tanding up
against the darkness of the doorway it revealed the figure of a slim
young girl.

Still gazing fixedly at the suppliant, who stood trembling before him,
the priest seemed to ponder the request. Then suddenly he sprang to
his feet, crying: "Come with me!" and, seizing Iskender's arm, dragged
the terrified youth into the church, of which the door stood open. In
there the sudden gloom, combined with a stale smell of incense,
overpowered the victim.

"Prostrate thy sinful self!" the priest enjoined.

Iskender fell upon his face obediently. To perform the prostration he
was obliged to discard for a moment the great umbrella. When he rose
from his knees the priest had hold of it.

"Wherefore dost thou require a blessing of me?"

Iskender confessed that he was about to present himself before a
certain great one, in the hope of patronage, and felt the need of
Heaven's favour to support his worthlessness.

"What is his name, this great one?"

"That I know not. The man in question is the young Inklizi who honours
the hotel of Musa el Barudi. I know only that he is a great Emir, and
hates the missionaries."

"Then he must be of the High Church of that land, which yet holds
faithful, christening by immersion, and scorning the interpolation of
the swine of Rome. May he be a guide to thee, poor unbaptized one.
Now, for the blessing, give me ten piasters!"

"Ten piasters!" gasped Iskender.

The enraged ecclesiastic pinched the objector's ear, and twisted it
until its owner writhed in anguish. "For a heretic like thee it should
be thrice as much. Remember I have power to bind as well as to loose.
Insult this place again with heathen haggling, and by the keys of
heaven and of hell, I curse thee leprous."

Iskender fell on his knees and howled for mercy.

"I have no money with me," he explained most piteously.

"Is that in truth the case?" The priest let go his ear, and seemed to
meditate. Iskender was aware of the girl in the sky-blue robe gazing
in at the doorway. Her presence added to his ignominy. "No matter!
Thou shalt pay the price another time, and in the meanwhile I shall
keep this fine umbrella."

"Alas, it is not mine!" Iskender wrung his hands.

But Mitri had already withdrawn into the inner darkness of the
sanctuary, whence he emerged directly, but without the umbrella.
Something white and glittering now adorned his shoulders.

As he came towards Iskender, the light from the doorw