ifference save those which would render your
highness faithless to an adoring wife. Remember, my lord, the fate of
Calanthe, the sister of your dependent Demetrius, she who was torn from
your arms, and whose beauteous form became food for the fishes of the
Bosporus."

"How knew you who she was?" demanded the grand vizier, in a low, hoarse
voice, the power of his utterance having been temporarily suspended by
the rage that filled his soul at finding his iniquitous design in
respect to Nisida thus suddenly baffled by the chief of the three black
slaves, whose attendance in this expedition had been forced upon him by
the Sultana Valida; "how knew you who she was?" he again asked.

"Rather demand, my lord, what can escape the prying eyes of those by
whom your highness has been surrounded ever since the seals of office
were in your grasp," returned the slave.

"But you would not betray that secret to Demetrius, who is now devoted
to me, who is necessary to me, and who would loathe me were he to learn
the dreadful fate of his sister!" said the grand vizier, with rapid and
excited utterance.

"I have no eyes and no ears, great pasha," said the negro, "save in
respect to those matters which would render you faithless to the sister
of the sultan."

"Would to Heaven that you had neither eyes nor ears at all--that you did
not exist, indeed!" exclaimed Ibrahim, unable to repress his wrath;
then, in a different and milder tone, he immediately added, "Slave, I
can make thee free--I can give thee wealth--and thou mayest dwell in
happy Italy, whither we are going, for the remainder of thy days.
Reflect, consider! I love that deaf and dumb Christian woman who
sleepeth there--I already love her to distraction! Thwart me not, good
slave, and thou mayest command my eternal gratitude."

"My lord, two other slaves overhear every word that now passes between
us," responded the Ethiopian, his voice remaining calm and monotonous;
"and even were we alone in all respects, I would not betray the trust
reposed in me. But not on your highness would the effects of your
infidelity to the Princess Aischa fall. No, my lord--I have no authority
to harm you. Had your highness succeeded in your purpose ere now, the
bow-string would have forever stifled the breath in the body of that
deaf and dumb Christian lady; and her corpse would have been thrown
forth from these windows into the sea. Such are my instructions, my
lord; and thus every object of yo