d as I promised thee, and at
midnight we will leave this palace forever."

"Alas! dear Selim, my heart is ever with thee, but it is very sad to
turn away from these scenes among which I have grown up from
infancy; but full well I know I can never be thine otherwise."

"In time your father will be reconciled to us both, Zillah, and then
we may return again," said the disguised lover, striving to
re-assure the gentle girl, whose heart almost failed her.

"But what a fearful risk you incur even now," she said; "your
disguise once discovered, Selim, and to-morrow's sun would never
shine upon you; your life would be forfeited."

"Fear not for me, dearest. I am well versed in the part I am to
play. But come, it is already time for us to walk forth in the
moonlight. Clothe thyself thoughtfully, Zillah, for your dress must
be such as will suffice you for many days, since we must fly far
away over the sea, beyond the reach of pursuit."

"I will be thoughtful," answered the gentle girl, retiring a few
moments from his side.

They wandered on among the fairy-like scenes of the garden, where
the trees overhung the Bosphorus, repeating once more the story of
their love, and renewing those oft-repeated promises of eternal
fidelity, until nearly midnight, when Selim suddenly started as he
heard the low, muffled sound of oars. He paused but for a moment,
then hastily seizing upon Zillah's arm, he urged her to follow him
quickly to the water's edge. Throwing a heavy, long military cloak
about her, he completely screened her from all eyes, and placing her
in the stern of the boat that came for him, with a wave of the hand
he bade his men give way, while he steered the caique towards a
craft that lay up the river towards the city, and soon disappeared
among the forest of masts and shipping that lay at anchor off
Seraglio Point.

They had made good their escape at least for the present, and were
safe on board the ship commanded by Captain Selim. The very boldness
of his scheme would prevent him from being discovered, and neither
feared that the ship of the Sultan would be searched at any event,
to find the lost daughter of the old Bey.

On the subsequent day the old Bey summoned his royal master to
assist him to find his child. The Armenian doctor, who recommended
the pretended Jew, was called upon to explain matters, but, to the
astonishment of the Turk, he denied in toto any knowledge of what he
referred to, declared before th