"At the appointed hour he stood before the mosque, and presently a muffled figure approached him, whom his beating heart proclaimed to be the long lost object of his adoration. It was indeed Zara, and, in one moment, they were in each other's arms.
"The Russian hastened to relate his adventures since they last saw each other, and finished by saying:
"'I gave up my commission, dearest Zara, to seek for you, and now that we once more behold each other, let us never part again. This hated uniform I assumed to facilitate my search; it shall be thrown aside now and forever.'
"Then Zara commenced her narrative, but was quickly interrupted.
"'Zara, tell me, for heaven's sake, have you listened to the Sultan's words of love? Are you, are you—his—slave?' gasped Garstoff, staggering against the wall.
"Zara looked to the ground.
"'I see it all,' he continued, in frantic accents. 'Zara, you are lost! lost to me forever! I go to my death. Zara, a last farewell!' He was about to leave her, when she caught his arm, and hissed in his ear:
"'Is this your love that you once boasted of?'
"'Zara, let me go; I am almost mad.'