The lady of the house assigned to every one his place. Catharine took the upper end of the table. On her right sat the Pasha, on her left the hostess. The host took his place at the lower end of the table. Feriz and Aranka sat side by side. Opposite Feriz was an empty place, the shy Sophia's, whom nothing could induce to come to dinner. Catharine seeing that a large wine-jug was placed in front of her husband, quickly seized it in order to exchange it for a cut-glass caraffe full of pure, sparkling spring water. Lady Beldi remarked the action, and glanced mischievously at her embarrassed friend. "He never drinks wine," said Catharine apologetically. "It is not good for him. He is of a somewhat excitable nature." Kucsuk smiled and lifted Catharine's hand to his lips. "Why gloss over the truth? Why not say straight out that I do not drink wine because the Koran forbids it, because I am a Mussulman?" Beldi shook his head at his wife and pointed at the children in order to give another turn to the conversation. "It looks as if your son were already quite at home with us, Kucsuk. You shall see, when you come back, what a Magyar we have made of him." Kucsuk and Feriz exchanged a proud and rapid glance, and then both of them looked at Beldi. The child's features had suddenly and completely changed; at that moment he looked wondrously like his father. There was the same hard, stony glance, the same defiant bearing, the same haughty elevation of the brows. "So thou dost imagine, Beldi," said Kucsuk severely, "that I only brought my son hither to leave him with thee?" "But surely you do not mean to take that child with you to battle?" "Child dost thou call him! He is already the commander of four hundred mounted Spahis; has already been in three engagements; has had two horses shot under him, and is to command the left wing of my forces in the impending battle." The Beldis looked with amazement at the child, who, with all eyes fixed upon him, assumed his most manly air. "But I hope that you will at least keep him by your side in the heat of the fight?" said Lady Beldi, much disturbed. "Not at all. I lead the centre. He too will give a good account of himself. When I was his age I already wore the Nishan[16] order on my breast, and I hope that this time he will not return home without having at least deserved it." [Footnote 16: _Nishan Order._ A Turkish order of merit for valour, instituted by Selim III. It consisted of a gold medallion bearing the Sultan's effigy.] "But if it comes to a _mêlée_, and he is in danger?" continued Lady Beldi, with increasing apprehension. "Then he will fight as a brave soldier should," returned Kucsuk, stroking his moustache, which immediately twisted upwards of its own accord. "Ah, no; he is far too tender to sustain a conflict with grown men!" cried Dame Beldi compassionately.