“_Thou_ art not my judge,” replied the King, directing a withering glance towards him: intimidated by former scenes, the malicious wretch nimbly fell into the ranks of his military comrades, and proposed advancing in their journey; the merchants acquiesced. None but the acquaintance of Hafiz knew the real destination of Sebastian, and they were therefore pleased to find, that instead of being detained by this adventure, it would expedite and protect them: they proceeded on their way, headed and flanked by the soldiers, who were content to observe the object of their suspicion riding in the centre:-- While Ben Tarab was exulting in an accidental meeting, which had thus enabled him at least to annoy, if not to frustrate the supposed design of his former enemy, Sebastian was ruminating upon some mode of escape: not one presented itself: he must either confess that he was made free, and going to embark for Portugal, or try a bold experiment on the Alcayde. To dare the former, would be madness, because all Christian captives above the rank of artizans or peasants, belonged by law to the Xeriffs; Ben Tarab could therefore plausibly question El Hader’s right to liberate him, until his true rank were ascertained, and such a scrutiny would be destruction: he then resolved to hazard a suddenly-conceived stratagem. During the time in which they halted for the night, he selected a superb diamond from the jewels of Kara Aziek, and placing it in the embroidered purse by itself, folded it in a piece of brocade after the Moresco fashion, and deposited it in his breast. The character of the Alcayde had been given him by Hafiz’s friend, to whom he communicated his plan, and upon that he built for success. After some days of wearisome travelling, and days full of agitation, the cavalcade came in sight of the chief town in the province of Kouf; the merchants were suffered to pursue their way to the port they sought, leaving Sebastian, whom they dared not attempt detaining, solely to fortune and his guards. Ben Tarab’s ferocious eyes glared with satisfaction as he followed his unprotected victim into the Alcayde’s house; disdaining to notice him, Sebastian calmly proceeded.--while passing from the court to the audience-hall, his upright mind shrunk from unmanly deception; he was tempted to risk the truth, though convinced it would throw him again into slavery; but his country, his duties, his beloved, all tugged at his heart-strings, and aided by the universal toleration of stratagem under circumstances like his, weakened every other impression: he sighed over the bitter necessity of the act, besought Heaven to pardon it if really culpable, then entered the hall.