Chapter 7

           BeforeIproceedtogiveanaccountofmyleavingthiskingdom,itmaybepropertoinformthereaderofaprivateintriguewhichhadbeenfortwomonthsformingagainstme.

           Ihadbeenhitherto,allmylife,astrangertocourts,forwhichIwasunqualifiedbythemeannessofmycondition.Ihadindeedheardandreadenoughofthedispositionsofgreatprincesandministers,butneverexpectedtohavefoundsuchterribleeffectsofthem,insoremoteacountry,governed,asIthought,byverydifferentmaximsfromthoseinEurope.

           WhenIwasjustpreparingtopaymyattendanceontheemperorofBlefuscu,aconsiderablepersonatcourt(towhomIhadbeenveryserviceable,atatimewhenhelayunderthehighestdispleasureofhisimperialmajesty)cametomyhouseveryprivatelyatnight,inaclosechair,and,withoutsendinghisname,desiredadmittance.Thechairmenweredismissed;Iputthechair,withhislordshipinit,intomycoat-pocket:and,givingorderstoatrustyservant,tosayIwasindisposedandgonetosleep,Ifastenedthedoorofmyhouse,placedthechaironthetable,accordingtomyusualcustom,andsatdownbyit.Afterthecommonsalutationswereover,observinghislordship’scountenancefullofconcern,andinquiringintothereason,hedesired"Iwouldhearhimwithpatience,inamatterthathighlyconcernedmyhonourandmylife."Hisspeechwastothefollowingeffect,forItooknotesofitassoonasheleftme:—

           "Youaretoknow,"saidhe,"thatseveralcommitteesofcouncilhavebeenlatelycalled,inthemostprivatemanner,onyouraccount;anditisbuttwodayssincehismajestycametoafullresolution.

           "YouareverysensiblethatSkyreshBolgolam"(galbet,orhigh-admiral)"hasbeenyourmortalenemy,almosteversinceyourarrival.