Topkapi Palace.
Sultan Hamid I, seated on his spacious square chair, saw Yusuf stride through the door and tried to lean on the cushion to sit up straighter, but the weakness in his muscles made him abandon the attempt.
His 43 years of confinement had left him in very poor health, and now at the age of 64, he already showed signs that his life was burning out.
He raised his hand to the Grand Vizier, who was bowing before him, and asked in a clearly breathless voice, "Is there news from the Maghreb?"
"Maghreb" means "land of the setting sun" in Arabic, a term used by the Arabs who first reached North Africa to refer to the central and western regions of North Africa.
The Grand Vizier Yusuf nodded with a worried look, "Your Majesty, the Algiers Guard did indeed march on Said's instigation... he even used your name."
Hamid I sighed, "Where is the man?"
"His servant returned to Constantinople last night, saying he had jumped into the Mediterranean half a month ago."
