e
my harem immediately. Once lost in the crowd and din of Paris, my secret
would be safe.

The removal is now settled. A talk with my uncle simplified matters. As
you may imagine, I had to explain to him the risks entailed by such an
occurrence as my aunt's visit, which might lead her mind to revert to
some incidents in the Captain's past life which had so far remained
unintelligible. Barbassou Pasha did not trouble himself very seriously
about it, but he approved of my decision, and, contenting himself with a
few growls at me by the way, affectionately proceeded to give me the
assistance of his experience. It seems that he has--or rather I have--a
house at Paris, which was furnished expressly for the use of His
Excellency Mohammed Azis during my uncle's visits there. Orders have
already been sent to have it ready. Then plausible reasons for my
departure have been invented; some pretended business of importance,
which we have been discussing several days past before my aunt, and
which "might necessitate my presence in Paris." Truly my uncle's
composure is wonderful!

As to my houris of El-Nouzha, I need hardly tell you that the coming
journey has been the subject of a most extraordinary enthusiasm on their
part. The idea of seeing Paris has quite turned their heads, and caused
them to forget their proposed visits to Ferouzat. In order to put all
conjectures off the scent, Mohammed is going to start to-morrow
ostensibly for Marseilles, as if he were returning to Turkey. The cool
November weather having set in, nothing could be more natural than this
return to his native land. The end of his journey, however, will be the
Faubourg St. Germain, to which he will direct his course by a circuitous
route, and where I shall rejoin him on my arrival at Paris next week.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VII.

The deed is done! We managed everything without the slightest hitch. I
write to you from Paris, from our house in the Rue de Varennes; it seems
like years since I was last there, so many things have happened during
the six months since I left it. All my surroundings belong to a life so
different from my present one, that it requires an exertion of thought
to identify myself and realise my position here.

My harem is established in the Rue de Monsieur--in the former "Parc aux
Cerfs" of my uncle--a splendid mansion, the gardens of which reach to
the Boulevard des Invalides. My uncle has absolutely the ge