Page:Ballantyne--The Pirate City.djvu/230

210 of his sire.—"Forgive me, father, if I have played my part too roughly—"

"Too roughly!" echoed the bluff merchant, with a laugh; "why, boy, dost think that thine old father has lost all his youthful vigour? I trow not.—You see, Signor Bacri, we have had information of what was impending for some days past, and although we could do nothing to avert the catastrophe, we thought it possible that we might manage to avoid the massacre at the palace. Knowing from report that the janissaries ran riot at such times, and being aware that my son Lucien—who is a noted linguist, Signor Bacri—spoke their language almost as well as a native, I suggested that he should procure a uniform and personate a janissary, while I should act the part of a runaway slave. Being a favourite with poor Achmet, as you know, Lucien had much influence among the domestics, and easily procured the disguise. The moment the insurrection took place we fled from the palace, and, as you see, here we are!"

"But why came you hither?" asked Bacri, with a troubled look.

"To whom else could we flee for shelter?" returned Lucien. "You are the only friend we have in the city—except, indeed, the Padre Giovanni, who has no power to save us."

"Alas!" returned the Jew, leading his friends