will receive naught but honorable and kind
treatment."

"Know you, signor," inquired Flora, "if there be in the Ottoman camp a
young man who, when a Christian," she added, with a profound sigh, "bore
the name of Alessandro Francatelli?"

"There is such a young man," responded the Turkish messenger; "and you
will see him presently."

"Oh! is it then to him that we owe our deliverance?" demanded the
beauteous maiden, her heart fluttering with varied emotions at the idea
of meeting her brother. "Is he attached to the person of that mighty man
whom you denominate the grand vizier? and shall we see him in the
pavilion of his highness?"

"You will see him in the pavilion of his highness," answered the Turk.

"And the grand vizier himself--is he a good, kind man?" asked Flora. "Is
my brother--I mean Alessandro--a favorite with him?"

"I believe that the mighty Ibrahim loves no man more than Alessandro
Francatelli, lady," said the Turk, highly amused by these questions
which were put to him, although his manner was respectful and calm.

"Then there is a chance that Alessandro will rise in the service of the
sultan?" continued Flora, naturally anxious to glean all the information
she could respecting her brother.

"There is not a more enviable personage in the imperial service than he
whom you style Alessandro Francatelli."

"Heaven be thanked that he is so prosperous, poor boy!" exclaimed the
aunt, who had been an attentive listener to the preceding discourse.
"But your grand vizier, signor, must be very powerful to have a great
army at his disposal."

"The grand vizier, lady," returned the Ottoman envoy, "is second only to
the sultan, and in him we see a reflection of the imperial majesty. At a
sign from the great and potent Ibrahim every scimiter throughout this
host of twenty thousand men would leap from its sheath in readiness to
strike where and at whom he might choose to order. Nay, more, lady--he
has the power to gather together mighty armies, so numerous that they
would inundate Christendom as with a desolating sea. Allah be thanked!
there is no limit to the power of the mighty Ibrahim so long as he
holdeth the seals of his great office."

The two females made no further observation aloud; but they thought
profoundly on all that they had just heard. For in a short time they
were to stand in the presence of this puissant chief whom the Ottomans
seemed to worship as a god, and who wielded a power which place