they
treaded in profound silence. At length they reached the steps leading
down to the water, and the slave accompanied him into the boat, which
immediately shot away from the bank. Alessandro had now ample time for
calm reflection. The excitement of the hurried incidents of the evening
was nearly over, and, though his breast was still occupied with the
image of his beautiful unknown, and with the brilliant prospects which
she had opened to view, he nevertheless shrank from the foul deed of
apostasy which he had vowed to perpetrate. But we have already said that
he was essentially worldly-minded, and, as he felt convinced that the
petty jealousy of the Florentine Envoy would prevent him from rising
higher in the diplomatic hierarchy than the post of secretary, he by
degrees managed to console himself for his renegadism on the score that
it was necessary--the indispensable stepping-stone to the gratification
of his ambition.

Thus by the time the boat touched the landing-place where he had first
entered it, he had succeeded to some extent in subduing the pangs of
remorse. The female slave now bade him remove the cap from his face and
resume his turban. A few moments sufficed to make this change; and he
was about to step on shore, when the woman caught him by the sleeve of
his caftan, and, thrusting a small case of sandal-wood into his hand,
said: "She whom you saw ere now, commanded me to give thee this."

The slave pushed him toward the bank: he obeyed the impulse and landed,
she remaining in the boat, which instantly darted away again, most
probably to convey her back to the abode of her charming mistress. On
the top of the bank the renegade was accosted by the spy whom he had
left there when he embarked in the skiff.

"Allah and the Prophet be praised!" exclaimed the man, surveying
Alessandro attentively by the light of the lovely moon. "Thou art now
numbered amongst the faithful!"

The apostate bit his lips to keep down a sigh of remorse which rose to
them; and his guide, without uttering another word, led the way to the
palace of the reis-effendi. There Alessandro or Ibrahim, as we must
henceforth call him--was lodged in a splendid apartment, and had two
slaves appointed to wait upon him. He, however, hastily dismissed them,
and when alone, opened the case that had been placed into his hands by
the female slave. It contained a varied assortment of jewelry and
precious stones, constituting a treasure of immense