my Lord."

"He is welcome," answered the Sultan, graciously; "we love no nation
better than the Greeks. They have always been our friends."

_Interpreter._ "His Majesty is delighted to see Your Excellency, whom
he loves from his heart, as also your mighty nation, than which none
is more dear to him, and whose friendship he is ready to maintain at
any cost."

_Minister._ "It pleases me greatly to hear Your Majesty's noble
sentiments, which I, and I am sure my Government, reciprocate."

_Interpreter._ "The Minister is highly complimented by the gracious
words of our Lord, and declares that the Greeks love no other nation
on earth beside the Moors: yes, my Lord."

_Sultan._ "Is there anything I can do for such good friends?"

_Interpreter._ "His Majesty says he is ready to do anything for so
good a friend as Your Excellency."

_Minister._ "I am deeply grateful to His Majesty. Yes, there are one
or two matters which my Government would like to have settled."

_Interpreter._ "The Minister is simply overwhelmed at the thought of
the consideration of our Lord, and he has some trifling matters for
which perhaps he may beg our Lord's attention: yes, my Lord."

_Sultan._ "He has only to make them known."

_Interpreter._ "His Majesty will do all Your Excellency desires."

_Minister._ "First then, Your Majesty, there is the little affair of
the Greek who was murdered last year at Azila. I am sure that I can
rely on an indemnity for his widow."

_Interpreter._ "The Minister speaks of the Greek who was murdered--by
your leave, yes, my Lord--at Azila last year: yes, my Lord. The
Ambassador wishes him to be paid for."

_Sultan._ "How much does he ask?"

This being duly interpreted, the Minister replied--

"Thirty thousand dollars."

_Sultan._ "Half that sum would do, but we will see. What next?"

_Interpreter._ "His Majesty thinks that too much, but as Your
Excellency says, so be it."

_Minister._ "I thank His Majesty, and beg to bring to his notice the
imprisonment of a Greek _protege_, Mesaud bin Audah, at Mazagan some
months ago, and to ask for his liberation and for damages. This is a
most important case."

_Interpreter._ "The Minister wants that thief Mesaud bin Audah, whom
the Basha of Mazagan has in gaol, to be let out, and he asks also for
damages: yes, my Lord."

_Sultan._ "The man was no lawful _protege_. I can do nothing in the
case. Bin Audah is a criminal, and cannot be protected."

_Interpreter.