the fate of your unhappy
sisters?' Hardly had he uttered the words, when a thick black vapour
rose about him, proceeding from the precious bottle, which his rapid
movement had overturned. The old slave rushed in and shrieked loudly,
while Neangir, upset by this strange adventure, left the house.

[Illustration: NEANGIR SEES THE PICTURE OF ARGENTINE]

He passed the rest of the night on the steps of a mosque, and with the
first streaks of dawn he took his picture out of the folds of his
turban. Then, remembering Zelida's words, he inquired the way to the
bazaar, and went straight to the shop she had described.

In answer to Neangir's request to be shown some watches, the merchant
produced several and pointed out the one which he considered the best.
The price was three gold pieces, which Neangir readily agreed to give
him; but the man made a difficulty about handing over the watch unless
he knew where his customer lived.

'That is more than I know myself,' replied Neangir. 'I only arrived in
the town yesterday and cannot find the way to the house where I went
first.'

'Well,' said the merchant, 'come with me, and I will take you to a good
Mussulman, where you will have everything you desire at a small charge.'

Neangir consented, and the two walked together through several streets
till they reached the house recommended by the Jewish merchant. By his
advice the young man paid in advance the last gold piece that remained
to him for his food and lodging.

As soon as Neangir had dined he shut himself up in his room, and
thrusting his hand into the folds of his turban, drew out his beloved
portrait. As he did so, he touched a sealed letter which had apparently
been hidden there without his knowledge, and seeing it was written by
his foster-mother, Zinebi, he tore it eagerly open. Judge of his
surprise when he read these words:

'My dearest Child,--This letter, which you will some day find in your
turban, is to inform you that you are not really our son. We believe
your father to have been a great lord in some distant land, and inside
this packet is a letter from him, threatening to be avenged on us if you
are not restored to him at once. We shall always love you, but do not
seek us or even write to us. It will be useless.'

In the same wrapper was a roll of paper with a few words as follows,
traced in a hand unknown to Neangir:

'Traitors, you are no doubt in league with those magicians who have
stolen the two dau