Half-detailed by the Italian, therefore imperfectly re-delivered by her, the story presented only a confused account of Sebastian’s intention to fly that night to a fortress of the Basha’s, and that love for some lady had occasioned him to take the step: occupied solely with the image of Mainuma, Abbas filled up the dark sketch as his distracted imagination prompted; he interrogated the woman afresh, and she with a weakness common to informers who are not complete in their information, answered as she saw most consonant with the train of his suspicions. The Prince believed himself now in possession of a clue to his friend’s sudden wish of absenting himself from the army; love and mortified ambition had then sapped his virtues or displayed their hollowness; he considered him with horror and with hatred: disgrace, public shame, and an ignominious death, were the images which quickly rose to appease his furious passions. Abbas had no doubt, but that acquainted with all his military plans, Sebastian meant to deliver him into the hands of the Basha; his whole conduct therefore must have been a tissue of falsehood from the commencement, and doubtless the throne or government of Persia, was to be the price of his successful treachery.--In order to make vengeance secure, he believed it right to let the traitor enter upon his base project. Having stood ruminating awhile, he gave the woman his purse, and bidding her follow him, hastened to the palace. The surprize of the Sophi exceeded that of his son; his indignation could not pass beyond that of Abbas: an order was immediately issued for several persons to watch the movements of Sebastian, and when he was fairly entered on his plan, and out of the city with his companions, to seize them all and cast them into a dungeon until the return of Prince Abbas. Forced by duty, Abbas was now obliged to join his troops and commence his march: but his heart in tumults, his brain almost maddened by rage, disappointed love, betrayed friendship, made him ill able to conduct the army of Persia. Meanwhile Sebastian’s soul respiring only the tenderest and most generous emotions, was anxiously waiting the signal for joining his associates: if his thoughts wandered from Aziek, they left her sweet image only to seek the throne of Almighty Power and Almighty Goodness; they did not leave her, since it was for her he prayed. Night now had cast her sudden shadow over the city of Ispahan: armed with authority, and permitted to go whither he would, and at whatever hour, the Christian knight called his page, and accompanied by the Turkish soldier, (with whom he appeared conversing about the resources of Ibrahim) he traversed the streets, and passing one of the remotest gates, quickly joined his Italians, who with four stout horses waited at a short distance among some trees.