shed themselves with their favourite sherbet
of pomegranates, and the golden wine of Mount Lebanon.[76] The Caliph,
who could eat no more ortolans, although fed by such delicate fingers,
was at length obliged to call for 'rice,' which was synonymous to
commanding the banquet to disappear. The attendants now brought to each
basins of gold, and ewers of rock crystal filled with rose water, with
towels of that rare Egyptian linen which can be made only of the cotton
that grows upon the banks of the Nile. While they amused themselves with
eating sugar-plums, and drinking coffee flavoured with cinnamon, the
female slaves danced before them in the most graceful attitudes to the
melody of invisible musicians.

'My enchanting Schirene,' said the Caliph, 'I have dined, thanks to your
attention, very well. These slaves of yours dance admirably, and are
exceedingly beautiful. Your music, too, is beyond all praise; but, for
my own part, I would rather be quite alone, and listening to one of your
songs.'

'I have written a new one to-day. You shall hear it.' So saying, she
clapped her little white hands, and all the attendants immediately
withdrew.

'The stars are stealing forth, and so will I. Sorry sight! to view
Jabaster, with a stealthy step, skulk like a thing dishonoured! Oh! may
the purpose consecrate the deed! the die is cast.'

So saying, the High Priest, muffled up in his robe, emerged from his
palace into the busy streets. It is at night that the vitality of
Oriental life is most impressive. The narrow winding streets, crowded
with a population breathing the now sufferable air, the illuminated
coffee-houses, the groups of gay yet sober revellers, the music, and the
dancing, and the animated recitals of the poet and the story-teller, all
combine to invest the starry hours with a beguiling and even fascinating
character of enjoyment and adventure.

It was the night after the visit of Abidan and the prophetess. Jabaster
had agreed to meet Abidan in the square of the great mosque two hours
after sunset, and thither he now repaired.

'I am somewhat before my time,' he said, as he entered the great square,
over which the rising moon threw a full flood of light. A few dark
shadows of human beings alone moved in the distance. The world was in
the streets and coffee-houses. 'I am somewhat before my time,' said
Jabaster. 'Conspirators are watchful. I am anxious for the meeting, and
yet I dread it. Since he broke this busines