416 THE IRON NAIL. 



" I thank thee, tchiaouch," said the stranger ; " but I am now in 

 advance of the caravan, and I would not halt on my journey here, 

 take this purse for thy good-will ; this palace pleases me ; tell thy 

 master, it' he will sell it, I will give him a million of piastres. In 

 eight days I will return meet me at this gate, and give me his reply ; 

 thou shalt have a similar purse for thy pains. Saying these words, 

 the stranger set spurs to his steed, and soon disappeared on the road 

 to Dheli. When Zahab was made acquainted with this offer, it dis- 

 quieted him exceedingly. A dark frown overspread his countenance ; 

 he appeared humiliated to think that a wandering stranger should 

 offer so lightly to purchase his princely abode, and rich enough to 

 pay down so large a sum. 



" A million of piastres !" he muttered to himself, while playing 

 with the light curling tresses of a beautiful Greek girl ; " a million of 

 piastres for my palace ! when you see the Syrian, tell him that it cost 

 me, in building, double the sum. Away with you, and summon the 

 dancers the music. Let the approaching rays of morning fade be- 

 fore our brilliant lights ! Fill high the cups with the old wine of 

 Shiraz ! The dancers the dancers, with their beautiful bosoms of 

 snow ! This night shall be devoted to joy !" 



The tchiaouch of Zahab moved not from the outer court of the 

 palace on the eighth night, as appointed by the Syrian. He waited 

 long in vain ; but at the hour when from the lofty minerets the faith- 

 ful are summoned to prayer,, the gallop of a horse was heard along 

 the paved causeway, and the Syrian, enveloped as before in his white 

 mantle, and mounted on his black charger, rode into the court-yard. 

 He was informed of the reply Mohammed made to his offer, which 

 appeared to mortify him excessively. 



" Tchiaouch," said he, " go to thy master, and offer him from me 

 two millions of piastres for his palace ; and take this purse, it contains 

 more than thou hadst before. My heart is fixed on this palace. If 

 I have it, it shall be well for thee. In eight days I will return." 



When Zahab heard this fresh offer of the Syrian, he conceived a 

 mortal jealousy of the man who was sufficiently rich to throw away 

 such a fortune in what seemed a mere whim. Sleep forsook his pil- 

 low when he thought of the superior magnificence of the Syrian. 

 His palace now seemed no longer worthy of him its beautiful fur- 

 niture and gardens, so fresh and odoriferous, appeared in his eyes 

 only fit to amuse a cotton planter, or a dealer in camels. He waited 

 with impatience the return of the Syrian, that he might know the 

 man who valued gold so lightly. 



The evening preceding the day that the stranger promised to re- 

 turn, it was announced to Zahab that a lady of rank had arrived at 

 his mansion. She was borne in a magnificent litter, and attended by 

 a numerous escort of armed slaves. She desired to see Mohammed- 

 Ilderim. He dressed himself in his richest habits ; the most exquisite 

 perfumes were scattered around, and he descended into the gardens, 

 where the lady awaited him. She was concealed by a long veil, and 

 clothed with a mantle which entirely hid her form. She alighted 

 from her litter, and took a seat opposite Mohammed, under the shade 

 of laurels, roses, and wild jasmins. 



