I now learnt that the Armenian merchants in Sivas employed the telegraph very freely in their monetary speculations. The inhabitants in general only knew of the rise or fall in the value of their paper money by the post, which arrived once every fortnight. The value of caime in proportion to gold was reckoned according to the date of the post's delivery. But, as the Turkish bank-notes were becoming more and more depreciated every day, the Armenian merchants who employed the telegraph were able to make large sums by buying up all the gold in the district, and pocketing the difference between the actual exchange and that which passed current at Sivas. The walls of the monastery were not thick enough to keep the breath of scandal from reaching the abode of the recluses. I was told of a former governor of Sivas, who had been extremely popular throughout the district, and who in forty days had actually established order in the town and neighbourhood. It appeared that this Pacha was a very good-looking man. One day, when he was at Constantinople, a sister of the late Sultan Abdul Aziz chanced to see him. She wished to marry the Adonis; "but unfortunately," added my Armenian informant, "he was in love with his own wife, a pretty woman. He declined the Sultan's offer to take his sister, who was not good-looking, as chief lady in the harem. Soon afterwards the Pacha died at Smyrna under very suspicious circumstances. It is generally supposed that he was poisoned." "His Eminence is freed from all such dangers," whispered another of the guests, as he called my attention by a nudge with his elbow. "How so?" I asked. "Why, he cannot marry. Our bishops are not allowed this indulgence. Should a priest take unto himself a wife, he can never become a bishop." "How does your system answer?" I inquired. "Answer! very badly. They are not allowed to have wives of their own; but they look after the welfare of the ladies in their congregation. Are your Protestant bishops allowed to marry?" "Yes." "Well, it would be a good thing for the married people in Armenia, if our bishops had the same permission." I now went to see the chapels belonging to the monastery.