It was now that Sebastian felt conscious of having loved that generous Being, her loss had torn away the veil of self-delusion, and convinced him that what he believed but solicitude for her happiness, was in reality anxiety for his own.--Ah wretched condition of humanity! no sooner do we begin to feel the full value of our possessions, than they are wrested from us!--is it the law of our being that we are never to possess and to enjoy at the same moment? Providence had consigned the unfortunate monarch to merciful men; they tried to cheer his melancholy, and did not urge him to any services: if he would but share their meal and submit to confinement, they were satisfied.--’Tis true, it was interest they chiefly consulted in this conduct, (for on his healthful looks depended their expected profit) yet ignorant men do not often calculate remote advantages. The first day after a new moon, these people set off with their captive for the town of Mesa, where repairing to the house of a slave merchant, they encountered an aged man in want of a servant, who purchased Sebastian. Something of his former fierceness blazed in the eyes of the proud King when he found himself the object of degrading traffic, but the gentle image of Kara Aziek glided before his fancy, and absorbed every other sentiment in that of regret; he paused, sighed profoundly, and tears stole down his cheek. The old man looked at him with an air of compassion; that look encouraged Sebastian to ask if Barémel might share his destiny, the request was granted, and soon after these inseparable companions were removed to a comfortable abode in the town of Mesa. Tefza, Sebastian’s master, was a native of the kingdom of Fez, and having made a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, bore the title of Hadgé; (a religious distinction conferred only on such as have visited the birth-place, and the tomb of their prophet) far advanced in life, and naturally averse to domestic cares, the Hadgé had neither wives nor children, so that all the occupations of Sebastian were to work in a little garden, and assist in charitable offices. The latter part of his duty was one to which his benevolent nature yielded with delight, and by sharing in it, he learned to esteem his master, and to obey him in other matters without reluctance. Assuredly there can be no degradation in serving the good. These humane employments softened the bitterness of Sebastian’s regrets, but though he complained no more, raved no more, an austere sadness settled on his character: the virtues and the love of Kara Aziek had penetrated the utmost depths of his heart, and now devoured with vain remorse at having ever preferred another to her, he abandoned every other wish, and every other source of enjoyment.