. To Mario likewise he promised, in case of success
his liberty and money enough to enable him to return home a wealthy man.

If he was liberal in promises, his slaves were prodigal; they would
bring down the moon to him from Heaven, much more Leonisa, if only he
gave them an opportunity of speaking with her. "Mario shall have one
whenever he pleases," said the cadi, "for I will make Halima go for some
days to the house of her parents, who are Greek Christians, and when she
is away I will order the porter to admit Mario into the house as often
as he pleases, and I will tell Leonisa that she may converse with her
countryman whenever she has a mind." Thus did the wind begin to shift in
Ricardo's favour, his master and mistress working for him without
knowing it; and the first who began was Halima, as was to be expected of
her, for it is the nature of women ever to be prompt and bold where
their pleasures are concerned.

That same day the cadi told Halima that she might pay a visit to her
parents, and stay with them some time if she liked; but elated as she
was with the false hopes given her by Leonisa, she was so far from
wishing to visit her parents, that she would not have cared to go to the
imaginary paradise of Mahomet. She replied then that she had no such
wish at that moment; when she had she would mention it, and then she
would take the Christian maiden with her. "That you must not," replied
the cadi, "for it is not right that the Grand Signor's slave should be
seen by any one, much less should she converse with Christians; for you
know that when she comes into the Sultan's possession she will be shut
up in the seraglio, and must become a Turk whether she will or not."

"As she will be in my company," said Halima, "there will be no harm in
her being in the house of my parents, or conversing with them. I do so
myself, and I am not less a good Turk for all that. Besides, I do not
intend to remain with them more than four or five days at most, for my
love for you will not allow me to be so long without seeing you." Here
the conversation dropped, the cadi not venturing to make any further
objection, for fear of rousing her suspicions.

Friday being come, he went to the mosque, from which he was sure not to
return for about four hours. He was no sooner gone than Halima sent for
Mario; but a Corsican slave who acted as porter, would not have admitted
him into the court-yard if Halima had not called out to let him pass,