reshness.

"She is standing in," they cried, "and, by the Prophet, she seemeth not a
ship of the true believers."

She was not, but she bore a flag of truce. Pitching and rearing, the little
bark bounded in, and soon was fast in harbour. Ere long messengers of peace
had landed, bearing presents and a letter from the Bishop of Amalfi to the
Emir of Biserta. The presents consisted of fifty casks of Lacrima Christi,
and of a captive, a tall, noble-looking man, in soiled ecclesiastical
costume, and disfigured by the loss of his left eye, which seemed to have
been violently plucked out.

"Health to the Emir!" ran the letter. "I send thee my captive, Gaddo,
sometime Bishop of Amalfi, now an ejected intruder. For what saith the
Scripture? 'When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in
peace; but if one stronger than he cometh, he divideth the spoils.'
Moreover it is written: 'His bishopric let another take.' Having solemnly
sworn that I would not kill or blind or maim my enemy, or imprison him in a
monastery, and the price of absolution from an oath in this corrupt age
exceeding all reason and Christian moderation, I knew not how to take
vengeance on him, until a sagacious counsellor represented that a man
cannot be said to be blinded so long as he is deprived of only one eye.
This I accordingly eradicated, and now, being restrained from imprisoning
him, and fearing to release him, I send him to thee, to retain in captivity
on my behalf; in return for which service, receive fifty casks of the
choicest Lacrima Christi, which shall not fail to be sent thee yearly, so
long as Gaddo continues in thy custody.

"+ Addo, by Divine permission Bishop of Amalfi."

"First," said the Emir, "I would be certified whether this vintage is
indeed of such excellence as to prevail upon a faithful Mussulman to
jeopard Paradise, the same being forbidden by his law."

Experiments were instituted forthwith, and the problem was resolved in the
affirmative.

"This being so," declared the Emir, "honour and good faith towards Bishop
Addo require that Bishop Gaddo be kept captive with all possible
strictness. Yet bolts may be burst, fetters may be filed, walls may be
scaled, doors may be broken through. Better to enchain the captive's soul,
binding him with invisible bonds, and searing out of him the very wish to
escape. Embrace the faith of the Prophet," continued he, addressing Gaddo;
"become a Mollah."

"No," said the deposed