Ali lost in her the guardian angel who alone could in any way restrain his violent passions.  Grieved at first by the withdrawal of the wife whom hitherto he had loved exclusively, he endeavoured in vain to regain her affection; and then sought in new vices compensation for the happiness he had lost, and gave himself up to sensuality.  Ardent in everything, he carried debauchery to a monstrous extent, and as if his palaces were not large enough for his desires, he assumed various disguises; sometimes in order to traverse the streets by night in search of the lowest pleasures; sometimes penetrating by day into churches and private houses seeking for young men and maidens remarkable for their beauty, who were then carried off to his harem.

His sons, following in his footsteps, kept also scandalous households, and seemed to dispute preeminence in evil with their father, each in his own manner.  Drunkenness was the speciality of the eldest, Mouktar, who was without rival among the hard drinkers of Albania, and who was reputed to have emptied a whole wine-skin in one evening after a plentiful meal.  Gifted with the hereditary violence of his family, he had, in his drunken fury, slain several persons, among others his sword-bearer, the companion of his childhood and confidential friend of his whole life.  Veli chose a different course.  Realising the Marquis de Sade as his father had realised Macchiavelli, he delighted in mingling together debauchery and cruelty, and his amusement consisted in biting the lips he had kissed, and tearing with his nails the forms he had caressed.  The people of Janina saw with horror more than one woman in their midst whose nose and ears he had caused to be cut off, and had then turned into the streets.

It was indeed a reign of terror; neither fortune, life, honour, nor family were safe.  Mothers cursed their fruitfulness, and women their beauty.  Fear soon engenders corruption, and subjects are speedily tainted by the depravity of their masters.  Ali, considering a demoralised race as easier to govern, looked on with satisfaction.

While he strengthened by every means his authority from within, he missed no opportunity of extending his rule without.  In 1803 he declared war against the Suliots, whose independence he had frequently endeavoured either to purchase or to overthrow.  The army sent against them, although ten thousand strong, was at first beaten everywhere.  Ali then, as usual, brought treason to his aid, and regained the advantage.  It became evident that, sooner or later, the unhappy Suliots must succumb.

Foreseeing the horrors which their defeat would entail, Emineh, touched with compassion, issued from her seclusion and cast herself at Ali’s feet.  He raised her, seated her beside him, and inquired as to her wishes.  She spoke of, generosity, of mercy; he listened as if touched and wavering, until she named the Suliots.  Then, filled with fury, he seized a pistol and fired at her.  She was not hurt, but fell to the ground overcome with terror, and her women hastily intervened and carried her away.  For the first time in his life, perhaps, Ali shuddered before the dread of a murder.