yet so early acquainted with such deep affliction!"
exclaimed Ibrahim. "But can you form no idea, Christian, of the cause of
that double disappearance? Had your sister no attendants who could throw
the least light upon the subject?" he asked, with the hope of eliciting
some tidings relative to his own sister, the beauteous Flora.

"I dare not reflect thereon!" cried Francisco, the tears starting into
his eyes. "For, alas! Florence has long been infested by a desperate
band of lawless wretches--and my God! I apprehend the worst--the very
worst."

Thus speaking, he rose and paced the spacious tent with agitated steps;
for this conversation had awakened in his mind all the bitter thoughts
and dreadful alarms which he had essayed to subdue amidst the excitement
and peril of war. A slave now entered to inform Ibrahim that the sultan
commanded his immediate presence in the imperial pavilion.

"Christian," said Ibrahim, as he rose to obey this mandate, "wilt thou
pledge me thy word, as a noble and a knight, not to attempt to escape
from this tent?"

"I pledge my word," answered Francisco, "seeing that thou thyself art so
generous to me."

Ibrahim then went forth; but he paused for a few moments outside the
tent to command his slaves to serve up choice refreshments to the
prisoner. He then hastened to the pavilion of the sultan, whom he found
seated upon a throne, surrounded by the beglerbegs, the councilors of
state, the viziers, the lieutenant-generals of the army, and all the
high dignitaries who had accompanied him on his expedition. Ibrahim
advanced and prostrated himself at the foot of his throne; and at the
same moment two of the high functionaries present threw a caftan of
honor over his shoulders--a ceremony which signified that the sultan had
conferred upon him the title of beglerbeg, or "prince of princes."

"Rise, Ibrahim Pasha!" exclaimed Solyman, "and take thy place in our
councils, for Allah and his prophet have this day made thee their
instrument to save the life of thy sovereign."

The newly-created pasha touched the imperial slipper with his lips, and
then rising from his prostrate position, received the congratulations of
the high functionaries assembled.

Thus it was that in a few months, protected by that secret influence
which was hurrying him so rapidly along in his ambitious career, the
Italian apostate attained to a high rank in the Ottoman Empire; but he
was yet to reach the highest, next to t