s that the great King of Prussia loves music
as he does, and that it gladdens your heart as it does his own. When
he goes to battle--which is but going to victory--he takes with him his
musicians and dancers, who must perform the dance of triumph before him.
The Khan hopes that you will permit them to dance before you, and I pray
that your majesty will grant this request."

"I am ready to behold and hear all," said the king.

Immediately, at a sign from Mustapha, the curtain which concealed part
of the tent was withdrawn, and four lovely girls, clothed in light,
fluttering apparel, appeared and commenced a graceful, beautiful dance,
to the music of the mandoline. When they had finished, they retired
to the curtain, and looked with great, wondering eyes at the Prussian
warrior. Then appeared from behind the curtain four young men, who
seated themselves opposite the girls. The musicians began a new strain,
in which the girls and young men joined. Then two of the girls arose,
and drawing their veils over their faces so that only their eyes were
visible, they danced lightly and swayingly to the end of the tent, and
then returned to the young men, who now commenced the love-songs, with
downcast eyes, not daring to call the name of the objects of their
tenderness, but addressing them in poetical terms; and then they sang to
the same air the battle-song of the Tartars. In this song, the battles
are not only pictured forth, but you hear the shrieks of the warriors,
the battle-cry of the Tartars, and, at length, when the battle is won,
the loud shouts of rejoicing from the women. When the song was ended,
the singers bowed themselves to the earth, and then disappeared behind
the curtain.

The music ceased, and the king, rising from the divan, and turning to
Mustapha, said:

"I owe to the Khan a most delightful morning, and I will take a pleasant
remembrance of his house with me."

"Sire," said Mustapha, "the Khan begs you to accept this tent as a proof
of his friendship."

The king bowed smilingly, and as he left the tent, told Rexin to ask the
Tartar ambassador to come to him now for a grave conference. The king
then dismissed his generals, and attendants, and entered his house,
followed by Baron von Rexin and the Turkish ambassador and his
interpreters.

"Now we will speak of business!" said the king. "What news do you bring
me from the Khan? What answer does he make to my proposition?"

"Sire, he is willing to grant