know when nor where nor
how they first met; but the foolish girl simply went off her head over
him, and he appears to have been as completely infatuated with her. Of
course, in that land, the idea of a woman of her sect, of her standing,
having anything to do with a Frank was looked upon as something
appalling, something akin to sacrilege; and when they found that her
father had got wind of it and that the fellow's life would not be safe
if he remained within reach another day, they flew to the coast
together, shipped for England, and were married immediately after their
arrival."

"A highly satisfactory termination for the lady," commented Cleek. "One
could hardly have expected that from a man so hopelessly unprincipled as
you represent him to have always been. But there's a bit of good in even
the devil, we are told."

"Oh, be sure that he didn't marry her from any principle of honour, my
dear sir," replied the Major. "If it were merely a question of that,
he'd have cut loose from her as soon as the vessel touched port.
Consideration of self ruled him in that as in all other things. He knew
that the girl's father fairly idolised her; knew that, in time, his
wrath would give way to his love, and, sooner or later, the old man--who
had been mad at the idea of any marriage--would be moved to settle a
large sum upon her so that she might never be in want. But let me get on
with my story. Having nothing when he returned to England, and being
obliged to cover up his identity by assuming another name, Ulchester,
after vainly appealing to his father for help on the plea that he was
now honourably married and settled down, turned again to the stage, and,
repugnant though such a thing was to the delicately-nurtured woman he
had married, compelled Zuilika to become his assistant and to go on the
boards with him. That is how the afterwards well-known music-hall 'team'
of 'Zyco and the Caliph's Daughter' came into existence.

"The novelty of their 'turn' caught on like wild fire, and they were a
success from the first, not a little of that success being due to the
mystery surrounding the identity and appearance of Zuilika; for, true
to the traditions of her native land, she never appeared, either in
public or in private, without being closely veiled. Only her 'lord' was
ever permitted to look upon her uncovered face; all that the world at
large might ever hope to behold of it was the low, broad forehead and
the two brilliant eye