At last I believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up
suddenly, and would not hear a great many who were ready prepared to
speak to him, but went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I
began to lose all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so
long. But there is no harm done; I will go again to-morrow. Perhaps
the sultan may not be so busy."
The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the present
as early as the day before; but when she came there, she found the
gates of the divan shut.[43] She went six times afterward on the days
appointed, placed herself always directly before the sultan, but with
as little success as the first morning.
[Footnote 43: Sir Paul Ricaut says that the divan is not held on two
successive days.]
On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the
sultan returned to his own apartment he said to his grand vizier: "I
have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends constantly
every day that I give audience, with something wrapped up in a
napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the breaking up of
the audience, and effects to place herself just before me. If this
woman comes to our next audience, do not fail to call her, that I may
hear what she has to say."
The grand vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it
up above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he failed.
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