Note 2 — Chapter I

Here Lady Hester Stanhope interrupted the dictation of the letter. “You may tell the Prince,” said she, “a story about Sultan Mûrad—a sort of Eastern tale to put in his book. Sultan Mûrad was one day looking at the water boiling in a pot, and turning to his prime-minister who was with him, ‘Vizir,’ said he, ‘I wish to know from you what that bubbling water is talking about, and I command you to tell me.’ His manner was perfectly serious; and the vizir thought, that by such a strange command, expressed so doggedly, the sultan wished to pick a quarrel with him: so, after musing a little—‘Sire,’ replied he, ‘when one of the elements is in commotion, no doubt the master of the world would wish to know the reason. Be patient with me: give me ten days to interpret these signs, and I promise you I will do it.’—‘It is well,’ said the sultan; ‘remember that in ten days I shall expect your answer.’ The vizir retired from the sultan’s presence, and reflected very seriously on what he had to do. ‘My master,’ thought he, ‘is very ridiculous to set me to explain what a pot of boiling water is mumbling to itself about: but, as I am his slave, his orders must be obeyed in some shape. Who knows? there may be soothsayers or magicians who understand these things: I must find such a one out, at all events;’ and he resolved to go in quest of one. He accordingly mounted his horse, and with a single servant set out, without well knowing what road to take.” Lady Hester had got thus far in her story, when she said, “But, doctor, this will take too much time:—so let us finish the letter, and I shall perhaps be able to relate the whole story to the Prince himself.”