her as
if in procession, and falling on their knees kissed the ground with
tears of joy--a clear proof to all who witnessed their proceedings that
they were no Turks. When all the crew were out of the vessel, Halima
with her father and mother, and her two nephews, followed next, all
dressed as Turks; and the beautiful Leonisa, her face covered with a
crimson veil, and escorted on either side by Mahmoud and Ricardo, closed
the procession, while the eyes of the whole multitude were fixed upon
her. They too did as the others had done, and knelt and kissed the
ground.

Presently the captain and governor of the city advanced towards them,
perceiving that they were the principal persons belonging to the vessel.
The moment he set eyes on Ricardo he recognised him, ran to him with
open arms, and embraced him with the liveliest demonstrations of joy.
With the governor came Cornelio and his father, Leonisa's parents and
relations, and those of Ricardo, all of whom were among the principal
persons in the city. Ricardo returned the governor's embrace and his
cordial greeting; held out his hand to Cornelio (who had changed colour
at sight of him, and almost quaked for fear), and, holding Leonisa also
by the hand, thus addressed the bystanders: "Under your favour,
gentlemen, I beg that, before we enter the city and the temple to return
the thanks so justly due to our Lord for the great mercies vouchsafed to
us in our distresses, that you will listen to a few words I have to say
to you." The governor bade him say on, for all present would listen to
him with pleasure and in silence. All the principal people then formed a
circle round him, and he addressed them as follows:--

"You must well remember, gentlemen, the misfortune which befel me some
mouths ago in the garden of the Salt Pits, and the loss of Leonisa: nor
can you have forgotten the exertions I made to procure her liberation,
since, regardless of my own, I offered all I was worth for her ransom.
But this seeming generosity is not to be imputed to me as a merit, since
I did but offer my fortune for the ransom of my soul. What has since
happened to us both requires more time to relate, a more convenient
season, and a speaker less agitated than myself. For the present, let it
suffice to tell you that after various extraordinary adventures, and
after a thousand disappointments of our hopes of relief, merciful Heaven
has, without any merit of ours, restored us to our beloved count