'I do not know,' Khaled answered. But he looked attentively at Almasta and remained silent for some time. 'It is now necessary to divide the spoils of the war,' he said at last, 'and to bestow such of these women as you do not wish to keep upon the most deserving of the officers.' 'My lord will surely take the fairest for himself, since she loves him,' said Zehowah, again laughing, but somewhat bitterly. 'May my tongue be cloven and my eyes be put out, may my hands wither at the wrists and my feet fall from my ankles, if I ever take any wife but you,' said Khaled. 'Yallah! So be it.' When Zehowah heard him say this, even while Almasta's face was unveiled before him, she understood that he was greatly in earnest. 'Let me keep her for my handmaid,' she said at last. 'Is she mine that you need ask me? But it will be wiser to give her to Abdul Kerim, the sheikh of the horsemen. I have promised that the spoil should be fairly divided, and though few have seen this woman many have heard of her beauty. And besides, she would weary you, for she cannot talk in Arabian, nor does she seem quick to learn. Abdul Kerim has the first right, since Allah has removed your father, upon whom be peace.' 'Your words are my laws,' answered Zehowah obediently. 'And, indeed, it may be that you are right, for I believe she can neither dance nor sing, nor play upon any musical instrument. She would certainly weary me after a time, as you say. Give her therefore to Abdul Kerim for his share.' They then made Almasta understand that she was to be given to the sheikh of the horsemen; but when she had understood she shook her head and smiled, though at first she said nothing, so that Khaled and Zehowah wondered whether she had comprehended what they had told her. 'Do you understand what we have told you?' asked Zehowah, who was diverted by her ignorance of the Arabic language. 'I understand.' 'And are you not pleased that you are to be the wife of Abdul Kerim, who is a rich man and still young?' 'I was to be the Sultan's wife,' said Almasta, with difficulty, looking at Khaled. 'You told me so.' 'The Sultan is dead,' Khaled answered. 'Who is the Sultan now?' she asked. 'Khaled is the Sultan,' said Zehowah. 'You said that I should be the Sultan's wife,' Almasta repeated. 'Doubtless, I said so,' Khaled replied. 'But Allah has ordered it otherwise.' Almasta again smiled and shook her head. CHAPTER VI