foggy Europe," cried Lockman; "you are no Asiatic; the
prophet of Nazareth has misled you. Your virtue is not an active one,
it is only abstinence; your life is but a continued preparation for
death."

Ali broke off the conversation, and went away vexed, but soon forgot
Lockman. The lovely maiden on the turf was still present to his
imagination in all her beauty.

In anxious expectation he waited for the next evening, and went
unattended by Lockman.

On first arriving he sat down, and meditated to whom this garden could
possibly belong. He then walked several times up and down the avenue
between the walls, and not seeing any one near, could not resist
stopping by the hedge and looking through the hole into the garden.
However he saw no one, for the garden was forsaken. On the turf,
opposite the _jet d'eau_, lay a rose which he wished to possess. As he
still stood gazing some one tapped him softly on the shoulder, upon
which he looked around, and saw standing before him a middle-aged and
affable woman, who asked him smiling,

"What are you looking after, young gentleman?"

Ali was embarrassed.

"You need not answer," said she. "Your little dwarf has been here this
morning, and has settled every thing with me. My mistress is very
anxious to see you."

And without waiting for an answer, she took Ali by the hand, and led
him through an open garden door into a thick arbour where she left him.

The beautiful Gulhyndi came to meet him dressed in a fine black suit of
satin with short sleeves, which enhanced the natural whiteness of her
arms, hands, and neck. Her hair flowed in long tresses down her back;
and a deep bodice set with precious stones encircled her slender waist.

"You will be surprised, sir," she said with natural freedom from
embarrassment, "at being brought so suddenly before a young girl whom
you do not know. I will at once free you from the state of uncertainty
in which you might easily remain to my disadvantage. Know then that I
have hazarded this step as the only means of becoming acquainted with a
man of such excellent qualities, whose intellectual conversation I have
long wished to enjoy. It is not for the first time that we see each
other; indeed, we have known each other for a long time."

The fair one now took a long veil which concealed her face, leaving a
small opening only for the eyes, walked a few paces up and down, and
then asked him, "Do you know me thus?"

Ali started; it