, all the fatalistic composure of her race;
still, when I described Daniel's fortune, I fancied she listened to me
with some approval."

"Did she tell you what dowry she could give her daughter?"

"Dowry! are you mad? We talked in Turkish and discussed the matter in
the Turkish way. I think I should have surprised her exceedingly if I
had given her the idea that I was asking, not only for Kondje-Gul
herself, but for some pecuniary remuneration to the noble Kiusko for
taking her. That would have been sufficient to upset all her ideas, for
don't you know that in the East it is the husband, on the contrary, who
always makes a present to the parents of the girl he wants to have? This
arrangement, by the way, seems to me more chivalrous and more manly.
Kiusko, for that matter, cares about as much for money as for a straw:
he loves her, and that is enough for him."

I took good care not to disturb the illusive hopes which my aunt had
already conceived. Being reassured by the manner in which Madame Murrah
had played her part, it only remained for me to determine the time and
the form of refusal best adapted to the circumstances.

While I was in the midst of these reflections, Count Kiusko came in,
like any familiar friend, without being announced. He held out his hand
to me with more than his usual cordiality. By his happy looks I judged
that he had already had a word of encouragement from my aunt, and that
he had come to learn in detail the result of her first attempt. Not
wishing to disturb their interview, I pretended after a minute or two
that I had some letters to write, and left them.

The following morning I was only just out of bed when Kiusko came up
with his spurs on. We had decided the day before to ride together to the
Bois. As he usually went to the rendezvous by himself, I guessed that
to-day he wanted to appear to have been taken there by me, in order to
cover his embarrassment, or perhaps his bashfulness when he met
Kondje-Gul. Having made up my mind to avoid all confidences, I kept my
valet in the room with me, dressing myself very deliberately, and
without any compassion for Kiusko's impatience. This compelled us,
directly we were mounted, to gallop to the Bois, a procedure not very
favourable to confidential effusions.

We only joined the party at the Avenue of Acacias on their way back. I
took care to watch Kiusko as he saluted Kondje-Gul. He blushed and
stammered out a compliment addressed collective