Up rose Abdullah, the interpreter, formerly of Mr. Mole's party.
"I will do it," he said, in a firm voice; "he dies ere another hour has sped. I will risk the deadly danger, if you will guarantee, that if I succeed, I shall be rewarded."
"That is but just," said Ibrahim Bey. "Should it be his sacred majesty's pleasure that I succeed Moley, a post of honour shall be the guerdon of your bravery."
"I accept the terms," said Abdullah; "I know a secret way into the palace, I have a disguise and a dagger; doubt not my courage for the rest. Wait here, my friends, and ere another hour strikes, I shall return to say the deed is done."
He glided from the room, leaving the others wondering at the cool audacity with which he undertook so desperate and criminal a deed.
The angel of sleep had spread her wings over the seraglio of Moley Pasha.
The veiled beauties of the harem had retired to their luxurious rooms.
The pasha slept soundly and peacefully.
Well for him had his dreams warned him against the peril that hovered over him like a black shadow.
For the form of a woman, tall, thin, closely-veiled, glided along the passages of the harem.