Nevertheless the supplies began to grow less and less, and I was beginning to feel the effects of this starvation system when there happened a thing which changed the whole course of my life and opened to me a way to freedom and to vengeance.
"Salvolio did not imitate the austerity of his master and in Kara's absence was in the habit of having little orgies of his own.

He would bring up dancing girls from Durazzo for his amusement and invite prominent men in the neighbourhood to his feasts and entertainments, for he was absolutely lord of the palazzo when Kara was away and could do pretty well as he liked.

On this particular night the festivities had been more than usually prolonged, for as near as I could judge by the day-light which was creeping in through my window it was about four o'clock in the morning when the big steel-sheeted door was opened and Salvolio came in, more than a little drunk.

He brought with him, as I judged, one of his dancing girls, who apparently was privileged to see the sights of the palace.
"For a long time he stood in the doorway talking incoherently in a language which I think must have been Turkish, for I caught one or two words.
"Whoever the girl was, she seemed a little frightened, I could see that, because she shrank back from him though his arm was about her shoulders and he was half supporting his weight upon her.

There was fear, not only in the curious little glances she shot at me from time to time, but also in the averted face.