m a distance. I
troubled myself no further about this, but made up my mind to take
measures that very day to put an end to this stupid adventure.

About three o'clock I went to Teral House, and in an interview with
Kondje-Gul's mother drew up the precise terms of her answer to my aunt,
which consisted of a formula usually employed on similar occasions.

"Mademoiselle Kondje-Gul feels greatly flattered by the honour which
Count Daniel Kiusko has intended to confer upon her, but is unable to
accept it." To this we added, in order to convince him it was not one of
those half-decisive answers which he might hope to overcome: "She
desires to inform their friend confidentially that her heart is no
longer free, and that she is engaged to one of her relations." This
partly-confidential answer possessed the merits of a candid
communication, after receiving which no honourable man could press her
without giving offence. Moreover, it established a definite status,
under which Kondje-Gul could shelter herself for the future from all
importunate attempts on the part of my rival.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIV.

You are returning once more, my dear Louis, to your favourite occupation
of knocking down skittles which you have set up yourself, and are trying
to exercise your humorous spirit at my expense.

You tell me that my Oriental system of life crumbles away upon contact
with the hard world, and with those sentiments which I venture to class
among the antiquated prejudices of a worn-out civilisation.

You do not perceive, you subtle scoffer, that every one of your
arguments can be turned against you to establish the superiority of the
customs of the harem. Can't you see that all these mishaps, these
troubles, and these outbursts of jealousy, which you have intentionally
magnified, originate solely in Kondje-Gul's emancipation from the harem,
and that none of them would have occurred if I had not departed from
Turkish usages? Consider on the one hand the tranquillity of my amours
with Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidje, my easy life with them, as a poet and a
sultan, secure from all annoying rivalries, and on the other hand look
at these difficulties and contests arising all at once out of our social
conventionalities.

I do not really know why I should waste any more time discussing the
question with you.

Being now confident that after the declaration which Madame Murrah would
next day make to my aunt, K