124 
He was hardly gone when Sidi Ginnan opened the 
door of the gallery, and desired me to enter it. After 
shutting the door, and caressing me, he showed me the 
place where the sultan was in the habit of making his 
prayers; told me that he had apprized the sultan of 
every thing; that he had mentioned my prognostication 
of the eclipses; that the sultan had expressed himself 
much satisfied, and had ordered him to conduct me 
every Friday to the mosque, as he had done to-day. I 
saw directly the bad faith of Sidi Ginnan, and answered 
drily, " Very well, it is quite indifferent to me wheth- 
er I say my prayers here or in any other mosque." 
He Was embarrassed, and sought to hide his intrigue. 
He conducted me into the street by an interior door 
of the palace, and said to me mysteriously, " We shall 
go out on this side, because as every one knows that 
the sultan has commanded you to come here, the marks 
of distinction which he may show you will be more 
conspicuous." Indignant at the visible contrivances of this 
man, I answered him with severity, " It is quite in- 
different to me whether I go out at this door or any 
other;" and having said so, I got on my horse, and rode 
off with my servants. He also mounted his mule, and 
coming in haste after me, invited me to take a ride to- 
gether, which I refused. He saw me home, and then 
went off. 
Some friends who waited for me at my house seeing 
me come in disturbed, asked me whether I had seen 
the sultan. I told them what had happened, and they 
were thunderstruck. 
Knowing the force of my complaints which I had 
to setup against the conduct of Sidi Ginnan, and think- 
ing it necessary to strike a blow which would be of 
some effect in the eyes of the public, I took my pen> 
and wrote a memorial, composed of twelve articlesj by 
