jeering, half-threatening tone; "what is the difference between this whip and this necklace of five strings of pearls ?"

"The same difference that there is between your brother and you," answered the negress. "One is as beautiful as the rainbow; the other is fit for nothing but to kindle the fires of the pit."

"You have your father's wit," returned Omar, calmly; "it will not be hard, therefore, for you to choose. Do you want the necklace ?"

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Yes, indeed," said the negress, with sparkling eyes. "What am I to do for it?"

"Very little. In an hour you will be in the harem ; every one will wish to see you, and nothing will be easier than for you to gain admittance to the sherif's wife, the Sultana Fatima. Repeat to her, word for word, what I shall tell you, and the necklace is yours."

"Give it to me," said Cafour, stretching out her hand ; "I am listening."

“While you are amusing the sultana with your ape's face and kittenish grimaces, whisper to her, 'Mistress, I have a message from a friend. "Moon of May,"

to you he says, 66 a new moon is approaching. If you do not wish her to disturb the serenity of your nights, keep the sun in the sign of Gemini. Importune, urge, and command. Take for your motto, Love is like madness; everything is forgiven it." "

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Repeat the last sentence," said Cafour. "Good; I know it now: Love is like madness; everything is forgiven it.' The sultana shall have your message. One word only can these words do any harm to your brother?"

None," replied the son of Mansour, suppressing a “Abdallah has nothing whatever to do with it;

smile.

he is threatened by no danger; and even if he were in peril, these words would insure his safety. Farewell; speak of this to no one; and if you obey me, rely on my generosity. The date is ripe, who will gather it ?" he added to himself. "I am rid of the handsome Abdallah; it remains for me now to second the sultana's jealousy and add to the enemies of the sherif. The game is not without danger; but, cost what it may, Leila must quit the harem; once outside of it, she is mine."

On rejoining her mistress, Cafour was surprised to see her pale and baggard, her eyes glittering with fever. "What is the matter?" said the child. "Are you weeping when your happiness is about to begin? when you will have four slaves to wait on you, robes of velvet and satin, Cashmere scarfs, slippers embroidered with gold and pearls, enamel necklaces, diamond tiaras, and ruby and sapphire bracelets? What more can a woman desire? You were so happy at coming here on quitting Egypt, why have you changed ?"

"You cannot understand me-you are only a child," said Leila, in a languishing voice.

"I am no longer a child, mistress," returned the negress. "I am almost twelve years old; I am a woman; you can trust in me."

"Ah! my poor Cafour," cried the Egyptian, sighing, "if you would preserve your heart, keep your eyes shut. Why did I see that handsome young man? Had it not been for him,. I should have joyfully entered the harem; now I shall be there like the dead among the living."

"Do you love Abdallah, then ?" asked the child, touched by this confidence.

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"Do I love him? Is it possible to see him without loving him? Is there a more beautiful face than his

in Paradise? His look is so gracious, his voice so sweet, his very name is perfume! Do I love him? Awake, my soul lives for him alone; asleep, my heart wakes and languishes with love! Would to God that I had been born amid the tents, with this Bedouin for my brother, that I might cast myself into his arms with none to despise me!"

"Go with him," said Cafour. "I will tell him to carry you off."

"What are you thinking of? I am a slave; I have a master. Besides, do you think that Abdallah would ever break his word? He is taking me to the sherif; would you have him betray his faith ?"

“Then tell the sherif to give you Abdallah for a husband."

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Hush, idiot. Such a request would be the deathsentence of us all."

Cafour musingly repeated to herself Omar's message; then, looking at Leila, "Mistress," said she, "if you should become Abdallah's wife, and go to dwell with him amid the tents, would you keep me with you?"

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Always, child. I love you; you shall never quit me." "Should I be your slave and Abdallah's all my life?" "Of course. But of what use is such a question ?" "Swear this to me," returned Cafour, in a solemn voice, "and let me alone. Do not question me; do not shake your head with disdain. What do you risk in swearing what I ask? Would you sell me or send me away?"

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No, indeed. Should it please God for me to become the wife of him whom I love like my own soul, you shall always remain with us; I swear it to you in the name of God, the clement, the merciful, the sovereign of the worlds-"

I

"My mistress, I am an ignorant heathen; swear it to me only by the God of Abdallah."

Talking thus, the two friends reached the harem, where numerous companions awaited them. Cafour, still laughing, leaped from the palanquin and ran toward a large room, brilliantly lighted, and filled with tables covered with silver and flowers. Leila complained of the fatigue of the journey, and retired to her chamber to weep without restraint. Useless grief, powerless to remedy an ill that could not be cured! "He who is intoxicated with wine," says the sage of Shiraz, "awakens during the night; he who is intoxicated with love awakens only on the morning of the resurrection!"

XX.

THE PATIENCE OF REYNARD.

BDALLAH wished to set out the same evening, and Hafiz was not less impatient. It seemed to him that by fleeing to the desert, his nephew would leave anxiety and sorrow behind him. But the sherif had announced that he would receive the chiefs of the caravan the next day, and it was impossible to decline the honour.

At an early hour they repaired to the palace. The courtyard was full of Bedouins, dressed in their blue robes set off by a scarlet scarf thrown across the shoulder. All wished to shake hands with the brave Abdallah and the prudent Hafiz. Omar talked in a low voice with the old shepherd; for the first time he complained of the dangers of the road; for the first time he reproached the sherif for having exposed so many brave men to almost certain death. Hafiz approved his words, and seconded them with a warmth which delighted the son of Mansour.

The visitors were led by black slaves into a room covered with rich carpets, and surrounded with divans of green silk embroidered with gold. The walls were bare of all ornament except a beautiful Turkish sabre, set with topazes and rubies, a gift from the sultan. Omar