ance in Alessandro's presence
with a countenance denoting joyous tidings. The young Italian was
impatient to learn the results of the agent's inquiries.

"I know not who the lady is," was the reply; "but this much I have to
impart to you, signor--that she did not behold you the other day with
indifference; that she is grateful for the attention you paid in
offering your aid to save her from perhaps a serious accident--and that
she will grant you a few moments' interview this evening, provided you
assent to certain conditions to be imposed upon you, respecting the
preliminary arrangements for your meeting."

"Name them! name them!" exclaimed Alessandro, wild with joy, and almost
doubting whether he were not in the midst of a delicious dream.

"That you consent to be blindfolded while being conducted into her
presence--that you maintain the most profound silence while with those
who will guide you to her abode--and that you return from the interview
under the same circumstances."

"I should be unworthy the interest which she deigns to manifest in my
behalf, were I to refuse compliance with those terms," answered
Alessandro.

"An hour after sunset," said the spy, "you will meet me at the gate of
the Mosque of Selimya;" and with those words he hurried away, leaving
the young Florentine in a state of excited hope, amounting to a delirium
of joy.

Alessandro was well aware that adventures, such as the one in which he
found himself suddenly involved, were by no means uncommon in the East;
and that ladies of the most unimpeachable virtue, as well as of the
highest rank, frequently accorded interviews of this private nature to
those men who were fortunate enough to merit their attention--such
visits being the first step toward matrimonial connections. But then he
remembered that he was a Christian, and the fair object of his devotion
was probably of the Moslem faith. What, then, would be the result? Was
some wealthy lady of high rank about to abandon her creed for his sake?
or would the sacrifice of his faith be required as the only condition on
which his complete happiness might be achieved? He knew not--cared but
little; it was sufficient for him that he was to meet the charming being
whose image had never once quitted his mind, from the first moment he
had seen her in the bezestein!

Even before the appointed hour was Alessandro pacing the square in front
of the splendid temple which the Sultan Selim--the conqueror of