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From this it resulted that Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra at last took umbrage at the success of Kondjé-Gul, who was wrong in trying to outstrip them. "Kondjé-Gul," they proclaimed, "wishes to act the savante. Kondjé-Gul gives herself the airs of a legitimate Sultana." I must confess that the said little coquette was only too careful to impress them with her successes, of which she was rather proud.

I have learnt from your books that women in your country die when they are no longer loved. So if you have ceased to love me, I wish to die! You have told me that I have a heart, a soul, and an intellect, as they have, and that a woman's love makes her the equal of her master. Do you mean to tell me, ungrateful man, that I do not love you? Have I ever been jealous of Zouhra, or of Nazli?

"Why, Kondjé-Gul, Zouhra, Hadidjé, Nazli." "They belong to me?" replied I, overcome with stupefaction. "Certainly," said Mahommed, looking as astonished as I did. "His Excellency, Barbassou-Pasha, your uncle, whose eunuch I had the honour of being, commanded me to purchase four maidens for his harem. Since he is dead, and your lordship takes his place as master I had supposed " "Ah!!!"

She could not conceive of my being reduced to such a singular state of destitution as that of a poor or a miserly man, who abstains from the luxury of a few odalisques. In her eyes, Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli, form part of my establishment, and of my daily routine; while she possesses me in secret.

"That's capital!" said Hadidjé, who was rowing with Nazli; "How dismal she looks! But then why does she try to get privileges over us? Let us stay here." "Oh!" answered Zouhra in an indifferent tone, as she lay back on the cushions, "Not the whole evening, I hope, for it's rather cold." "Why didn't you bring your feridjié then," said Nazli; "you poor sensitive creature?"

Thus, at this moment, I behold Hadidjé leave the water, and saunter quietly in the direction of Nazli and Zouhra, who are reclining on cushions and smoking cigarettes. By the air of indifference that she affects I could wager that she contemplates playing them some trick! And indeed, when close to the smokers, she suddenly shook her hair.

Needless to say, Nazli, Hadidjé, and Zouhra were more affectionate and attentive to me than ever. Such was the condition of affairs when the critical incident took place which I undertook to describe to you.

"Come now, you must go home," I said to her, not wishing this little excursion of hers to be discovered. "Oh, no! Oh, no!" she cried, with childlike delight. "It's your home do let me look at it!" "Oh, but you must go and comfort Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé!" "They are asleep," she said. "I want to stay a little time here alone with you!

Why it is that I feel more jealous of Anna Campbell than I was of Hadidjé, of Nazli, or of Zouhra, I can't tell you; but I am afraid she is a Christian, and perhaps you will love her better than me. I feel that the laws and customs of your country will recover their hold over you and will separate us.

Consider on the one hand the tranquillity of my amours with Zouhra, Nazli, and Hadidjé, my easy life with them, as a poet and a sultan, secure from all annoying rivalries, and on the other hand look at these difficulties and contests arising all at once out of our social conventionalities. I do not really know why I should waste any more time discussing the question with you.