Murmurs went up the roof. The janissaries put their heads together in groups of two or three and began to talk. The finance minister didn't do anything except wailing and pleading to the Sultan.

"You can ask the princess to come over here and let her see if she could cope with living in the land," Aabdeen spoke softly, almost as if he was afraid of being heard.

Jamal looked at the physician in amazement. That was twice in a short period that the man had shown his intelligence. ...