He cast away the flowers from the second basket, there also was a bloody head.
"And whose is that?"
"That is the Kiaja Beg's," sobbed the terrified girl.
And now Halil brought forward the third basket, and dashing aside from it the fresh flowers, revealed to the eyes of Gül-Bejáze a grey head with a white beard, which lay with closed eyes at the bottom of the basket.
"Whose is that?" inquired Halil.
Gül-Bejáze's tender frame shivered in the arms of the strong man who held her, as he compelled her to gaze at the bloody heads. And when she regarded the third head she shook her own in amazement.
"I do not know that one."
"Not know it! Look again and more carefully. Perchance Death has changed the expression of the features. That is Damad Ibrahim the Grand Vizier."
Gül-Bejáze regarded her husband with eyes wide-open with astonishment, and then hastened to reply:
"Truly it is Damad Ibrahim. Of course, of course. Death hath disfigured his face so that I scarce knew it."