the heart of this king as pure as his chin now is!" he
said. "May the knife which Allah employs to prune away the faults of
this king, pass over him as gently and painlessly as the knife of your
unworthy servant has done! Mighty king and lord, the all-powerful Khan
Krimgirai, the lion of the desert, the dread of his enemies, sends me to
you and offers you his aid and friendship. The renown of your deeds has
reached his ears, and he is lost in astonishment that a prince, of whose
kingdom and existence he was in ignorance, should so long successfully
resist the great German sultan, whose power we know, without fearing.
The eagle eye of my master now sees clearly that he who was so
insignificant is now great enough to overshadow the land of the powerful
German sultan, and to make the proud and unbending czarina of the north
tremble. He sends me to report to you his profound admiration; but
first, will you allow me, O eagle king of the north! to present the
gifts which he offers you?"

"I shall be delighted to receive these gifts," said the king, smiling,
"as they are a proof of the friendship of the great Khan."

Mustapha Aga made a signal in the direction of the door, and spoke a few
words aloud. Immediately there appeared the two men who were so richly
dressed in Turkish costumes, and had been at the head of the cavalcade.
They stationed themselves on either side of the entrance, and were
followed by the lower officers and servants attached to the embassy, who
entered, bearing baskets delicately woven and lined with rich stuffs.

Mustapha signed to the first two to approach him, and then, before
opening the basket, he turned once more to the king.

"Sire," said he, "before a Tartar gives a promise of love and friendship
to any one, he invites him to his house, and begs him to eat of his
bread and drink of his wine. Sire, my great and respected master makes
use of his unworthy servant to entreat your majesty to descend from your
throne and to enter his house, where he is present in spirit, and bids
the eagle king of the north welcome."

"I should be delighted to grant this request," returned the king,
smiling, "were the distance not so great between my house and that of
the Khan."

"Sire, the house of my great master is before your door," said Mustapha
Aga, bowing deeply. "On the day of our departure, the Khan walked
through it and kissed its walls, and exclaimed: 'Be greeted, my great
and royal brother, you eagle o