The Prince of India, Volume I

pocket. How many times a day he took it out for reexamination would be difficult to say. Observing the appearance of signs of u

time he might look for the man's coming. As specially directed, he had taken note of the day of the delivery of the letter, and was greatly surprised to find the messenger had arrived the last day of the year permitted him. The punctuality of the servant might be in imitation of a like virtue of the master. If so, at the uttermost,

led away, and the sixth was close at hand; then every day brought him an increase of interest. In fact,

f St. Peter, at the time most frequented by Egyptian sailing masters. In waiting there, he saw the sun rise over the heights of Scutari, and it was the morning of the very last day. Syama, meantime, occupied himself in final preparation of the house for the reception. He was not excited, like Uel, because he had no doubt of the arr

proprietor's occupancy during his waking hours. A dark blue rug clothed the floor. In the centre, upon a shield of clear copper, arose a silver brazier. The arms and legs of the stools here and there on the rug were carven in grotesque imitation of reptiles and animals of the ultra dragonish mode. The divans against the walls were of striped silk. In each corner stood a tall post of silvered bronze, holding at the end of a graceful crook several lamps of Pompeiian model. A wide window in the east end, filled with plants in bloom, admitted ample light, w

ermitted his master would pass the nights there in preference to the chambers below. This structure looked not unlike a modern belfry, except that th

a said to himself, "He may come now," one point was especially

reluctantly. Feeling sure his master had not arrived in the ni

eceive the cargo and disappear with it. Now and then a ship rounded the classic Point, its square sail bent and all the oars at work: sweeping past Galata on the north side of the Horn, then past the Fish Market Gate on the south, up it would come g

is sh

armora, he kept eager lookout upon her, hoping to rec

n him so repeatedly in dreams, he was confident of knowing him at sight. Imagining a stranger's appearanc

and about mid afternoon crossed the street to the new residence. Great was his astonishment at finding a pyramid of coals glowing in the silver brazier, and the chill already driven fr

asked, excitedly, and Syama an

why th

e great Marmorean lake, turned the finger ends in

-he will be h

ter illustrated-and it was so in

implicitly upon the conclusion to a day of a tour so vast. More likely, he thought, the traveller's bones wer

wind blowing steadily from the Black Sea charged the world outside with discomfort. The brazier with its heap of living coals had astonished him before; now the hou

Uel said, looking

ead, and waved his hand

e patient-

Syama an explanation of his amazing confidence, but the latter's sub

ow, and presently returned with

. "He is making a meal ready

d the preparation, as Uel supposed. But no. Syama went below again, and reappeared with a metal pot and a small wooden box. The pot he placed on the coals in the brazier, and soon a delicate volume of steam was pouring from the spout; after handling the box daintily as if the

upon the precaution he had taken in leaving a man at the port to conduct him rightly when he heard a shuffling of fee

I not tell you so? he walked forward quickly, and reached the head of the steps just as a stranger finished their a

lar conceptions of kings and warriors-tall, majestic, awe-inspiring. He saw instead a figure rather undersized, slightly stoop-shouldered, thin; at least it seemed so then, hid as it was under a dark brown burnoose of the amplitude affected by Arab sheik

ction, and, in proof of satisfaction, he patted the happy retainer on the shoulder. Invited by the fire, and the assurance of comfort in

!" he said, of

collection of the one supreme singularity of the new acquaintance-his immunity from death-recurred to him, and he could not have escaped its effect had he wished. He was conscious also that the eyes were impressing him. With

until it has become a kind unto itself. I see too my trust has been verified. O Son of Jahdai, you did assist my servant, as I requested, a

peech was to relieve

inary, and strictly within Syama's capacity. Indeed,

d the deferential manner of the reply,

, as you call him, is making ready a drink with which he has preceded me from his

elcome you here

e. The night is chilling. If I were owner of a garden under whatev

e manner, the wise Mystic put t

to the suppression of the incense, and they drank, ate, and were sociable. The host outlined his travels. Uel, in return, gave him information of the city. When the latter

ey rushed to embrace him as became brethren of old acquaintance long in the same service. A third one remained at the door. Syama looked at him, and then at the master; for the m

you knew. As you held the father i

nd gigantic in stature. Syama em

more united household under roof t