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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.

All this, without my being any longer surprised by it, kept me in a sort of happy contentment, like that of a well satisfied vizir, which defies all analysis, but which you will understand. All at once the music ceased. "André," said Hadidjé to me, "won't you come into the garden for a little while?" "Come along!" I replied, and rose up to go. She took my arm. Zouhra and Nazli followed us.

"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!

At last, after a great many hesitations, Zouhra, who is the bravest of them all, ventured to go out with me, buried in the recesses of a brougham, and protected by a very thick kind of mantilla, which after all was hardly any less impenetrable than a yashmak.

I sat down on the carpet, as they did, with my legs crossed, and we commenced a delicious banquet. Champagne was brought in for me, an attention which I appreciated. My place was next to Nazli; on my left was Kondjé-Gul, and opposite me, Hadidjé and Zouhra. I will not tell you what dishes were served, my thoughts were set elsewhere.

It was a dazzling scene of fresh beauty and strange enchantment, such as I cannot attempt to describe. Once we arrived at the end of a ravine, where we were obliged to cross the brook by stepping-stones set in its bed. Thereupon they cried out with fright. I prevailed upon Zouhra, who seemed to be the bravest, to cross holding my hand.

"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!!!"

A memorable event has occurred. Hadidjé, Nazli, and Zouhra went the other day to the opera. It is needless to say that I was there. I must admit that their nervousness was so extreme at making this bold experiment that, watching them from my own stall as they came in, I thought for a moment that they were going to run away again.

The storm which had been impending so long had burst over her proud head Hadidjé, Zouhra, and Nazli had beaten her. Once more I appeased their discords, by recourse to a new declaration of principles. The reconciliation was celebrated by a general display of cordiality; but a faction had been formed within the ranks.

I began to examine the four keys which Mohammed had left me. Each key had a tiny label, with a letter and a name on it Nazli, Zouhra, Hadidjé, or Kondjé-Gul. My eyes were still filled with their beauty. Although far from artless, I felt embarrassed in spite of myself, I might almost say shy.