Yet it matters not. Were she beauteous as the crescent at even,
or ill-favoured as a bird of prey, she shall yet be welcome for thy
sake, O faithful Servant, be she a slave or a queen. Tell me only her
name and whence she comes.'

Again the Grand Vizier made obeisance. 'Neither foul nor fair, neither
young nor old, neither slave nor queen,' he replied. 'She is in truth
a marvel, like to none other these eyes have seen in all their
fourscore years and more. Tender as the dewdrop is her glance; yet
cold as snow is her behaviour. Weak as water in her outward seeming;
yet firm and strong as ice is she in strength of inward purpose.'

'Of what nation is this Wonder?' enquired the Sultan. 'She can
scarcely be a follower of the Prophet, on whom be peace, since thou
appearest to have gazed upon her unveiled countenance?'

'Nay, herein is the greatest marvel,' returned the Minister, 'it is an
Englishwoman, come hither in unheard fashion over untrodden ways, with
a tale to tickle the ears. She tells my interpreter (who alone, as
yet, hath spoken with her) that her home is in the cold grey isle of
Britain. That there she dwelt many years in lowly estate, being indeed
but a serving-maid in a town called Yorkshire; or so my interpreter
understands. She saith that there she heard the voice of Allah
Himself, calling her to be His Minister and Messenger, heard and
straightway obeyed. Sayeth, moreover, that she hath already travelled
in His service beyond the utmost western sea, even to the new land
discovered by that same Cristofero of Genoa, whose fellow citizens are
at this hour dwelling in our city yonder. Sayeth that in that far
western land she hath been beaten and imprisoned. Yet, nevertheless,
she was forbidden to rest at home until she had carried her message
"as far to the East as to the West," or some such words. That having
thus already visited the land where sleeps the setting sun of western
skies, she craveth now an audience with the splendid morning Sun, the
light of the whole East; even the Grand Seignior, who is as the Shade
of God Himself.'

'For what purpose doth she desire an audience?' enquired the Sultan
moodily.

'Being a mere woman and therefore without skill, she can use only
simple words,' answered the Grand Vizier. '"Tell the Sultan I have
something to declare unto him from the Most High God," such is her
message; but who heedeth what a woman saith? "Never give ear to the
counsels and advices of woman" i