festival, and full of consternation, I cry to thee and to the Prophet,
'Send us help and that right soon.'"

Sultan Achmed continued all the time to smile most graciously.

"Worthy Ibrahim!" said he at last, "thou hast a son, hast thou not,
whose name is Osman, and who has now attained his fourth year. Now I
have a daughter, Eminah, who has just reached her third year. Lo now! as
my soul liveth, I will not gird on the Sword of the Prophet, I will not
take in my hand the Banner of Danger until I have given these young
people to each other in marriage. Long ago they were destined for each
other, and the multiplication of thy merits demands the speedy
consummation of these espousals. I have sworn to the Sultana Asseki that
so it shall be, and I cannot go back from my oath as though I were but
an unbelieving fire-worshipper, for the fire-worshippers do not regard
the sanctity of an oath, and when they take an oath or make a promise
they recite the words thereof backwards, and believe they are thereby
free of their obligations. It beseemeth not the true believers to do
likewise. I have promised that this festival shall be celebrated, and it
is my desire that it should be splendid."

Ibrahim sighed deeply, and it was with a sad countenance that he thanked
the Padishah for this fresh mark of favour. Yet the betrothal might so
easily have been postponed, for the bridegroom was only four years old
and the bride was but three.

"Allah Kerim! God grant that thy shadow may never grow less, most mighty
Padishah!" said Damad Ibrahim, and with that he kissed the hand of the
Grand Seignior, and both he and the Chief Mufti withdrew.