robbery on the high seas
had filled the treasury of the pirates' nest to overflowing, not only
with hard cash, but with costly gems of all kinds, hence there was a
lavish expenditure of jewellery on the costumes of the Dey and his wives
and courtiers.

The recess in which he sat had a dome-ceiling, of workmanship so
elaborate that there was not a square inch of unadorned stucco on any
part of it. It was lighted partly from the roof by means of four minute
windows, of yellow, crimson, green, and blue glass. The walls were
decorated with coloured china tiles, and the floor was paved with white
marble.

In front of the throne or elevated dais couched the magnificent lion
which we have already mentioned. It was the Dey's whim to use this
animal as a footstool on all public occasions, much to the annoyance of
his courtiers and household, who felt, although they did not dare to
express it, considerable anxiety lest it should take a sudden fancy to
feed on human flesh.

Behind the Dey stood several guards, two of whom were negroes.

Don Pedro bowed low on being admitted, and the lion, raising his head,
uttered a low growl, which had something distantly thunderous in the
tone. Being apparently satisfied that the Don was a friend, it again
laid its chin on its paws and appeared to go to sleep.

The Spanish consul was a fine-looking, dignified man, with a nose
sufficiently prominent to account for the irreverent reference made to
it by Hadji Baba, the story-teller.

In a few words he stated his case touching the female captives recently
brought in by Sidi Hassan, and claimed that, as Spanish subjects, they
should be set free and placed under his care.

"What proof can you give," demanded the Dey, "that these ladies are
really the subjects of Spain?"

"Alas!" replied Don Pedro, "I have no means of verifying what I say; but
I feel assured that your highness will not doubt my word, when I say
that, while in my own land, I knew the family to which they belong."

"That is not sufficient," returned the Dey. "From all that I can learn,
their father lived and died and they were born, in Sicily, and the
eldest is the wife of an Italian merchant, who will doubtless be glad to
pay a good ransom to get her and his little infant back. As to the
sister, we can find room for her in the palace, if she be not ransomed.
Besides, Monsieur le Console,"--here the Dey spoke sternly--"your word
is not a good guarantee. Did you not gi