"That's capital!" said Hadidje, who was rowing with Nazli; "How dismal she looks! But then why does she try to get privileges over us? Let us stay here." "Oh!" answered Zouhra in an indifferent tone, as she lay back on the cushions, "Not the whole evening, I hope, for it's rather cold." "Why didn't you bring your _feridjie_ then," said Nazli; "you poor sensitive creature?" "I will go and fetch it if you like," I said to Zouhra. "Oh, no!" she answered quickly; "if you leave us we shall be afraid." "Very well then, _I'll_ go," said Hadidje, who wanted to carry out her plan. "Let us row to the bank." We pulled up to the point nearest to the chateau, and Hadidje, not without some nervousness after all, left us and ran off. "Keep your eye on me all the time, won't you?" she said to me as she picked up her long skirt. Soon we saw her reach the verandah without any adventure. She ascended the steps and passed in front of Kondje-Gul. It seemed to us that Kondje-Gul spoke very passionately to her, and that she answered her in the same tones. At last they both had gone in, when all at once we heard piercing shrieks. Apprehending some skirmishing between my two jealous houris, I rushed off, followed at a distance by Zouhra and Nazli, who were frightened at the thought of being left alone. As I entered the harem I found Hadidje and Kondje-Gul, with their hair dishevelled and their clothes torn, struggling together. Kondje-Gul was armed with a little golden dagger, which she wore in her hair, and was striking Hadidje with it. When she saw me she fled and ran to her room to shut herself in. We hastened to the assistance of poor Hadidje. She had been wounded on the shoulder, and blood was flowing. Happily the weapon, too harmless to wound seriously, had not penetrated the flesh; but, breaking with the blow, it had scratched her rather severely. I soon felt reassured, and quieted her cries, but not without some trouble. Mohammed and the servants had run up to the rescue; I sent them all back, and after calming Nazli and Zouhra, I staunched the wound with some water. In a few minutes, Hadidje, who had fancied herself murdered, regained her tranquillity of mind, and only complained just enough to keep alive our interest in her grievance. Then I questioned her, and she told us that as soon as she had entered the drawing-room, Kondje-Gul followed her, and giving vent there and then to an outburst of passion, accused her of being the cause of her disgrace, reproaching her with hypocritical devices for getting over me. Hadidje, according to her version of the affair, had only replied with extreme moderation, when Kondje-Gul, exasperated all of a sudden, rushed at her with her dagger.