a lodging.

"Now may Allah house thee!" said Mitri with a thoughtful frown. "Allah
knows thy mother does great wrong thus to cast thee abroad, a young
unmarried man; unless she wishes to debauch thee utterly. For who but
the worst of characters would take thee in, to share the intimacy of
their wives and daughters, except it might be as a traveller, and for a
single night? Wallah, I am at a loss how to advise thee. There is not
at present among us an old childless couple, nor yet a bachelor, whose
dwelling thou couldst share. By the Holy Gospel, I see no resort for
thee except a khan. . . . I have it!"--his perplexity was lightened
suddenly, and he raised his eyes, till then downcast. "Thou shalt
lodge at the hotel of Musa el Barudi, where thy patron dwells. Musa is
of my congregation, and he loves me well; while, as for Selim and Daud,
his two sons, I taught them their duties and chastised their youthful
conduct. Wait here, and I will write a word to them, how thou art
tired of the vain beliefs of the Brutestants, and wouldst tread the
path of Salvation."

"Write all that pleases thee, our father!"

Iskender waited to receive the missive; and then, with blessings on the
priest and all belonging to him, sped with it to the hotel. To be near
his sweet Emir both night and day fulfilled his dearest wish.

The sons of Musa had not yet risen when he entered the hall; and the
black doorkeeper, accustomed to see him come in every day without leave
or question, betrayed astonishment when asked to bear a letter to them.

"To which of the twain?" he asked, with a dubious grin.

"By Allah, that I care not; for see, by the superscription, the message
is to both alike."

"I will show it to the Khawajah Selim," the negro muttered, and went
off, holding the paper wrapped in his white robe.

He returned almost immediately, on his heels Selim the son of Musa, who
cried gladly:

"Thou art welcome and thrice welcome, O my dear! The praise to Allah,
and good luck to thee! Our father Mitri must be mad with joy; for thou
art the first that ever came from them to him, while they have stolen
many from his flock, though not of late. The Holy Orthodox Church
invites no proselyte, so the more credit to the man who comes to her.
She resembles some old-fashioned, quiet merchant, too dignified to
compete with Frankish cheapjacks. Our house is thy house; dwell here
as long as is convenient to thee, and may Allah preserve thee