United States or United States Minor Outlying Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Unless he is injured or imprisoned somewhere, he ought to find his way to Pera to-day." "Effendim, he may have strayed into the dark streets. If the bekji found him without a lantern, he would be arrested, according to the law." "He had our lantern," said Paul. "We could not find it." "That is true," answered the kaváss, in dejected tones.
He has no further use for valuables. So the Bekjí took a ring, and a tobacco-box, and the watch and chain, and some money which was in the man's pockets. Then he said we should leave the corpse where it was. And when the prayers in the mosque were over, before it was day, he got a vegetable-seller's cart, and put the body in it and covered it with cabbages.
"You need not tear me in pieces. He killed himself." The news was so unexpected that Balsamides and I both started and looked at each other. The Lala spoke with the greatest decision. "How did he kill himself?" asked Gregorios sternly. "I will tell you, as far as I know. The Bekjí of Agia Sophia, the same who admitted the Effendi, took me up by the other staircase.
Then we took it down to the point below Top Kapu Serai, where the waters are swift and deep. So we threw him in, for he was but a dog of a Giaour, and had broken his neck in stumbling where it was forbidden to go. Is it my fault that he stumbled?" "No," answered Balsamides, "it was not your fault if he stumbled, and the Bekjí was a Persian fox. But you robbed his body, and divided the spoil.
Even I, who am peaceably disposed towards all men, felt my blood boil when the fellow told how he and the Bekjí had robbed the body of Alexander Patoff, and thrown it into the Bosphorus for fear of being suspected. But the whole story seemed improbable, and I had a strong impression that Selim was lying.
What share did the Bekjí take?" "He took the ring and the tobacco-box and the money, for he was the stronger," answered the Lala. "Selim," said Balsamides quietly, "before the Khanum died to-night she said that Alexander Patoff was alive. If so, you are lying. You are a greater liar than Moseylama, the false prophet, as they say in your country. But if not, you are a robber of dead bodies.
'Selim, said the Bekjí, who knows me very well, 'the Effendi has fallen down the stairs in the dark, and has broken his neck. 'If we give the alarm, said I, 'we shall be held responsible for his death. 'Leave it to me, answered the Bekjí. 'Behold, the man is dead. It is his fate.
Word Of The Day