was
folded up in the cloak, which I could have torn to pieces for its
envious concealment.

Assistance had now arrived; a crowd of people, headed by an officer to
take the _proces verbal_, and two pair of post-horses came up; the
deposition of the marquis and myself were briefly taken; his, as to what
he had seen, and mine "to the best of my knowledge and belief." The
papers were signed, the dead bodies were carried off, the horses put to;
and, at the request of the marquis, I took my seat in the carriage
between him and his daughter, and we proceeded to the chateau.

In two hours we arrived at a magnificent pile, which bespoke the wealth
and ancestry of the owner; and I had the pleasure of carrying in my
arms, up the long flight of steps by which we ascended to the entrance,
the beautiful girl, muffled up as she was in the cloak. As soon as I
had laid her down upon a sofa, I left her to the care of the females who
were in attendance, and quitted the room. The marquis had retired to
his own apartment, to supply the deficiencies in his attire, and for a
short time I was left alone to my own reflections. What is to be the
result of all this? thought I. Is there to be no end of my assumption
of the clothes and titles of other people,--this continual
transmigration before death? Yet how much more has it depended upon
circumstances than upon myself!

After much reflection, I determined upon letting things take their own
course, trusting to my own ready invention and good fortune for the
issue. I felt it to be impossible to tear myself from the sweet
creature whose personal charms had already fascinated me, and I vowed
that there was no risk, no danger, that I would not brave to obtain her
love.

In an hour we met at the breakfast-table, and I was more than ever
enchanted;--but I will not detain your highness by dwelling too long
upon the subject.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"No, don't, yaha bibi, my friend," said the pacha, yawning, "your story
gets very dry already. We'll suppose the cypress waist, the stag's
eyes, and full moon of her face. We Musselmen don't talk so much about
women; but I suppose as you were a Frenchman, and very young then, you
knew no better. Why you talk of women as if they had souls!" The
renegade did not think it advisable to express his opinion in
contradiction to that of his highness, and the assertions of the
Prophet. "It cannot b