"Such a message, oh, my master, will be her death. She will not leave her chamber alive."
For a moment the Sultan reflected, then he asked in a mournful voice:
"What thinkest thou?—if thy house was on fire and thy beloved was inside, wouldst thou put out the flames, or wouldst thou not rather think first of rescuing thy beloved?"
"Of a truth the extinguishing of the flames is not so pressing, and the beloved should be rescued."
"Thou hast said it. What meaneth the firing of cannons that strikes upon my ears?"
"Salvoes from the host."
"Can they be heard in the Seraglio?"
"Yea, and the songs of the singing-girls grow dumb before it."
"Conduct me to Adsalis! She must not die. What is the sky to thee if there be no sun in it? What is the whole world to thee if thou dost lose thy beloved? Go on before and tell her that I am coming!"
The Kizlar-Aga withdrew. Achmed muttered to himself: