Once out of the house, I considered the matter over calmly, and made my

reflections upon it. Had I, by accident, stumbled upon a plot, or was my

jealous mind alarmed without occasion by a foolish attempt which

Kondjé-Gul's mother could not avert? Accustomed as she was to a sort of

passive submission, had she allowed herself to be cowed by a man who

spoke in the tone of a master? Was it not possible that, in her

embarrassment with the part she had to play, she had let out rather more

than was prudent? Was anything more than this necessary in order to

explain Daniel's conduct?

Without any kind of scruple Kiusko brought to the contest all the savage

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energy of a will constituted to bend everything before it. The choice of

instruments was a matter of small importance to a man of his nature, the

incompleteness of whose education had left him scarcely half-civilized.

Accustomed to have all his own way, he made straight for his object,

rushing like a bull at every obstacle. The suppleness of his Slavonic

character displayed itself in this desperate game, in which, the

happiness of his life was at stake. He loved Kondjé-Gul, as I knew full

well, with that blind love which admitted no compromise with reason.

With the mother as his ally, he no doubt conjectured that the marriage

would be brought about in accordance with Turkish custom without

Kondjé-Gul being consulted.

My first idea was to interfere violently and so frustrate this plot, but

enlightened upon those manoeuvres, which afforded me an explanation of

Daniel's incredible constancy after the repulse which he had sustained,

I could see the folly of any provocation on my part, and the consequent

danger of injuring Kondjé-Gul and perhaps creating a scandal. Henceforth

I hold the threads of these underhand intrigues: I am about to catch my

rival in his own trap and mislead him as much as I please.

These reflections calmed me a little. After all, would it not be insane

for me to lose my temper about a rivalry which, all said and done, was

only one of the innumerable incidents which I had foreseen as

consequences of Kondjé-Gul's beauty? Such beauty would of course attract

passionate admiration wherever she went. Good heavens! what would become

of me if I took any more notice of Kiusko than of the rest of them?

Besides, being informed now of all his movements, I was in a position to

intervene whenever it became necessary to put an end to his hostile

projects.

A great worry has come upon me, my friend.




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