nd the Jann there could be no agreement.

"And Seyf was a King's son!" commented Horace. "I needn't alarm myself.
She wouldn't be likely to have anything to say to _me_. It's just as I
told Fakrash."

His heart grew lighter still as he came to the end, for he learnt that,
after many adventures which need not be mentioned here, the devoted Seyf
did actually succeed in gaining the proud Bedeea as his wife. "Even
Fakrash could not propose to marry me to some one who has a husband
already," he thought. "Still, she _may_ be a widow!"

To his relief, however, the conclusion ran thus; "Seyf-el-Mulook lived
with Bedeea-el-Jemal a most pleasant and agreeable life ... until they
were visited by the terminator of delights and the separator of
companions."

"If that means anything at all," he reasoned, "it means that Seyf and
Bedeea are both deceased. Even Jinneeyeh seem to be mortal. Or perhaps
she became so by marrying a mortal; I dare say that Fakrash himself
wouldn't have lasted all this time if he hadn't been bottled, like a
tinned tomato. But I'm glad I found this out, because Fakrash is
evidently unaware of it, and, if he _should_ persist in any more of this
nonsense, I think I see my way now to getting the better of him."

So, with renewed hope and in vastly improved spirits, he went to bed and
was soon sound asleep.

CHAPTER XV

BLUSHING HONOURS

It was rather late the next morning when Ventimore opened his eyes, to
discover the Jinnee standing by the foot of his bed. "Oh, it's _you_, is
it?" he said sleepily. "How did you--a--get on last night?"

"I gained such information as I desired," said Fakrash, guardedly; "and
now, for the last time, I am come to ask thee whether thou wilt still
persist in refusing to wed the illustrious Bedeea-el-Jemal? And have a
care how thou answerest."

"So you haven't given up the idea?" said Horace. "Well, since you make
such a point of it, I'll meet you as far as this. If you produce the
lady, and she consents to marry me, I won't decline the honour. But
there's one condition I really _must_ insist on."

"It is not for thee to make stipulations. Still, yet this once I will
hear thee."

"I'm sure you'll see that it's only fair. Supposing, for any reason, you
can't persuade the Princess to meet me within a reasonable time--shall
we say a week?----"

"Thou shalt be admitted to her presence within twenty-four hours," said
the Jinnee.

"That's better still. Then, if I