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"To gaol with the rogue!" cried the Kaimacon. Sabbataï, his face and mien full of celestial conviction, was placed in the loathsome dungeon which served as a prison for Jewish debtors. For a day or so the Moslems made merry over the disconcerted Jews and their Messiah. The street-boys ran after the Sabbatians, shouting, "Gheldi mi? Gheldi mi?" But soon the tide turned.
But, under the spell of some strange respect, or in the desire to have a hold upon them, too, the Kaimacon allowed his retinue of Kings to accompany him, likewise his amanuensis, Samuel Primo, and his consort, Melisselda. The news of his removal to better quarters did not fail to confirm the faith of the Sabbatians.
But the Kaimacon was embarking for the war with Crete; in his absence he feared to leave Sabbataï in the capital. The prisoner was therefore transferred to the abode of State prisoners, the Castle of the Dardanelles at Abydos, with orders that he was to be closely confined, and never to go outside the gates.
Before these visitors, who came laden with gifts, Sabbataï maintained an equally sublime silence; sometimes he would point to the chapter of Genesis recounting how Joseph issued from his dungeon to become ruler of Egypt. "How fares thy miserable prisoner?" casually inquired the Kaimacon of his Sub-Pacha one day. "Miserable prisoner, Sire!" ejaculated the Sub-Pacha.
Three days they argued, but Nehemiah still went about repeating his rival prophecies. The more zealous of the Sabbatians, angry at the pertinacious and pugnacious casuist, would have done him a mischief, but the Prophet of Lemberg thought it prudent to escape to Adrianople. Here in revenge he sought audience with the Kaimacon. "Treason, O Mustapha, treason!" he announced.
"Art thou the man," cried the Kaimacon, "whom the Jews aver to have wrought miracles at Smyrna? Now is thy time to work one, for lo! thy treason shall cost thee dear." "Miracles!" replied Sabbataï meekly. "I what am I but a poor Jew, come to collect alms for my poor brethren in Jerusalem?
His myrmidons, relieved from the tension, exploded in a malicious guffaw. Sabbataï looked at the brutal dignitary with sad, steady gaze, then silently turned the other cheek. The Sub-Pacha recoiled with an uncanny feeling of the supernatural; the mockery of the bystanders was hushed. Sabbataï was conducted by side ways, to avoid the mob, to the Palace of the Kaimacon, the Deputy-Vizier.
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