You cannot imagine the fear that I felt when the cask was taken away by the officer's slaves . I gave myself up for a lost man , and determined to escape from Smyrna at once . I calculated the time that it would take for the officer to drink up the wine , and made my arrangements accordingly . I told my master that it was my intention to leave him , as I had an offer to go into business with a relation at Zante *. My master , who could not well do without me , begged me to stay ; but I refused . He then offered me a share of business if I would remain , but I still refused . At every knock at the door I thought that the officer and his soldiers were coming for me . I hastened my departure , which was fixed for the following day-when in the evening my master came into the store with a paper in his hand