which were surpassing in their dreamy
loveliness, were enhanced in beauty by a languid plaintiveness that
a realizing sense of her misfortunes had imparted to the expression
of her face, while her whole manner bore that subdued and quiet air
that sorrow ever imparts. Those of her companions who knew her best,
could easily understand that her heart was far away from her present
home; for her actions spoke this as plainly as might have ever been
done by words, and poor Lalla, wherever she had come from, and under
whatever circumstances, had evidently left her heart behind her
among her childhood's scenes.

The Sultan was earnestly interested in his dumb but beautiful slave,
and instituted a series of inquiries as to her history. His agents
were instructed to find out, if possible, the mode in which she had
been brought hither, and also to learn, if possible, the manner and
cause of her leaving her native hills in the Caucasus; for of these
things the fair girl had no means of communicating. The monarch and
all Constantinople knew that her people generally looked forward
with joy to the time when they should be old enough to be taken to
the Turkish capital, and seek their fortunes there, and the fact of
this being so different apparently with Lalla, created the more
curiosity to ferret out her story.

But all their efforts were useless in the pursuit of this purpose.
Since the Sultan's object in the inquiry was announced, much time
had transpired; but had his proclamation met the eye or ear of those
who transported the fair Circassian hither, they would hardly have
responded to it, as it might, for aught they knew, cost them their
heads. And thus the gentle slave lived on, a mystery to those about
her which even she was unable to solve.

"You made all inquiries at the bazaar, good Mustapha?" asked the
Sultan.

"Most rigid inquiries, excellency."

"And could learn nothing of the history of this beautiful slave?"
continued the Sultan.

"Nothing, excellency."

"It is very strange that no one can be found who knows aught about
her. Did you trace her back to those who sold her to the salesman of
the bazaar?"

"Yes, excellency, and two sales beyond that; but it seemed that
although so beautiful, the fact of her being dumb had caused her to
be very much undervalued, and she had passed through the hands of a
number of irresponsible slave merchants, who took but little heed of
her before she came to the bazaar."

"Dou