oul; and if you will not, you
must feign to do so, were it only because I request it, and for sake of
what is due to the declared desires of a woman."

"Never did I think, never could I imagine, beauteous Leonisa," replied
Ricardo, "that you could ever ask anything of me with which I should
find it impossible to comply; but this present request of yours has
undeceived me. Is the inclination so slight a thing that it can be moved
this way or that at pleasure? Or would it become a man of truth and
honour to feign in matters of such weight? If you think that such things
can or ought to be done, be it as you will, since it is for you to
command and for me to obey; and that it may not be said I failed to do
so with regard to the first order you laid upon me, I will impose
silence on the voice of my honour, and will pretend to return Halima's
passion, as you desire, if I may thereby secure the blessing of seeing
you; and you have only to signify as much to her in such terms as you
shall think proper. In return for this sacrifice, to me the greatest
possible, I entreat you to tell me briefly how you escaped from the
hands of the corsairs, and fell into those of the Jew who sold you."

"The recital of my misfortunes," Leonisa answered, "demands more time
than we have now at our disposal; nevertheless, I will tell you some
particulars. The day after we parted company, Yusuf's galley was driven
back by a contrary wind to the island of Pantanalea, where we also saw
your galley, but ours, in spite of all efforts, was driven upon the
rocks. My master, seeing death so near, quickly emptied two water-casks,
closed them tightly, lashed them together with ropes, and placed me
between them. Then stripping off his clothes he took another cask in his
arms, and passing round his body a rope attached to the casks on which I
was placed, he boldly plunged into the sea. I had not the courage to
follow his example, but another Turk pushed me in. I fell senseless into
the water, and did not recover until I found myself on land, in the arms
of two Turks, who held me with my mouth downwards, discharging a great
quantity of water which I had swallowed. I opened my eyes, and looking
wildly round me, the first thing I saw was Yusuf lying beside me with
his skull shattered, having, as I afterwards learned, been dashed head
foremost against the rocks.

"The Turks told me that they had hawled me ashore by the rope, more dead
than alive. Only eight pers