lal would part with no slave until the money was forthcoming, and
Tsamanni had no considerable sum upon his person. Therefore in the wake
of his master he set out forthwith to the Kasbah. It wanted still an
hour before the sale would be held and he had time and to spare in which
to go and return.

It happened, however, that Tsamanni was malicious, and that the hatred
of Fenzileh which so long he had consumed in silence and dissembled
under fawning smiles and profound salaams included also her servants.
There was none in all the world of whom he entertained a greater
contempt than her sleek and greasy eunuch Ayoub-el-Samin of the
majestic, rolling gait and fat, supercilious lips.

It was written, too, that in the courtyard of the Kasbah he should
stumble upon Ayoub, who indeed had by his mistress's commands been
set to watch for the wazeer. The fat fellow rolled forward, his hands
supporting his paunch, his little eyes agleam.

"Allah increase thy health, Tsamanni," was his courteous greeting. "Thou
bearest news?"

"News? What news?" quoth Tsamanni. "In truth none that will gladden thy
mistress."

"Merciful Allah! What now? Doth it concern that Frankish slave-girl?"

Tsamanni smiled, a thing that angered Ayoub, who felt that the ground he
trod was becoming insecure; it followed that if his mistress fell from
influence he fell with her, and became as the dust upon Tsamanni's
slippers.

"By the Koran thou tremblest, Ayoub!" Tsamanni mocked him. "Thy soft fat
is all a-quivering; and well it may, for thy days are numbered, O father
of nothing."

"Dost deride me, dog?" came the other's voice, shrill now with anger.

"Callest me dog? Thou?" Deliberately Tsamanni spat upon his shadow. "Go
tell thy mistress that I am bidden by my lord to buy the Frankish girl.
Tell her that my lord will take her to wife, even as he took Fenzileh,
that he may lead her into the True Belief and cheat Shaitan of so fair
a jewel. Add that I am bidden to buy her though she cost my lord a
thousand philips. Bear her that message, O father of wind, and may Allah
increase thy paunch!" And he was gone, lithe, active, and mocking.

"May thy sons perish and thy daughters become harlots," roared the
eunuch, maddened at once by this evil news and the insult with which it
was accompanied.

But Tsamanni only laughed, as he answered him over his shoulder--

"May thy sons be sultans all, Ayoub!"

Quivering still with a rage that entirely obliterate