As Iskander felt pulses, examined tongues, and distributed drugs and
charms, he listened with interest and amusement to the conversation of
which he himself was often the hero. He found that the Turks had not
yet recovered from their consternation at his audacity and success.
They were still wondering, and if possible more astounded than
indignant. The politicians of the coffee-houses, chiefly consisting of
Janissaries, were loud in their murmurs. The popularity of Amurath had
vanished before the triumph of Hunniades, and the rise of Iskander.
"But Allah has in some instances favoured the faithful," remarked
Iskander; "I heard in my travels of your having captured a great
princess of the Giaours."
"God is great!" said an elderly Turk with a long white heard. "The
Hakim congratulates the faithful because they have taken a woman!"
"Not so merely," replied Iskander; "I heard the woman was a princess.
If so, the people of Franguestan will pay any ransom for their great
women; and, by giving up this fair Giaour, you may free many of the
faithful.
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