n a manner usual on such occasions.

The serdar then, addressing himself to the caliph, said, 'It is plain
that we Mussulmans are become less than dogs in the land of Iran. The
Armenians now break into our harems, steal our wives and slaves from
before our faces, and invite men to defile our fathers' graves. What
news is this, O caliph? Is this Allah's work or yours?'

The caliph, attacked in this unexpected manner, looked very much
alarmed, and the dew broke out upon his ample and porous forehead.
Experience had taught him that these sorts of attacks were generally the
forerunners of some heavy fine, and he already put himself in a posture
of defence to resist it.

'What language is this?' said he in answer. 'We, whose dogs are we, who
should dare even to think upon the evil of which your highness speaks?
We are the Shah's subjects:--You are our protector, and the Armenians
sit in peace under your shade. What manner of man is this who has
brought these ashes upon our heads?'

'That is he,' answered the serdar, pointing to Yusuf. 'Say, fellow, have
you stolen my slave or not?'

'If I am guilty,' said the youth, 'of having taken aught from any man,
save my own, here am I, ready to answer for myself with my life. She who
threw herself out of your windows into my arms was my wife before she
was your slave. We are both the Shah's rayats, and it is best known to
yourself if you can enslave them or no. We are Armenians, 'tis true, but
we have the feelings of men. It is well known to all Persia, that our
illustrious Shah has never forced the harem of even the meanest of his
subjects; and, secure in that feeling, how could I ever suppose, most
noble serdar, that we should not receive the same protection under
your government? You were certainly deceived when told that she was
a Georgian prisoner; and had you known that she was the wife of your
peasantry, you never would have made her your property.'

The caliph, frightened at the language of the youth, stopped him,
by loud and angry exclamations; but the serdar, apparently struck by
language so unusual to his ears, instead of appearing angry, on the
contrary, looked delighted (if the looks of such a countenance could
ever express delight); and, staring with astonished eyes upon the youth,
seemed to forget even the reason of his having been brought before him.
Of a sudden, as if dispelling his former indignation, he stopped all
further discussion by saying to him, 'Enough,