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Hassan named a sum much larger than he had any expectation the Jew would give. To his surprise, the other at once agreed to it. "Why, Bacri," he said, with a smile, as with his right hand he tenderly caressed his injured nose, "you must have been more than usually successful in swindling of late." "God has recently granted me more than deserved prosperity," returned the other.
"Oh, he was sent on such a dangerous expedition," continued Angela, blushing slightly, and more than slightly crying, "and when he was coming back he was caught in the streets, and carried off to that dreadful Bagnio, about which he has told me such awful horrors. So Bacri told me on his return, for Bacri had tried to save him, but couldn't, and was nearly lost himself.
"Well, well, we will let that point hang on its peg in the meantime," returned Francisco impatiently; "but what wouldst thou advise? we are at your mercy." "I will do what I can to prove that a Jew is not ungrateful," answered Bacri.
"It is only two streets further on," said a low voice, which sounded familiar in the ears of the listeners. "There you shall be safe, for Jacob Mordecai is a trusty friend, and I will go see how it fares with our " "'Tis Bacri," whispered Lucien, as the voice died away in the distance. "We must not lose sight of him," said Francisco, darting out.
"I came to see you," continued Bacri, "partly to assure you of the comparative safety of the girls who interested us all so much on board the vessel of Sidi Hassan, and partly to say that I will do what lies in my power to alleviate your sad condition.
But what of the various characters whom we have thus summoned from the "vasty deep" of memory, to play their little part in this veracious tale? Of some we know not the end. Of others it would be almost well that we did not. A few terminated their career happily. Poor Bacri fell a victim to the avarice of Omar, who desired to possess himself of the Jew's wealth.
"Such risks are better than death or slavery," answered Francisco. "We think not of danger. The only thing that gives me concern is how we are to get my poor son out of the Bagnio." "I will manage that for you," said Bacri, "for my gold is at least powerful with menials; but in order to do this I shall have to leave the house for a time and must conceal you in a cellar."
But what is all the noise about outside, sister and the shooting off of guns?" The noise referred to by the pretty Sicilian was caused by a party of rioters who, returning from the slaughter of the Dey, were hurrying towards the house of Bacri, intent on plunder.
In this street was the Bagnio, already mentioned as being the prison of the government slaves. Here Bacri paused, drew a glittering coin from his pocket, and knocked at a strong oaken door. A janissary opened, and roughly demanded his business, but changed his tone at once and gave the Jew admission, on receiving the coin.
Go, Angela," he said to the maiden, who entered the room at that moment, "open the closet at the head of the terrace stair; you will find a thin knotted rope hanging there, fetch it hither." In a few minutes Angela returned with the rope. "Sit thee down, pretty one," said Bacri kindly, "while I give this youth some directions. I will explain to you afterwards the cause of his being sent away.
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