“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.

All went on prosperously for three years; when the aga, who during that time had been my constant guest, and at least three times a-week had been intoxicated in my house, was ordered with his troops to join the Sultan’s army.  By keeping company with him, I had insensibly imbibed a taste for wine, although I never had been inebriated.  The day that his troops marched, he stopped at my door, and dismounting from his Arabian, came in to take a farewell glass, desiring his men to go on, and that he would ride after them.  One glass brought on another, and the time flew rapidly away.  The evening closed in, and the aga was, as usual, in a state of intoxication;—­he insisted upon going down to the store, to rail once more at the cask containing the body of the Jew.  We had long been on the most friendly terms, and having this night drunk more than usual, I was incautious enough to say—­“Prithee, aga, do not abuse my poor master any more, for he has been the making of my fortune.  I will tell you a secret now that you are going away—­there is not a drop of wine in my store that has not been flavoured either by him, or by the slave in the other cask.  That is the reason why it is so much better than other people’s.”