Chapter 14

           SometimeelapsedbeforeIlearnedthehistoryofmyfriends.Itwasonewhichcouldnotfailtoimpressitselfdeeplyonmymind,unfoldingasitdidanumberofcircumstances,eachinterestingandwonderfultoonesoutterlyinexperiencedasIwas.

           "ThenameoftheoldmanwasDeLacey.HewasdescendedfromagoodfamilyinFrance,wherehehadlivedformanyyearsinaffluence,respectedbyhissuperiorsandbelovedbyhisequals.Hissonwasbredintheserviceofhiscountry,andAgathahadrankedwithladiesofthehighestdistinction.AfewmonthsbeforemyarrivaltheyhadlivedinalargeandluxuriouscitycalledParis,surroundedbyfriendsandpossessedofeveryenjoymentwhichvirtue,refinementofintellect,ortaste,accompaniedbyamoderatefortune,couldafford.

           "ThefatherofSafiehadbeenthecauseoftheirruin.HewasaTurkishmerchantandhadinhabitedParisformanyyears,when,forsomereasonwhichIcouldnotlearn,hebecameobnoxioustothegovernment.HewasseizedandcastintoprisontheverydaythatSafiearrivedfromConstantinopletojoinhim.Hewastriedandcondemnedtodeath.Theinjusticeofhissentencewasveryflagrant;allPariswasindignant;anditwasjudgedthathisreligionandwealthratherthanthecrimeallegedagainsthimhadbeenthecauseofhiscondemnation.

           "Felixhadaccidentallybeenpresentatthetrial;hishorrorandindignationwereuncontrollablewhenheheardthedecisionofthecourt.Hemade,atthatmoment,asolemnvowtodeliverhimandthenlookedaroundforthemeans.Aftermanyfruitlessattemptstogainadmittancetotheprison,hefoundastronglygratedwindowinanunguardedpartofthebuilding,whichlightedthedungeonoftheunfortunateMuhammadan,who,loadedwithchains,waitedindespairtheexecutionofthebarbaroussentence.