"Well, Greek," observed the aga, "this is fortunate for you; as, upon
certain conditions, you may enter upon the whole property. One is, that
you keep this pipe of wine with the rascally Jew in it, that I may have
the pleasure occasionally to look at my revenge. You will also keep the
pipe with the other body in it, that it may keep my anger alive. The
last is, that you will supply me with what wine I may require, of the
very best quality, without making any charge. Do you consent to these
terms, or am I to consider you as a party to this infamous transaction?"
I hardly need observe that the terms were gladly accepted. Your
highness must be aware that nobody thinks much about a Jew. When I was
questioned as to his disappearance, I shrugged up my shoulders, and told
the inquirers, confidentially, that the aga of the janissaries had put
him _in prison_ and that I was carrying on the business until his
release.
In compliance with the wishes of the aga, the two casks containing the
Jew and the Ethiopian slave, were placed together on settles higher than
the rest, in the centre of the store. He would come in the evening, and
rail at the cask containing my late master for hours at a time; during
which he drank so much wine, that it was a very common circumstance for
him to remain in the house until the next morning.
You must not suppose, your highness, that I neglected to avail myself
(unknown to the aga) of the peculiar properties of the wine which those
casks contained. I had them spiled underneath, and, constantly running
off the wine from them, filled them up afresh. In a short time there
was not a gallon in my possession which had not a _dash_ in it of either
the Ethiopian or the Jew: and my wine was so improved, that it had a
most rapid sale, and I became rich.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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