d harmless they looked too, the taller one in spotless
galabeah and red fez, his smallpox pitted face softened by the light of
the dying moon; the other, a mere bundle of clothes with the yashmak
covering all except the eyes, dragging back from the hand which pulled
her ruthlessly up to the door of a house conspicuous by its length of
wall unbroken by windows.

The faintest sound of music from somewhere about the immense building
sounded as out of place at that hour as would a boy's shrill whistling
in the middle of High Mass, but unperturbed thereby, the pitted-face
man knocked gently three times upon the door, vehemently upbraiding the
while his shrinking and protesting companion, who tugged still more
forcibly at the restraining hand.

"Behold, art thou the daughter of ungrateful parents and not fit to be
honoured by the great lord who awaits thee. Raise thy voice in
protest, speak but one word, and thy back shall resemble the red
pattern upon thy raiment, which has cost much hard toil to provide for
thee."

The female figure suddenly sank back, in all humility at the feet of
the upbraider, as unperceived--maybe--by both, a small portion of the
door above their heads slipped noiselessly back to show a gleaming eye
glued to the little grille, taking in the scene beneath it.

Unperceived or not, the elder man, taking a deep breath, continued in a
slightly raised tone to administer his admonition.

"Comely art thou, and young, and good is the price paid for thee, and
may he who has purchased thee be not annoyed at the hour in which I
bring thee, for in truth was thy mother against thy flight from the
nest, being not awake to the advantages of the new bough upon which
thou wouldst come to rest--therefore was I forced to bring thee by
stealth. Perchance------!"

The gentle voice stopped suddenly as the door was thrown open by a much
armed individual, who angrily demanded the meaning of the disturbance.

"The peace of Allah be upon thee and upon this house, into which, by
the order of thy master, O! brother, I bring a flower which he has
deigned to pluck from within the city. Comely is she, and gifted in
music and the dance, but young, is affrighted at the honour before her.
I------"

Here the armed individual broke in ruthlessly upon the paean of praise,
drawing a most gleaming and curved weapon from somewhere about his huge
person.

"Begone, disturbers of the peace," he ejaculated with the difficulty
natur