he Vicar of Bray, managed to remain in office,
no matter who should come into or go out of power.

We are sorry to have to record the fact that Ziffa was a bad child--a
particularly naughty little girl. She told lies, and was a little
thief, besides being fond of that despicable habit styled eavesdropping.
She listened behind doors and curtains and at key-holes without feeling
a particle of shame! It is probable that the child's attention would
not have been arrested by the proclamation of the Dey, if it had not
chanced that, during a visit which she was asked to pay to the garden of
the British consul for the purpose of playing with Agnes Langley, she
overheard Rais Ali and Ted Flaggan mention the name of Lucien Rimini.
The seaman had found it necessary to take Rais into his confidence, and
little Ziffa, in the exercise of her disgraceful vocation of
eavesdropper, had overheard a little of their conversation about the
Riminis. She did not, however, hear much, and, having no interest in
the Riminis, forgot all about it.

On hearing the proclamation, however, she bethought her that something
might be made out of the matter, if she could only manage to get her
little friend Agnes to play the part of spy, and find out about things
for her. Opportunity was not long wanting. She had an engagement that
very day to go out to the consul's garden to spend the day with Agnes,
and a faithful old negro servant of her father was to conduct her
thither.

Ziffa was extremely fond of finery. Just as she was about to set out,
her eye fell on a splendid diamond ring which lay on her father's
dressing-table. Hadji Baba was very fond of this ring, as it had been a
gift to him from Achmet, his former master, and he never went abroad
without it, but a hasty summons to the palace had, on this occasion,
caused him to forget it. As it was made for the little finger of Hadji
Baba, which was remarkably thin, it exactly fitted the middle finger of
Ziffa which was uncommonly fat. Seizing the ring, she thrust it into
her bosom, resolving to astonish her friend Agnes. Then, running
down-stairs to the old servant, she was soon on her way to the consul's
garden.

"Agnes," she said, on finding herself alone with her friend, "I want you
to do something for--"

"Oh what a lovely ring!" exclaimed Agnes, as Ziffa drew it out of her
breast and put it on.

"Yes, isn't it pretty? But I must not let my old servant see it, lest
he should tell