The previous night he did not spend in the harem, but shut himself up with his viziers and counsellors in that secret chamber of the Divan, which is roofed over with a golden cupola. Grave were their deliberations, but nobody, except the viziers, knows the result thereof; yet when he issues forth from his prayer-chamber the Kizlar-Aga is already awaiting him there and hands the Sultan a signet-ring. "Most glorious of Padishahs! the most delicious of women sends thee this ring. Well dost thou know what was beneath this ring. Deadly venom was beneath it. That venom is no longer there. The Sultana Asseki sends thee her greeting, and wishes thee good luck in this war of thine. 'Hail to thee!' she says, 'may thy guardian angels watch over all thy steps!' The Sultana meanwhile has locked herself up in her private apartments, and in the very hour in which thou quittest the Seraglio she will take this poison, which she has dissolved in a goblet of water, and will die." The Sultan had all at once become very grave. "Why didst thou trouble me with these words!" he exclaimed. "I do but repeat the words of the Sultana, greatest of Padishahs. She says thou art off to the wars, that thou wilt return no more, and that she will not be the slave-girl of the monarch who shall come after thee and sit upon thy throne." "Wherefore dost thou trouble me with these words?" repeated the Sultan. "May my tongue curse my lips, may my teeth bite out my tongue because of the words I have spoken. 'Twas the Sultana that bade me speak." "Go back to her and tell her to come hither!" "Such a message, oh, my master, will be her death. She will not leave her chamber alive." For a moment the Sultan reflected, then he asked in a mournful voice: "What thinkest thou?--if thy house was on fire and thy beloved was inside, wouldst thou put out the flames, or wouldst thou not rather think first of rescuing thy beloved?" "Of a truth the extinguishing of the flames is not so pressing, and the beloved should be rescued." "Thou hast said it. What meaneth the firing of cannons that strikes upon my ears?" "Salvoes from the host." "Can they be heard in the Seraglio?" "Yea, and the songs of the singing-girls grow dumb before it." "Conduct me to Adsalis! She must not die. What is the sky to thee if there be no sun in it? What is the whole world to thee if thou dost lose thy beloved? Go on before and tell her that I am coming!" The Kizlar-Aga withdrew. Achmed muttered to himself: "But another second, but another moment, but another instant long enough for a parting kiss, but another hour, but another night--a night full of blissful dreams--and it will be quite time enough to hasten to the cold and icy battlefield." And with that he hastened towards the harem.