ver, possible that he seeks the
relaxation afforded by a story, on this day of painful recollections;
but still he frees the slaves on his son's account. But the night is
cold, and I have far to go. _Schalem aleikum_--peace be with you, young
gentlemen, and think better, in the future, of the good sheik."

The young people thanked the old man for the information he had given
them, glanced once more at the sorrowing father, and walked away saying
to one another: "On the whole, I should not care to be the Sheik Ali
Banu."

Not long afterward, it so happened that these same young men passed
down the street at the hour of morning prayers. The old man and his
story recurred to their minds, and they expressed their sympathy for
the sheik as they looked up at his house. But how astonished were they
to find the house and grounds gaily decorated! From the roof, where
comely slave women were promenading, banners waved; the porch of the
house was covered with costly carpets; silks were laid down over the
steps, and beautiful cloth, of a texture so fine that most people would
have been glad to have a holiday suit cut from it, was spread well into
the street.

"Hey! How the sheik has changed in the last few days!" exclaimed the
young writer. "Is he about to give a banquet? Will he test the powers
of his singers and dancers? Only look at this carpet! Is there another
as fine in all Alessandria? And this cloth laid right on the ground;
really that is too wasteful!"

"Do you know what I think?" said another. "He must be going to receive
some guest of high rank; for these are preparations such as are made
when a ruler of a great country or a minister of the sultan blesses a
house with his presence. Who can possibly be coming today?"

"Look! is not that our old friend below? He would be able to give us
some information about this. Ho, there! old gentleman! Can't you come
up here a moment?"

The old man noticed their gestures, and approached them, recognizing
them as the young men with whom he had conversed some days before. They
called his attention to the changes in the sheik's house, and asked him
if he knew what distinguished guest was expected.

"You seem to think," replied he, "that Ali Banu has arranged for some
festivities, or that he is to be honored by the visit of some great
man. Such is not the case; but to-day is the twelfth day of the month
of Ramadan, as you know, and is the day on which his son was taken
priso