some purchasers even a favorable consideration, which was, that the
slave was deaf and dumb! The effects of this announcement were of
course various; on some it did have a favorable effect, inasmuch as
it seemed to add fresh interest to the undoubted charms she evinced,
but other shrank back disappointed that a creature of so much
loveliness should be even partially bereft of her faculties.

"Are you deaf and dumb?" asked an old Turk, approaching the
Circassian where she stood, as though he wished to satisfy himself
as to the truth of what the salesman had announced.

The slave lifted her eyes at his approach, and only shook her head
in signification that she could not speak, as she saw his lips move
in the utterance of some words, which she supposed addressed to her.
The splendid beauty of her eyes, and the general expression of her
countenance, seemed to act like magic on the Musselman, who, turning
to the auctioneer, bid five hundred piasters, a hundred advance on
the first offer.

At this moment a person wearing the uniform of the Turkish navy,
made his way towards the stand from the centre of the bazaar, where
he had for some minutes been intently regarding the scene, and bid

"Six hundred piasters."

"Seven," said the previous bidder.

"Eight," continued the naval officer.

"Eight fifty," responded the old Turk.