The Severed Hand From "German Tales" Published by the American Publishers' Corporation

A young man born in bustling Constantinople narrates his upbringing under a father who dealt in perfumes and silk. Educated by his father and a priest, he is steered toward medicine, a trade promising profit in the cosmopolitan city. A generous French patron offers him a chance to study in Paris, and the protagonist thrills at the prospect of foreign horizons. He departs with gifts of fine clothing, weapons, and a secret stash of gold his father promises will aid him in an hour of need.

After three years of study, homesickness drives him back to Turkey, where he discovers his father has died and the treasured gold has vanished, allegedly donated to the church. Bereft of family connections and reputation, he feels the weight of misfortune pressing upon him. Remembering the demand for Oriental luxuries among French merchants, he resolves to trade rare shawls, oils, and medicines back to the West. With a modest fortune salvaged from his father's estate, he sets sail once more, hopeful that his exotic wares will finally secure his future.