, the
Mussulman chief advanced toward Nisida, whom he saluted in a manner
which strengthened her suspicion that he was not of Turkish origin,
although habited in the richest Oriental costume she had ever seen, and
evidently holding some very superior office among the Ottomans. She
returned his salutation with a graceful bow and a sweet smile: and he
immediately addressed her in the Italian tongue--her own dear and
delightful language, saying, "Lady, art thou the queen of this land? or
art thou, as appearances would almost lead one to conjecture, a solitary
inhabitant here?"

For he saw that she was alone--beheld no traces of culture; and there
was but one miserable dwelling, and that such as she might have built up
with her own hands. Nisida shook her head mournfully, making signs that
she was deaf and dumb. The Mussulman chief uttered an ejaculation of
mingled surprise and grief, and surveyed the lady with additional
interest and admiration. But in a few moments his countenance assumed a
sudden expression of astonishment, as if a light had broken in upon him,
suggesting something more than a mere suspicion--nay, indeed, a positive
conviction; and having examined her features with the most earnest
attention, he abruptly took his tablets from the folds of his garment,
and wrote something on them. He then handed them to Nisida; and it was
now her turn to experience the wildest surprise--for on the page opened
to her view were these words, traced in a beautiful style of
calligraphy, and in the Italian language: "Is it possible that your
ladyship can be the Donna Nisida of Riverola?"

Nisida's eyes wandered in astonishment from the tablets to the
countenance of him who had penciled that question; but his features were
certainly not familiar to her--and yet she thought that there was
something in the general expression of that handsome face not altogether
unknown to her. As soon as she had partially recovered from the surprise
and bewilderment produced by finding that she at least was known to the
Ottoman functionary, she wrote beneath his question the following reply:
"I am indeed Nisida of Riverola, who for seven long months have been the
only inhabitant of this island, whereon I was shipwrecked, and I am now
anxious to return to Italy--or at all events to the first Christian port
at which your fleet may touch. Have mercy upon me, then; and take me
hence! But who are you, signor, that I should prove no stranger to you?"