The next spring, I was busy pumping off from one cask into the other, according to our custom, when the aga of the janissaries came in. He was a great wine-bibber, and one of our best customers. As his dependants were all well known, it was not his custom to send them for wine, but to come himself to the store and select a pipe. This was carried away in a litter by eight strong slaves, with the curtains drawn close, as if it had been a new purchase which he had added to his harem. My master showed him the pipes of wine prepared for that years market, which were arranged in two rows; and I hardly need observe that the one containing the Ethiopian was not in the foremost. After tasting one or two which did not seem to please him, the aga observed, Friend Issachar, thy tribe will always put off the worst goods first, if possible. Now I have an idea that there is better wine in the second tier, than in the one thou hast recommended. Let thy Greek put a spile into that cask, continued he, pointing to the very one in which I had headed-up the black slave. As I made sure that as soon as he had tasted the contents he would spit them out, I did not hesitate to bore the cask and draw off the wine, which I handed to him. He tasted it, and held it to the lighttasted it again and smacked his lipsthen turning to my master, exclaimed, Thou dog of a Jew! wouldst thou have palmed off upon me vile trash, when thou hadst in thy possession wine which might be sipped with the houris in Paradise?
The Jew appealed to me if the pipes of wine were not all of the same quality; and I confirmed his assertion.
Taste it then, replied the aga, and then taste the first which you recommended to me.
My master did so, and was evidently astonished. It certainly has more body, replied he; yet how can that be, I know not. Taste it, Charis.I held the glass to my lips, but nothing could induce me to taste the contents. I contented myself with agreeing with my master, (as I conscientiously could), that it certainly had more body in it than the rest.
The aga was so pleased with the wine, that he tasted two or three more pipes of the back tier, hoping to find others of the same quality, probably intending to have laid in a large stock; but finding no other of the same flavour, he ordered his slaves to roll the one containing the body of the slave into the litter, and carried it to his own house.
Stop a moment, thou lying kafir! said the pacha, dost thou really mean to say that the wine was better than the rest?
Why should I tell a lie to your sublime highnessam not I a worm that you may crush? As I informed you, I did not taste it, your highness; but after the aga had departed, my master expressed his surprise at the excellence of the wine, which he affirmed to be superior to any thing that he had ever tastedand his sorrow that the aga had taken away the cask, which prevented him from ascertaining the cause. But one day I was narrating the circumstance to a Frank in this country, who expressed no surprise at the wine being improved. He had been a wine-merchant in England, and he informed me that it was the custom there to throw large pieces of raw beef into the wine to feed it; and that some particular wines were very much improved thereby.
Allah kebur! God is great! cried the pachaThen it must be soI have heard that the English are very fond of beef. Now go on with thy story.
Your highness cannot imagine the alarm which I felt when the cask was taken away by the agas slaves. I gave myself up for a lost man, and resolved upon immediate flight from Smyrna. I calculated the time that it would take for the aga to drink the wine, and made my arrangements accordingly. I told my master that it was my intention to leave him, as I had an offer to go into business with a relation at Zante. My master, who could not well do without me, intreated me to stay; but I was positive. He then offered me a share of the business if I would remain, but I was not to be persuaded. Every rap at the door, I thought that the aga and his janissaries were coming for me; and I hastened my departure, which was fixed for the following day,when in the evening my master came into the store with a paper in his hand.
Charis, said he, perhaps you have supposed that I only offered to make you a partner in my business to induce you to remain, and then to deceive you. To prove the contrary, here is a deed drawn up by which you are a partner, and entitled to one third of the future profits. Look at it, you will find that it has been executed in due form before the cadi.
He had put the paper into my hand, and I was about to return it with a refusal, when a loud knocking at the door startled us both. It was a party of janissaries despatched by the aga, to bring us to him immediately. I knew well enough what it must be about, and I cursed my folly in having delayed so long; but the fact was, the wine proved so agreeable to the agas palate that he had drunk it much faster than usual; besides which, the body of the slave took up at least a third of the cask, and diminished the contents in the same proportion. There was no appeal, and no escape. My master, who was ignorant of the cause, did not seem at all alarmed, but willingly accompanied the soldiers. I, on the contrary, was nearly dead from fear.
When we arrived, the aga burst out in the most violent exclamations against my masterThou rascal of a Jew! said he, dost thou think that thou art to impose upon a true believer, and sell him a pipe of wine which is not more than two thirds full,filling it up with trash of some sort or another. Tell me what it is that is so heavy in the cask now that it is empty?
The Jew protested his ignorance, and appealed to me; I, of course, pretended the same. Well then, replied the aga, we will soon see. Let thy Greek send for his tools, and the cask shall be opened in our presence; then perhaps, thou wilt recognise thine own knavery.
Two of the janissaries were despatched for the tools, and when they arrived, I was directed to take the head out of the cask. I now considered my death as certainnothing buoyed me up but my observing that the resentment of the aga was levelled more against my master than against me; but still I thought that, when the cask was opened, the recognition of the black slave must immediately take place, and the evidence of my master would fix the murder upon me.
It was with a trembling hand that I obeyed the orders of the agathe head of the pipe was taken out, and, to the horror of all present, the body was exposed; but instead of being black, it had turned white, from the time which it had been immersed. I rallied a little at this circumstance, as, so far, suspicion would be removed.
Holy Abraham! exclaimed my master, what is that which I see!A dead body, so help me God!but I know nothing about itdo you, Charis? I vowed that I did not, and called the patriarch to witness the truth of my assertion. But while we were thus exclaiming, the agas eyes were fixed upon my master with an indignant and deadly stare which spoke volumes; while the remainder of the people who were present, although they said nothing, seemed as if they were ready to tear him into pieces.
Cursed unbeliever! at last uttered the Turk, is it thus that thou preparest the wine for the disciples of the Prophet?
Holy father Abraham!I know no more than you do, aga, how that body came there; but I will change the cask with pleasure, and will send you another.
Be it so, replied the aga; my slave shall fetch it now. He gave directions accordingly, and the litter soon re-appeared with another pipe of wine.