might save him from his wrath.  For some time he refused to accede to her suggestions; but as she pointed out that if the plot were discovered, I, as his sister, would certainly share his fate, and that she well knew that I had never forgiven the punishment of the bastinado which I had received, and only waited for an opportunity to revenge myself, he at last consented to make me a party to his intentions.  My brother had been allowed to visit me, and he took this opportunity of stating to me his schemes.  I started from him with horror, pointed out to him his ingratitude and folly, and entreated him to abandon his purpose.  Convinced that I was firmly attached to the sultan, he appeared to acquiesce in the justice of my remarks, confessed that he was wrong, and promised me faithfully to think no more of his treacherous designs.  I believed him to be sincere, and I shed tears of joy, as I thanked him for having yielded to my entreaties.  We separated, and in a short time I thought no more of the subject.

But he had no idea of abandoning his purpose; in fact, he was already too deeply involved to be able to do so.  His arrangements went on rapidly; and when all was ripe, the Georgian gave information to the sultan, denouncing me as a party as well as my brother.

One morning as I was sitting in my apartment, arranging on a tray a present for my lord and master, I was surprised by the abrupt entrance of the Kislar Aga, accompanied by guards, who without explanation seized me, and led me into the presence-chamber, where the sultan and all the officers of state were assembled.  It immediately rushed into my mind that my brother had deceived me.  Pale with anxiety, but at the same time with a feeling of delight that the plot had been discovered, I entered the divan, where I beheld my brother in the custody of the palace-guard.  He had been seized in the divan, as his popularity was so great, that a few minutes’ notice would have enabled him not only to escape, but to have put his treasonable plans into execution; but he bore himself with such a haughty air, with his arms folded across his breast, that I thought he might be innocent; and that he had, as he promised me, abandoned all thoughts of rebellion.

I turned towards the sultan, who fixed his eyes upon me; his brows were knit with anger, and he commenced, “Zara, your brother is accused of treason, which he denies.  You, also, are charged with being privy to his designs.  Answer me, do you know anything of these plots?”

I did not know how to answer this question, and I would not tell a lie.  I did know something about his intentions; but as he had denied the charge, it was not to be expected that he should be condemned by the mouth of his only sister.  Perhaps he had, as he had promised me, abandoned his ideas;—­perhaps it could not be proved against him.  My answer would have been the signal for his death.  I could not give the answer required, and I replied, “If my brother be found guilty of rebelling against his sovereign, let him suffer.  I, my lord, have never plotted or rebelled against you.”