"My brother's friend is welcome to me," she answered in Turkish, a language Thaddeus was also slightly acquainted with. "But I cannot perform the courtesies you have been accustomed to in Frangistan. I have but few words to express my feelings in the tongue in which I now speak." "Think not so meanly of yourself, Ina," said Selem. "My friend is one of those noble Poles, whose country you have doubtless heard the Russians have treated as they would ours; and yet he hesitates to draw his sword against such foes. But I must leave him to your soft persuasions to supply him with excuses for joining us." "I fear that I could scarce disobey your wishes, sweet lady," said Thaddeus; "then pray do not bid me act against my conscience." "I would not do as you fear," answered Ina. "But among the sons of the Atteghei the claims of friendship are paramount to every other. Surely you would not quit my brother's side in the battle-field. His foes should be your foes, and his friends your friends." "Cease, lady, cease," exclaimed Thaddeus earnestly; "or you will gain too quick a victory. The sweet tones of your voice alone are too eloquent to be withstood." "Silence, my friend," interrupted Selem, in Russian smiling. "You bring, indeed, the courtly style of St. Petersburg with you, when you commence by paying compliments. I must assert a brother's privilege to stop such language, or you may turn my gentle sister's head. Remember that she is unaccustomed to phrases of flattery." "Her looks bespeak her to be far too sensible to be influenced by terms of compliment," answered Thaddeus. "There breathes no woman of any clime, and but few of the nobler sex even, who are uninfluenced by flattery," returned Selem. Then speaking again in his own language, "Pardon me, my sister, for speaking in a language you understand not. I was but scolding my friend for paying the empty compliments which the fair ones of the cities of Frangistan receive as of sterling value." "Your friend, my brother, would not surely use phrases unbecoming a mountain girl to hear. He looks too wise, too good," said Ina, blushing as she spoke. Another messenger now approached to summon the hero of the day, the young Circassian Chief, and his Polish friend, to the feast, where the other chieftains were waiting their arrival. Great however was the disappointment of both, when they found that the chief ornaments would be wanting; for though the most chivalrous devotion is paid to the fair sex, such is the custom of the country, that no woman may be present at the festive board, except on private occasions when in attendance on their lords.