|
FIRE IN THE EARTH
sister of Napoleon. The walls ot his private study, it was said, were literally studded with diamonds.
But
Ali Pasha did not buy the Pigott to place on the wall or in his
treasury of precious gems. It was for his beautiful wife, Vasilikee.
Upon her, a Christian, he had lavished everything. But not long after
their marriage, Ah' Pasha got in trouble. He had set up what amounted
to an independent kingdom, and this had made the Sultan of Turkey, who
actually was ruler over all Albania, jealous. On February 5, 1822, the
Sultan sent an emissary named Raschid Pasha to see Ali and demand his
abdication. Ah' refused and, instead, fired a pistol at the messenger's
head. It missed and the messenger mortally wounded Ah".
Begging
to be left to die in peace, he sent tor his wife and his trusted French
soldier ot fortune, one Captain d'Anglas. He said in effect that his
wife and his diamond must not be left in the hands of the Turkish
infidels, thereupon ordered the diamond destroyed and his wife slain.
Captain d'Anglas proceeded to pound the stone to bits and then, as he
fumed with his sword upon Vasilikee, the old Lion of Jananina died. The
captain and Vasilikee were taken into custody. She was so beautiful
that the Sultan of Turkey offered her the highest place in his harem.
When she refused he drove her into exile.
The
Pigott, therefore, is the only once famous stone known to have been
pounded "out of existence." But Ali Pasha would have had one
satisfaction in knowing that the dust of that diamond remains. Diamond
dust never disintegrates or vanishes from the earth. Because it
consists of the ingredients ot the hardest of stones it is
indestructible.
|
||
|
|
||
|
(198)
|
||
|
|
||