he voice continued, 'What
have I done to earn such contempt? Was this what you promised me when
I managed to get for you the talismans of beauty? Is this the reward I
have a right to expect when I have bestowed on you the little black pig,
who is certain to bring you good luck?'

At these words the curiosity of the listeners passed all bounds, and the
Bassa commanded his slaves instantly to tear down the wall. It was done,
but the man was nowhere to be seen, and there were only two girls of
extraordinary beauty, who seemed quite at their ease, and came dancing
gaily on to the terrace. With them was an old slave in whom the Bassa
recognised Gouloucou, the former guardian of Neangir.

Gouloucou shrank with fear when he saw the Bassa, as he expected nothing
less than death at his hands for allowing Neangir to be snatched away.
But the Bassa made him signs of forgiveness, and asked him how he had
escaped death when he had thrown himself from the cliff. Gouloucou
explained that he had been picked up by a dervish who had cured his
wounds, and had then given him as slave to the two young ladies now
before the company, and in their service he had remained ever since.

'But,' said the Bassa, 'where is the little black pig of which the voice
spoke just now?'

'My lord,' answered one of the ladies, 'when at your command the wall
was thrown down, the man whom you heard speaking was so frightened at
the noise that he caught up the pig and ran away.'

'Let him be pursued instantly,' cried the Bassa; but the ladies smiled.

'Do not be alarmed, my lord,' said one, 'he is sure to return. Only give
orders that the entrance to the cave shall be guarded, so that when he
is once in he shall not get out again.'

By this time night was falling and they all went back to the palace,
where coffee and fruits were served in a splendid gallery, near the
women's apartments. The Bassa then ordered the three Jews to be brought
before him, so that he might see whether these were the two damsels who
had forced them to dance at the inn, but to his great vexation it was
found that when their guards had gone to knock down the wall the Jews
had escaped.

At this news the Jewess Sumi turned pale, but glancing at the Book of
Spells her face brightened, and she said half aloud, 'There is no cause
for disquiet; they will capture the dervish,' while Hassan lamented
loudly that as soon as fortune appeared on one side she fled on the
other!

On hearing