looded
cluster of staring faces, thronging for her arrival, and then the
damask intervened and through its lane, followed by her duenna and
her maids of honor, she entered the arched doorway.

She was in a garden, a great gloomy place, over-spread with ancient,
moss-encrusted trees. A broken, marble fountain flung up waters into
which no sunlight flashed, and the heavy stepping stones, leading to
it, were buried in untrodden grass. A garden in which no one
lingered.

The Ethiopian was marshaling them to the left, to an entrance in the
dark palace walls before them. Behind them the oncoming guests were
streaming out in veiled procession.

He opened a door. Ancient, beautiful arches framed a long vestibule
and against a background of profuse cut flowers a man's figure
stepped forward in the glittering uniform of the Sultan's guard.
Aimee had a confused impression of a thin, meager, dandified figure
with a waspish waist ... of a blond mustache with upstanding ends
... of sallow cheek-bones and small, light eyes smiling at her in a
strained, eager curiosity....

Through all her sinking dismay she had a flash of clear,
enlightening irony at that look's suspense. If she were not as
represented! If his cousin's fervor had misled his hope--!

But in that instant's encounter his eyes cleared to triumph and
gayety, and he smiled--a smile curiously feline, ironic, for all its
intended ingratiation--a conqueror's smile, winged to reassure and
melt.

He stepped forward. There were formal words of welcome to which she
returned a speechless bow, and then he offered his arm and conducted
her slowly up the stairs, his sword rattling in its scabbard, to the
apartment which was to be her home, and the prison for the spirit
and the body.

She knew in a moment that she hated this man and that he inspired
her with fear and horror.

Across a long expanse of drawing-room he conducted her to the
ancient marriage throne upon its platform, surmounted by a pompous
crown from which old, embroidered silks hung heavily.

Then with an unheard phrase, and another bow, he left her to the
day-long ordeal of the reception while he withdrew to his own
entertainment at her father's house. She would not see him again
until night, when he would pay her a call of ceremony.

She saw his figure hesitating a moment, as he faced the oncoming
guests, such a flood of femininity, unmantled now and unveiled,
sparkling in rainbow hues of silks and tulle