lord,' she said, 'those
are the men; I have tracked them from the house of the Cadi to this
palace. They are the same; I am not mistaken, strike and avenge
yourself.'

As he listened the face of the stranger grew scarlet with anger. He
drew his sword and in another moment would have rushed on the Jews, when
Neangir and the slaves of the Bassa seized hold of him.

'What are you doing?' cried Neangir. 'How dare you attack those whom the
Bassa has taken under his protection?'

'Ah, my son,' replied the soldier, 'the Bassa would withdraw his
protection if he knew that these wretches have robbed me of all I have
dearest in the world. He knows them as little as he knows you.'

'But he knows me very well,' replied Neangir, 'for he has recognised me
as his son. Come with me now into his presence.'

The stranger bowed and passed through the curtain held back by Neangir,
whose surprise was great at seeing his father spring forward and clasp
the soldier in his arms.

'What! is it you, my dear Siroco?' cried he. 'I believed you had been
slain in that awful battle when the followers of the Prophet were put to
flight. But why do your eyes kindle with the flames they shot forth on
that fearful day? Calm yourself and tell me what I can do to help you.
See, I have found my son, let that be a good omen for your happiness
also.'

'I did not guess,' answered Siroco, 'that the son you have so long
mourned had come back to you. Some days since the Prophet appeared to
me in a dream, floating in a circle of light, and he said to me, "Go
to-morrow at sunset to the Galata Gate, and there you will find a young
man whom you must bring home with you. He is the second son of your old
friend the Bassa of the Sea, and that you may make no mistake, put your
fingers in his turban and you will feel the plaque on which my name is
engraved in seven different languages."'

'I did as I was bid,' went on Siroco, 'and so charmed was I with his
face and manner that I caused him to fall in love with Argentine, whose
portrait I gave him. But at the moment when I was rejoicing in the
happiness before me, and looking forward to the pleasure of restoring
you your son, some drops of the elixir of love were spilt on the table,
and caused a thick vapour to arise, which hid everything. When it had
cleared away he was gone. This morning my old slave informed me that she
had discovered the traitors who had stolen my daughters from me, and I
hastened hither to av