eply. At the same
time a man of curious aspect stepped from the doorway which conducted
from the terrace to the lower parts of the house. His Eastern costume
was almost equal to that of the Dey in magnificence, but there was a
tinselly look about the embroidery, and a glassy sheen in the jewels,
which, added to the humorous and undignified cast of his countenance,
bespoke him one of low degree. He was the Dey's story-teller, and
filled much the same office at the palace that was held by court jesters
in the olden time. The presence of some such individual in Achmet's
court, even in the first quarter of the present century, was rendered
necessary by the fact that the Dey himself had risen from the ranks, and
was an illiterate man.

Advancing towards his master with a freedom that no other domestic of
the palace would have dared to assume, he, with affected solemnity,
demanded an audience.

"I cannot refuse it, Hadji Baba, seeing that thou dost swagger into my
presence unbidden," said Achmet, with a smile, as he sat down in the
usual oriental fashion--cross-legged on a low couch--and patted the head
of the noble animal which he had chosen as his companion, and which
appeared to regard him with the affection of a dog--

"What may be your news?"

"I have no news," replied Baba, with humility. "News cannot be conveyed
to one who knows all things, by one who is a dog and knows nothing."

"Thou knowest at all events how to look well after that which concerns
thyself," replied the Dey. "What hast thou to say to me?"

"That the man with the proboscis, who struts when he walks, and snivels
when he speaks, desires a favour of your highness."

"Speak not in riddles," returned the Dey sharply. "I have no time to
waste with thee to-day. Say thy say and be gone."

Hadji Baba, who was indeed thoroughly alive to his own interest, was
much too prudent to thwart the humour of his master. Briefly, though
without changing his tone or manner, he informed him that the Spanish
consul awaited his pleasure below.

"Let him wait," said the Dey, resuming the pipe which for some minutes
he had laid aside, and caressing the lion's head with the other hand.

"May I venture to say that he seems anxious?" added the story-teller.

"How much did he give thee for thus venturing to interrupt me, at the
risk of thy head?" demanded the Dey sternly.

"Truly," replied the jester, with a rueful air, "not much more than
would buy gold thre