d Isaac Mole--ha, ha! really it's quite amusing.
Why, the mere marrying so many would be a hard day's work, Abdullah."

"The ceremony would be slightly wearisome, your highness."

"Yes, but I should require thirteen wedding rings--ha, ha, ha!--the
idea of thirteen wedding rings being used at once, and by one man."

"Don't let that be any objection," said Abdullah; "for the ladies tell
me they have come provided with exactly the number of rings requisite
for the purpose."

Sure enough, Alme detached from her fair neck an elastic band, whereon
were strung thirteen bright gold rings.

Mole was fairly staggered by this determined preparation on the part of
the irresistible enslavers.

"They mean to have me," he gasped. "I see how it is; they come here
with the intention of dragging me to the late pasha's mansion, and
marrying me by main force."

"It looks like it," answered the interpreter, "for I find that they
have brought with them a dozen of the harem-guard, fully armed."

"Then I am indeed lost," cried Mole. "But no, I'll die game. Here,
help, guards, soldiers, fly to the rescue of your pasha. Oh! Mrs. Mole,
where are you now? Your poor Mole is in danger."

As Mole uttered the piteous lament we have recorded, both ladies made a
combined charge at him, with a wild shriek and a sudden outburst in
Turkish, which might have been either a chorus of endearments or of
reproaches.

Alme got behind him and flung her arms around his neck with such vigour
that he was nearly strangled, Hannifar attacking him in the same way
from the front.

In the pressure of this combined assault he was powerless; struggle as
he would, he could not detach himself from their overwhelming embrace.

His cries for help were smothered.

His turban was knocked over his eyes.

He could feel the placards being torn from him, and himself being
hauled hither and thither by the ladies who seemed fighting for the
sole possession of him.

At length, by a gigantic effort, he freed himself and raised a cry of
alarm that might have aroused the dead, but in that effort, he stumbled
and fell on his back over a pile of sofa cushions.

Roused by his cries, the military and body guard of the pashalik rushed
in, and the whole house was in an uproar.

When Mole had been again uplifted to his feet, and was gasping forth
confused explanations, he perceived that the Ladies Alme and Hannifar
had mysteriously levanted.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

THE SUD