In order to create doubt in my mind, they would have to tell me that they preferred to give up an indolent life for one of hardship, to abandon the sensual life they live here, and return to their household avocations. Have they ever told me that it would be a joy to them to go back to their homes, and till the soil, or mend the roads?--manly occupations that the women of Albania perform admirably. No, they have energetically declared their willingness to be burnt alive with me in my palace, at the first proposal I made them to give up silk for homespun, the _far-niente_ of idleness for hard work, a life of pleasure for household duties. They have innocently expressed their preference for remaining with the good Frank, and I believe them. When we consider their reasons for staying here, how can we doubt their truth? This time selfish motives are so apparent, that I shall have no occasion to torment myself with doubts. But what do I hear? It is a salute from a ship, the sound of a cannon! What does it mean? CHAPTER IX RECOGNITION There is nothing very remarkable about the incident I am about to relate, but I am very curious and excited. A Russian frigate has just come in from Constantinople; fearing bad weather, she has put into Khios, instead of going on to Smyrna, or the Oulach Islands. That frigate fired a cannon-shot for a pilot, and that was the salute I heard this morning. Who is that lady who, in spite of the high wind, came on shore as soon as the vessel was anchored? The sight of that simple little blue bonnet, the cashmere shawl drawn snugly over the shoulders, that little foot so well shod, that little hand so well gloved, has operated a retrograde movement in regard to my ideas of beauty. From the antique Greek I have passed to the Parisian type. I would now give all the Noémis, the Anathasias, and the Daphnés in the world, with all their fezzes, their yellaks, and embroidered belts, to be able to offer my arm to that pretty stranger; for she is pretty, I could see that much from the trellis of my kiosk. She is tall and slender, and has beautiful blue eyes, which is something very charming in a fair-skinned brunette. The gentleman whose arm she leans on is middle-aged, and has a fine, intelligent face. Who can these strangers be? KHIOS, October, 18--. What a strange meeting! Events are so strange that it is well worth while to continue my journal. Yesterday I sent my old Cypriote to find a Calabrian, who fills the position of port-warden, and attends to the Marquis Justiniani's business, and ask him who were the travellers on the frigate. That ship is commanded by the Duke of Fersen, ex-ambassador of Russia to the Sublime Porte; he is on his way to Toulon, with the princess, his wife, and several distinguished persons. It was Madame de Fersen that I saw yesterday on the landing.