, and all
around him things of silver, of gold, of ivory, of amber, of feathers,
of bronze, of emeralds, of ruby, of beryl, whose rich colors glowed
through the darkness.

"No coffee, no sherbet; thanks, good father," said Cecil, in answer to
the Moor's hospitable entreaties. "Give me only license to sit in the
quiet here. I am very tired."

"Sit and be welcome, my son," said Ben Arsli. "Whom should this roof
shelter in honor, if not thee? Musjid shall bring thee the supreme
solace."

The supreme solace was a nargile, and its great bowl of rose-water was
soon set down by the little Moorish lad at Cecil's side. Whether fatigue
really weighted his eyes with slumber, or whether the soothing sedative
of the pipe had its influence, he had not sat long in the perfect
stillness of the Moor's shop before the narrow view of the street under
the awning without was lost to him, the luster and confusion of shadowy
hues swam a while before his eyes, the throbbing pain in his temples
grew duller, and he slept--the heavy, dreamless sleep of intense
exhaustion.

Ben Arsli glanced at him, and bade Musjid be very quiet. Half an hour or
more passed; none had entered the place. The grave old Moslem was half
slumbering himself, when there came a delicate odor of perfumed laces, a
delicate rustle of silk swept the floor; a lady's voice asked the
price of an ostrich-egg, superbly mounted in gold. Ben Arsli opened his
eyes--the Chasseur slept on; the newcomer was one of those great ladies
who now and then winter in Algeria.

Her carriage waited without; she was alone, making purchase of those
innumerable splendid trifles with which Algiers is rife, while she drove
through the town in the cooler hour before the sun sank into the western
sea.

The Moor rose instantly, with profound salaams, before her, and began to
spread before her the richest treasures of his stock. Under plea of the
light, he remained near the entrance with her; money was dear to
him, and must not be lost, but he would make it, if he could, without
awakening the tired soldier. Marvelous caskets of mother-of-pearl;
carpets soft as down with every brilliant hue melting one within
another; coffee equipages, of inimitable metal work; silver statuettes,
exquisitely chased and wrought; feather-fans, and screens of every
beauty of device, were spread before her, and many of them were bought
by her with that unerring grace of taste and lavishness of expenditure
which were he