous she was, I

erwards. We had been about a fortnight clear of the island, when a hurricane came on, the equal to which in force I never beheld. The sea was one sheet of foam, the air was loaded with spray, which was thrown with such violence against our faces that we were blinded; and the wind blew so strong that no one could stand up against it. The vessel was thrown on her beam ends, and we all gave

t for a vessel, we perceived something at a

e perceived to our horror, that it was about a hundred feet long, and as thick as the main-mast of a seventy-four; it occasionally reared its head many feet above the surface, and then plunging it down again continued its rapid course. When it neared us to within a mile, we were so alarmed that we all ran down below. The animal came to

ring ourselves below, every grating and skylight having been washed overboard in the

t to endow his daughter with the wealth I have brought with me. Should my fears be verified, I trust to your honour for the performance of my request. It is, to deliver this casket, which is of great value, into the hand of

rned in the afternoon, and seizing him as he had the sailor, in the morning, again, plunged into the sea; and so he continued bearing two or three off every day, until I was the only one left. On the eighth day he had taken o

mposed of, but the English called it coal tar. It struck me that I might save myself my means of this offensive composition. I knocked out the head of the remaining cask, and arming myself with a broom dipped in it, I jumped into the cask which contained the remainder, and awaited my fate with anxiety. The serpent came; as usual, forced his head and part of his body down the hatchway, perceived me, and with eyes darting fire reached out his

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ee him again?" i

fore or since, except by the Americans, who have much

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them propose and agree to throw me overboard. I immediately ran down below to secure my casket, and when I returned on deck, they launched me over the side. I sank down, and diving under the counter, laid hold of the rudder chains, unperceived by them. In the meantime another pilot boat came to us, and sent her boat or board; I swam to it and was hauled in. The capta

dear wife. I was pleased at having the means of raising her again to that rank in society, which she had quitted for my sake. For some years we lived

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never heard of so large a sna

s see strange things. What is to be

d the pacha, rising from the thron

his highness better, if you continued more at sea, and dealt a little more in

ell you, vizier, that I deserve all my pay, for i

rite, drown it in wine to-night, and it will be d

rtheless, I will get rid of her after your own fashion, for she s