be her future home, and what position she was to hold there. Musing
thus, she followed the Turk towards the sacred precincts of the
harem.

The monarch left alone, save the thoughtless boy, who lay upon the
rich divan, coiled up like an animal gone to sleep, seemed to be
troubled in his mind. Stern and imperious by nature, it was not
usual for him to evince such feeling as had exercised him towards
the dumb slave, and it was plain that his heart was moved by
feelings that were novel there. Touching a silver gong that hung
pendent from the wall, just within reach of his arm, a Nubian slave
opened the hangings of the apartment, and appeared as though he had
come out of the wall.

The slave knew well his master's summons, and preparing for him the
bowl of his pipe, and lighting it, coiled the silken tube to his
hand, and on his knee presented the amber mouthpiece.

Thus occupied, the Sultan was soon lost in the dreamy narcotic of
the tobacco.






CHAPTER II.

THE SULTAN'S HAREM.