The woman made a sign to her husband not to stop him. In fact, as she had foreseen, he stopped before reaching the door, and turning toward the master of the house said— “Brother in God, I have rested beneath your roof. In return for your hospitality, I give you some good advice. You have children?” “Two daughters.” “Well, have an eye to them, for the Lesghis have recently descended from their mountains and carried off large numbers in Guriel and Georgia.” “Let them come,” replied the Mingrelian, “I have three sons and four guns.” The merchant then made a movement of departure, but having cast a rapid glance on Baïla, he raised his right hand with his five fingers extended. Baïla, red with shame, cast on him a look of contempt and took the attitude of an insulted queen. Thanks to that look and attitude, in which he doubtless found some flavor, the merchant raised a finger of his left hand. The Mingrelian showed his ten fingers, not however without an angry glance from his wife, who muttered, “it is too soon.” “Honey is dear in your district,” said the man with the turban; “I foresee I shall have to buy it from the Lesghis against my will. Farewell, and may Allah keep you.” “Can we not on the one hand sell any thing, nor on the other buy any thing without your turning your back so quickly on us on that account?” replied the father. “Repose still, the oar has doubtless wearied your hands.” “That is why they are so difficult to open,” growled the housewife. “Since you permit it,” said the merchant, “I will remain here until the sun has lost a little of its power.” “I cannot offer you any thing but the shade. I know that the children of the prophet avoid food beneath the roof of a Christian; but instead of that you can indulge in a permitted pleasure; as my daughter is still here, she can sing for you.” Baïla sang, accompanying herself with an instrument. The man with the turban, seated on his heels, his arms crossed on his knees, his head resting on his arms, listened with a profound and immovable attention, and when she finished, in testimony of his satisfaction, he contented himself with silently raising one finger more. Baïla, to the sound of ivory castanets and small silver bells, then performed an expressive dance, imitating the voluptuous movements of the bayaderes of India and the Eastern almas, but with more reserve however. Forced this time to look at her, the man with the turban was unable to disguise the impression made upon him by so much grace, suppleness and agility, and, in an irrestrainable outbreak of enthusiasm, he raised two fingers at once. They were near to a conclusion. In this mysterious bargaining, this language of the fingers, these mutes signs were used to enable the parties to swear, if necessary, before the Russian authorities, by Christ or Mahommed, that there had been no conversation between them except about honey, furs or beaver skins.