"Ah!" cried Mohammed, running to the foot of the steps and gazing upwards, "now am I utterly undone! Shame of thy parents that thou art, it is now unavoidable that the Lady Zuleyka shall find thee in my shop. Listen, offensive insect--thou art Saïd, my assistant. Utter not one word; or with this"--to my great alarm he produced a dangerous-looking pistol from beneath his robe--"will I blow a hole through thy vacuous skull!" Hastily concealing the pistol, he went hurrying up the steps, in time to perform a low salutation before a veiled woman who was accompanied by a Sûdanese servant-girl and a negro. Exchanging some words with her which I was unable to detect, Mohammed er-Rahmân led the way down into the apartment wherein I stood, followed by the lady, who in turn was followed by her servant. The negro remained above. Perceiving me as she entered, the lady, who was attired with extraordinary elegance, paused, glancing at Mohammed. "My lady," he began immediately, bowing before her, "it is Saïd my assistant, the slothfulness of whose habits is only exceeded by the impudence of his conversation." She hesitated, bestowing upon me a glance of her beautiful eyes. Despite the gloom of the place and the _yashmak_ which she wore, it was manifest that she was good to look upon. A faint but exquisite perfume stole to my nostrils, whereby I knew that Mohammed's charming visitor was none other than, the Lady Zuleyka. "Yet," she said softly, "he hath the look of an active young man." "His activity," replied the scent merchant, "resideth entirely in his tongue." The Lady Zuleyka seated herself upon the _dîwan_, looking all about the apartment. "Everything is in readiness, Mohammed?" she asked. "Everything, my lady." Again the beautiful eyes were turned in my direction, and, as their inscrutable gaze rested upon me, a scheme--which, since it was never carried out, need not be described--presented itself to my mind. Following a brief but eloquent silence--for my answering glances were laden with significance:-- "O Mohammed," said the Lady Zuleyka indolently, "in what manner doth a merchant, such as thyself, chastise his servants when their conduct displeaseth him?" Mohammed er-Rahmân seemed somewhat at a loss for a reply, and stood there staring foolishly. "I have whips for mine," murmured the soft voice. "It is an old custom of my family." Slowly she cast her eyes in my direction once more. "It seemed to me, O Saïd," she continued, gracefully resting one jeweled hand upon the ebony table, "that thou hadst presumed to cast love-glances upon me. There is one waiting above whose duty it is to protect me from such insults. Miska!"--to the servant girl--"summon El-Kimri (The Dove)." Whilst I stood there dumbfounded and abashed the girl called up the steps: "El-Kimri! Come hither!" Instantly there burst into the room the form of that hideous negro whom I had glimpsed above; and--