He held up the cage, and showed that it contained two large rats.
"Now," said he, "remove the stopper and dip your dagger's point in."
The Englishman obeyed.
"Now, prick either of the rats ever so slightly."
The Englishman pushed the point of the dagger through the bars of the cage, and one of the rats came to sniff at it—probably anticipating a savoury tit-bit to eat.
Moving the dagger slightly, it barely grazed the rat's nose.
But it sufficed.
The poor beast shivered once, and sank dead.
"What do you say now?" demanded the Turk.
"I am satisfied," replied the Englishman.