'The name of the Queen's father was Suedia,' said Fakredeen.

'The name of the Queen's father was Suedia,' replied Keferinis.

'And the name of the Queen's mother----'

'Is of no consequence,' observed Keferinis, 'for she was a slave, and
not one of us, and therefore may with singular exactitude be described
as nothing.'

'Is she the first Queen who has reigned over the Ansarey?' inquired
Tancred.

'The first since we have settled in these mountains,' replied Keferinis.

'And where were you settled before?' inquired Fakredeen.

'Truly,' replied Keferinis, 'in cities which never can be forgotten, and
therefore need never be mentioned.'

Tancred and Fakredeen were very desirous of learning the name of the
Queen, but were too well-bred directly to make the inquiry of Keferinis.
They had endeavoured to obtain the information as they travelled along,
but although every Ansarey most obligingly answered their inquiry, they
invariably found, on comparing notes, that every time they were favoured
with a different piece of information. At last, Baroni informed them
that it was useless to pursue their researches, as he was, from various
reasons, convinced that no Ansarey was permitted to give any information
of his country, race, government, or creed, although he was far
too civil ever to refuse an apparently satisfactory answer to every
question. As for Keferinis, although he was very conversable, the
companions observed that he always made it a rule to dilate upon
subjects and countries with which he had no acquaintance, and
he expressed himself in so affected a manner, and with such an
amplification of useless phraseology, that, though he was always
talking, they seemed at the end of the day to be little more acquainted
with the Ansarey and their sovereign than when Baroni first opened the
subject of their visit to Darkush at Damascus.

CHAPTER LI.

_Queen of the Ansarey_

AWAY, away, Cypros! I can remain no more; my heart beats so.' 'Sweet
lady,' replied Cypros, 'it is surprise that agitates you.' 'Is it
surprise, Cypros? I did not know it was surprise. Then I never was
surprised before.'

'I think they were surprised, sweet lady,' said Cypros, smiling.

'Hush, you are laughing very loud, my Cypros.' 'Is that laughter, sweet
lady? I did not know it was laughter. Then I never laughed before.'

'I would they should know nothing either of our smiles or of our sighs,
my Cypros.'

She who said this was