"'Dress, and prepare to depart!' thundered Nemyl. 'We must be on the road before day-break.'
"Trembling like an aspen, Zara suffered the attendant to array her, and then asked, with quivering lips
"'Where do you intend to take me!'
"'To the Sultan!' exclaimed Nemyl; and, as she sank upon her knees at his feet, he added, furiously, 'Base girl, you would have covered me with disgrace by following a Christian dog; but Allah gave me strength, and I slew the barbarian in his toils.'
"In silence the girl rose to her feet, and signified her readiness to depart by a low salaam.
"At the street door stood the litter prepared for her reception, and Nemyl pushing her into it, drew the curtains, and gave the signal to the drivers, while he mounted his horse and accompanied them. On arriving at the city of the Sultan (which they did after a tedious journey), Nemyl conveyed his daughter to the grand bazaar; for, in fact, he never received an offer from the Sultan, but spread the report that other purchasers might present themselves, whose positions would fail to gratify the desires of his inordinate ambition. Not long had he remained there with the litter, when the Kislar Aga of Soliman entered the bazaar, and made directly towards him, with long strides.
"'What animal have you in your litter that you keep it closed like a cage?' asked the Aga.
"'Your slave will show you that you may judge of it for yourself,' answered Nemyl, and drawing the curtains, disclosed Zara, with tears upon her cheeks.
"The Aga started back in amazement at beholding such a display of beauty, and all his anger vanished like snow beneath a sunbeam. He well knew that the addition of such an ornament to the Sultan's harem, through his instrumentality, would add greatly to his