I do not ask you to give full consideration to my proposal, for now that I have thrown the seed in your soul it must fructify.

Without hurry, without delay, without anxiety, you can but obey the decrees of God and follow the immutable decision of fate.

Such as I know you, I believe that you only require the possession of Zelmi to be completely happy, and that you will become one of the pillars of the Ottoman Empire." Saying those words, Yusuf pressed me affectionately in his arms, and left me by myself to avoid any answer I might be inclined to make.

I went away in such wonder at all I had just heard, that I found myself at the Venetian Embassy without knowing how I had reached it.

The baili thought me very pensive, and asked whether anything was the matter with me, but I did not feel disposed to gratify their curiosity.