f the north! Be welcome, you hero-king,
the hated enemy of the czarina, Krimgirai offers you his heart, and
would be your friend for all time.' Sire, thus spoke my lord the Khan;
the air in his house is still vibrating with the words he uttered. Will
your majesty condescend to leave your throne and visit my great master,
the Khan Krimgirai?"

The king arose instantly and said, "I am well pleased to do so. Lead me
to the palace of your Khan."

Mustapha Aga signed to the basket-carriers and to the other attendants
to leave the room, and then spoke a few rapid and emphatic words to the
interpreters, who followed them. Then bowing to the ground before the
king, he turned and passed out of the house.

Before the door a wonderful spectacle presented itself to the astonished
view of the king. Immediately opposite the house, on the open square,
a high tent, of considerable size, appeared, around which was a wall of
fur, well calculated to protect it from the cold air and rough winds.
A carpet covered the way from the door of the tent to the king's house,
and from within the tent could be heard the gentle notes of a peculiar
music.

"Really," said the king to his ambassador, Von Rexin, "I seem to
be living in the 'Arabian Nights.' There is nothing wanting but the
beautiful Scheherezade."

"Sire, perhaps she also is here," said Von Rexin; "we were accompanied
by a close chariot, guarded by four of the khan's eunuchs."

The king laughed, and said, "We will see," and he rapidly approached the
hut. As he reached it, the door flew open, and Mustapha Aga received him
kneeling, while his attendants threw themselves to the ground, touching
it with their foreheads.

The king entered and examined with great curiosity the house of the
Khan. The interior of this immense tent was hung with crimson draperies,
amongst which arose twenty golden pillars which supported the tent.
At the top of these was an immense golden ring from which the crimson
draperies hung, and above this ring were twenty golden pillars which,
uniting in the centre at the top, formed the dome of the tent. From the
centre hung a golden vase, in which burned the rarest incense. The
floor was covered by a great Turkish carpet, and against the walls
stood several divans, such as are generally used in the dwellings of the
wealthy Turks. In the centre of the tent, just under the suspended vase,
stood a low, gilt table, decked with a service of glittering porphyry.
One s