er everything is valueless.'

'My dear Cadi,' said the Bassa, 'he is right. The treasure that my son
has lost is absolutely priceless.'

'My lord,' replied the Cadi, 'your wisdom is greater than mine. Give
judgment I pray you in the matter.'

So the Bassa desired them all to accompany him to his house, and
commanded his slaves not to lose sight of the three Jewish brothers.

When they arrived at the door of his dwelling, he noticed two women
sitting on a bench close by, thickly veiled and beautifully dressed.
Their wide satin trousers were embroidered in silver, and their muslin
robes were of the finest texture. In the hand of one was a bag of pink
silk tied with green ribbons, containing something that seemed to move.

At the approach of the Bassa both ladies rose, and came towards him.
Then the one who held the bag addressed him saying, 'Noble lord, buy, I
pray you, this bag, without asking to see what it contains.'

'How much do you want for it?' asked the Bassa.

'Three hundred sequins,' replied the unknown.

At these words the Bassa laughed contemptuously, and passed on without
speaking.

'You will not repent of your bargain,' went on the woman. 'Perhaps if we
come back to-morrow you will be glad to give us the four hundred sequins
we shall then ask. And the next day the price will be five hundred.'

'Come away,' said her companion, taking hold of her sleeve. 'Do not
let us stay here any longer. It may cry, and then our secret will be
discovered.' And so saying, the two young women disappeared.

The Jews were left in the front hall under the care of the slaves,
and Neangir and Sumi followed the Bassa inside the house, which was
magnificently furnished. At one end of a large, brilliantly-lighted
room a lady of about thirty-five years old reclined on a couch, still
beautiful in spite of the sad expression of her face.

'Incomparable Zambac,' said the Bassa, going up to her, 'give me your
thanks, for here is the lost son for whom you have shed so many tears,'
but before his mother could clasp him in her arms Neangir had flung
himself at her feet.

'Let the whole house rejoice with me,' continued the Bassa, 'and let
my two sons Ibrahim and Hassan be told, that they may embrace their
brother.'

'Alas! my lord!' said Zambac, 'do you forget that this is the hour when
Hassan weeps on his hand, and Ibrahim gathers up his coral beads?'

'Let the command of the Prophet be obeyed,' replied the Bassa; 'then we