his own sake, keep silent
on the matter. I have not yet asked your name," he went on, turning to
Gervaise.

"My name is Gervaise Tresham; but it will be easier for you to call me
by my first name only."

"Then, Gervaise, it were well that you retired to rest at once, for I am
sure that you sorely need it." He touched a bell on the table, and told
Muley, when he appeared, to conduct Gervaise to the place where he was
to sleep, which was, he had already ordered, apart from the quarters of
the other slaves.

"The young fellow is a mass of bruises," Ben Ibyn said to his wife, when
the door closed behind Gervaise. "Hassan beat him so savagely, after
they had overpowered and bound him, that he well nigh killed him."

An exclamation of indignation burst from the wife and daughters.

"Muley has seen to his wounds," he went on, "and he will doubtless be
cured in a few days. And now, wife, that your wish is gratified, and I
have purchased a Christian slave for you, may I ask what you are going
to do with him?"

"I am sure I do not know," she said in a tone of perplexity. "I had
thought of having him to hand round coffee when my friends call, and
perhaps to work in the garden, but I did not think that he would be
anything like this."

"That is no reason why he should not do so," Ben Ibyn said. "These
Christians, I hear, treat their women as if they were superior beings,
and feel it no dishonour to wait upon them; I think you cannot do better
than carry out your plan. It is certain there is no sort of work that
he would prefer to it; therefore, let it be understood that he is to be
your own personal attendant, and that when you have no occasion for his
services, he will work in the garden. Only do not for the present let
any of your friends see him; they would spread the news like wildfire,
and in a week every soul in the town would know that you had a good
looking Christian slave, and the sultan's officer would be sending for
me to ask how I obtained him. We must put a turban on him. Any one who
caught a glimpse of that hair of his, however far distant, would know
that he was a Frank."

"We might stain his face and hands with walnut juice," Khadja said, "he
would pass as a Nubian. Some of them are tall and strong."

"A very good thought, wife; it would be an excellent disguise. So shall
it be." He touched the bell again. "Tell Muley I would speak with him.
Muley," he went on, when the steward appeared, "have you said a