or
a moment revealed to him, but his raptures speedily changed to positive
grief when he thought how improbable it was that this fair creature
would ever cross his path again. He entered the warehouse, made a small
purchase, and inquired casually of the Turkish merchant if he knew who
the lady was. The reply was in the negative, but the merchant informed
Alessandro that he had no doubt the lady was of some rank, from the
profound respect with which her slaves treated her, and from the
readiness with which she paid the prices demanded of her for the goods
she had purchased, Turkish ladies generally being notorious for their
disposition to drive a hard bargain with traders.

Alessandro returned to the suburb of Pera, in which the mansion of the
Florentine Embassy was situated--his mind full of the beautiful creature
whose countenance he had seen for a moment, and whose soft form he had
also for a moment--a single moment--held in his arms. He could not apply
himself to the duties of his office, but feigned indisposition and
retired to the privacy of his own apartment. And never did that chamber
seem so lonely, so cold, so cheerless. His entire disposition appeared
to have become suddenly changed; he felt that the world now contained
something the possession of which was positively necessary to his
happiness. One sole idea absorbed all his thoughts: the most lovely
countenance which, in his estimation, he had ever seen was so indelibly
reflected in the mirror of his mind, that his imagination could
contemplate naught besides. He knew not that whenever he went abroad, he
was watched by one of the spies of the reis-effendi; and he was
therefore surprised when, on the following day, that secret agent of the
minister whispered in his ear, "Christian, thou lovest--and it depends
on thyself whether thou wilt be loved in return!"

Alessandro was stupefied at these words. His secret was known, or at
least suspected. He questioned the individual who had thus addressed
him, and he found that the incident of the preceding day was indeed more
than suspected--it _was_ known. He besought to know who the lady was;
but the spy would not, or could not satisfy him. He, however, promised
that he would endeavor to ascertain a point in which Alessandro appeared
to be so deeply interested. The intriguing spirit of Turkish dependents
is notorious: the reader will not therefore be surprised when we state
that in a few days the spy made his appear