"’And what if old Blue Beard returns in the mean time with all his Mamelukes?’ "’Then there is nothing for it but cutting our way out and escaping. We march to-morrow, and the affair would be forgotten in the hurry of our departure. But is not death the penalty of being found in the chambers of Turkish women?’ "’So I have heard,’ said I, shrugging my shoulders; ’but old Mohammed will scarcely try experiments in the art of decapitation while our own troops are so near. Yonder are the sentinels of the 42nd, among the ruins of the Roman tower, almost within hail.’ "’Which is the way, Colin?’ asked he, as we wandered about the vestibule, among columns and pedestals surmounted by splendid vases filled with gorgeous flowers. "’Up this staircase, I think.’ "’But what the devil am I to say when we meet them? I know not a word of the language.’ "’Tush! never mind that, Jock: do as I do,’ said I, as we ascended the white marble steps leading to the upper story, and passed through several apartments, the very appearance of which made me long to become Mohammed’s son-in-law; but I can assure you, that never until that moment had I thought seriously of making the ’White Rose of Sidrah’ Mrs. Colin Campbell of Craigfianteoch. The chambers through which we passed were singular, and gorgeously rich beyond conception; realizing all those ideas of oriental magnificence which are so well described in the ’Thousand and One Nights.’ The walls, floors, and columns were of polished marble, pure and spotless as snow; and then there were arches hung, and pillars wreathed, with festoons and garlands of dewy and freshly gathered flowers. Globes of crystal, vases of the purest alabaster, Persian carpets, hangings of damask and silk, girt with cords and tassels of gold, appeared on every side, and in many of the apartments bubbled up fountains of bright and sparkling water, diffusing a cool and delightful feeling through the close atmosphere of the mansion. "The tinkling sound of the _’o-ód_, or Egyptian lute, attracted us towards the kiosk which contained the fair objects who had led us on the adventure. We raised the heavy folds of a glossy damask curtain, and found ourselves, for the first time, in their presence unobserved by others. "The two graceful creatures, who were as usual closely veiled, sprang from the ottomans on which they were seated, and came hastily towards us, exclaiming in surprise mingled with fear and pleasure, ’_Ma sha Allah! Ya mobareh, ya Allah!_’ and a score of such phrases as the tumult of their minds caused them to utter. "’Salam alai hom,’ said Fassifern, meaning ’good morrow,’ which was all the progress he had made in the oriental languages, and we doffed our bonnets, making a salaam in the most graceful manner. "’Colin, tell them to take off their confounded veils,’ whispered Cameron.