Iskander bowed assent.

"Have you got your talisman? You know the terms? Cure this Christian
girl and yon shall name your own reward; fail, and I shall claim your
forfeit head."

"The terms are well understood, mighty Prince," said Iskander, for the
young man was no less a personage than the son of Amurath, and future
conqueror of Constantinople; "but I am confident there will be no
necessity for the terror of Christendom claiming any other heads than
those of his enemies."

"Kaflis will conduct you at once to your patient," said Mahomed. "For
myself, I cannot rest until I know the result of your visit. I shall
wander about these gardens, and destroy the flowers, which is the only
pleasure now left me."

Kaflis motioned to his companions to advance, and they entered the
Seraglio.

At the end of a long gallery they came to a great portal, which Kaflis
opened, and Iskander and Nicaeus for a moment supposed that they had
arrived at the chief hall of the Tower of Babel, but they found the
shrill din only proceeded from a large company of women, who were
employed in distilling the rare atar of the jasmine flower. All their
voices ceased on the entrance of the strangers, as if by a miracle; but
when they had examined them, and observed that it was only a physician
and his boy, their awe, or their surprise, disappeared; and they
crowded round Iskander, some holding out their wrists, others lolling