belong to you any longer, for you have given her to your nephew, a
Giaour, an infidel!"

"Quite true, madam!" replied my uncle. "But," he continued, "these are
details in a private dispute, with which this gentleman is not
concerned. And I fancy he has by this time obtained sufficient
information."

"Certainly, sir," said the officer of the law, rising from his seat. "I
have taken down your replies, and my mission is accomplished."

Barbassou-Pasha, upon this conclusion, saluted him in his most dignified
manner and conducted him out with every polite attention.

The Circassian, exasperated beyond measure, had not moved: rage was
depicted on her whole countenance, and she looked like one determined to
fight it out to the bitter end.

"I must insist upon speaking to my daughter," she said passionately,
"and then we shall see!"

Just as he caught these words, my uncle came in, leading my poor
Kondje-Gul by the hand.

"Come, you silly old fool," he said to Madame Murrah, changing his tone
quite suddenly, "you can see now that there is nothing left to you but
to submit. Swallow all your stupid threats! You will make a good thing
out of it all the same--for I give your daughter in marriage to my
nephew!"

I thought I must have misunderstood him.

"Uncle!" I exclaimed, "what did you say?"

"Why, you rascal, I see that I must give her to you, since you love each
other so consumedly!"

Kondje-Gul could not repress a scream of joy. We both threw ourselves
into my uncle's arms at the same time.

"Yes," he said, "what a jolly couple they look! But it was your aunt
Eudoxia who led me at last to play this card! Here I am nicely balked of
all my fine schemes!"

"Oh!" exclaimed Kondje-Gul, "we will love each other so much!"

"Well, well! There, they're quite smothering me! May the good God bless
you! go along. But now we shall have to come to an understanding with
this excellent mother; for according to these infernal French laws,
which complicate everything, her consent is necessary for your
marriage."

"I certainly shall not give it," said Madame Murrah furiously.

"All right! We will see about that," he continued. "That is a matter to
be arranged between us, and for that purpose I shall go to your house
to-morrow. Only, I give you warning, no noise, please, no silly attempts
to carry off your daughter, otherwise we shall wait until she is of age
in two years' time, and then you will have nothing."

Don't be su