"Not so merely," replied Iskander; "I heard the woman was a princess.
If so, the people of Franguestan will pay any ransom for their great
women; and, by giving up this fair Giaour, you may free many of the
faithful."

"Mashallah!" said another ancient Turk, sipping his coffee. "The Hakim
speaks wisely."

"May I murder my mother!" exclaimed a young Janissary, with great
indignation. "But this is the very thing that makes me wild against
Amurath. Is not this princess a daughter of that accursed Giaour, that
dog of dogs, Hunniades? and has he not offered for her ransom our
brave Karam Bey himself, and his chosen warriors? and has not Amurath
said nay? And why has he said nay? Because his son, the Prince of
Mahomed, instead of fighting against the Giaours, has looked upon one
of their women, and has become a Mejnoun. Pah! May I murder my
mother, but if the Giaours were in full march to the city, I'd not
fight. And let him tell this to the Cadi who dares; for there are ten
thousand of us, and we have sworn by the Kettle but we will not fight
for Giaours, or those who love Giaours!"

"If you mean me, Ali, about going to the Cadi," said the chief eunuch
of Mahomed, who was standing by, "let me tell you I am no tale-bearer,
and scorn to do an unmanly act. The young prince can beat the Giaours
without the aid of those who are noisy enough in a coffee-house when
they are quiet enough in the field. And, for the rest of the business,
you may all ease your hearts; for the Frangy princess you talk of is
pining away, and will soon die. The Sultan has offered a hundred
purses of gold to any one who cures her; but the gold will never be