It took some time for me to learn the history of my friends. Their story was very interesting to me. I did not know much about the world yet. Every detail was a surprise.
The name of the old man was De Lacey. He came from a very good family in France. He lived in Paris for many years. De Lacey was rich and many people respected him. Felix was a soldier for his country. Agatha was a lady from a high class.
The family had many friends in Paris. They had a lot of money and a beautiful life. But then, everything changed. The father of Safie was the reason for their trouble.
Safie’s father was a merchant (a person who buys and sells things) from Turkey. He lived in Paris for a long time. One day, the government arrested him. He went to prison on the same day Safie arrived in Paris.
The government said the merchant must die. This was not fair. The people of Paris were very angry. They thought the government hated his religion and his money. Felix was at the trial. He was very angry because the trial was unfair.
Felix promised to help the man escape. He found a window with iron bars at the prison. The merchant sat in a dungeon (a dark prison room under the ground). He had heavy chains on his body.
Felix visited the window at night. He told the merchant his plan. The merchant was very happy. He promised Felix a lot of money if Felix helped him. Felix did not want the money.
But then Felix saw Safie. Safie was very beautiful. She visited her father in prison. She thanked Felix with her gestures. Felix loved Safie immediately. He thought she was a great treasure.
The merchant saw that Felix loved Safie. He promised that Felix could marry Safie. But first, they must reach a safe place. Felix was happy because he loved Safie very much.
Felix and Safie wrote many letters to each other. An old servant translated the letters into French. Safie thanked Felix for helping her father. She also told him about her own life.
I found these letters in the cottage later. I will show them to you one day. They prove that my story is true. Safie’s mother was a Christian Arab woman. She was a slave once, but she was very strong.
Safie’s mother taught her daughter to be independent. In Turkey, women did not have many rights. Safie did not want to live in a harem (a part of a house where only women live).
Safie wanted to marry a Christian man. She wanted to live in a country where women were free. The idea of living in Europe was very exciting for her.
The government planned to kill the merchant soon. But the merchant escaped from prison at night. Felix got passports for the merchant, De Lacey, and Agatha.
Felix led the merchant and Safie through France. They went to Italy. They waited in a city called Leghorn. Safie and Felix were very happy together. They talked and Safie sang beautiful songs.
The merchant pretended to be kind. But in his heart, he had other plans. He did not want his daughter to marry a Christian. He planned to take Safie away secretly.
The French government was very angry about the escape. They looked for the person who helped the merchant. They quickly found the truth. They put De Lacey and Agatha in prison.
Felix heard this news in Italy. He was very sad. His blind father and kind sister were in a dark prison. Felix was free with Safie, but he felt terrible.
Felix made a plan with the merchant. Safie stayed in a convent (a home for women who serve God). Then Felix went back to Paris. He gave himself to the police to save his family.
Felix did not succeed. De Lacey and Agatha stayed in prison for five months. Then the government took all their money. The government told the family to leave France forever.
The family went to the small cottage in Germany. Felix learned that the merchant was a bad man. The merchant knew that Felix was poor now. So the merchant left Italy and took Safie with him.
The merchant only sent Felix a little bit of money. This made Felix very sad. When I first saw Felix, he was the unhappiest person in the family. He lost his money and he lost Safie.
The arrival of Safie changed everything. The merchant told Safie to forget Felix. He told her to return to Turkey. Safie was very angry because her father was mean.
The merchant had to leave Italy quickly. He was afraid the French government might find him. He went to Turkey on a ship. He left Safie with a servant. He told Safie to follow him later.
Safie did not want to go to Turkey. She found some papers in her father’s room. She learned that Felix was in Germany. She learned the name of his village.
Safie took her jewels and some money. She left Italy with a woman servant. They traveled toward Germany. But the servant became very sick and she died.
Safie was alone in a new country. She did not know the language or the customs. But she was lucky. She found a kind woman who helped her. Finally, Safie arrived at the cottage. She found her lover, Felix.