420 THE IRON NAIL. 



flowers, and he became much more circumspect in his visits. At 

 length however, one evening, when retiring to rest, Ali found his 

 wife in tears. Ildiz refused at first to tell him the cause of her grief; 

 but at his earnest entreaties she pointed to a roll of paper, suspended 

 to the nail. Ali, indignant at the unworthy attempt to injure his 

 wife by the repetition of such absurd proceedings, immediately un- 

 rolled the paper ; but the first glance he cast over it seemed to paralyze 

 him he trembled violently, and the blood forsook his cheeks. It was 

 a drawing coloured with the utmost nicety of art, and represented, in 

 a country sterile and desolate, near to some wells, an old man with 

 his hands and eyes upraised to heaven, imploring mercy of two 

 assassins, one of whom held a naked sabre above his head. The 

 murderers were placed in shadow, so that their features could not be 

 distinguished ; but the traits of the old man, illumined by the light 

 of the full moon, offered the most vivid resemblance to the father of 

 Ildiz, Ali-Ahmed. 



Ali consoled his wife in the best manner he was able, and tried to 

 persuade her that the likeness she traced was the effect of imagina- 

 tion. He tore the accusing scroll to atoms, and his wife soon slept in 

 his arms. But Ali slept not. His sleepless eyes glanced around the 

 chamber, fearing he knew not what; and the desire to bury his 

 crime in oblivion, and the inward dread of discovery and punish- 

 ment rent his heart. He could not doubt but that Mohammed 

 possessed some knowledge of his secret, but by what means he could 

 hardly divine ; for he had not the most distant suspicion of the truth. 

 He determined to be Upon his guard, and to dismiss by every means 

 in his power, any fear or suspicion that circumstances might create in 

 the breast of his adored Ildiz. During many days afterwards Mo- 

 hammed did not make his appearance { but one evening, when Ali 

 and his wife entered the room to retire for the night, they saw on 

 the nail a large white thick muslin veil, which seemed to cover and 

 conceal something beneath its folds. 



Ali involuntarily shuddered* He would not risk the removal of 

 the veil ; but concealed his fear under the pretence of respect fot 

 the property of another. But this indifference only roused the 

 curiosity of Ildiz. She threw her round white arms about his neck, 

 and playfully, yet tenderly begged him to let her remove the veil 

 which she felt assured was some pleasant surprise, to atone for his 

 former improprieties. But Ali would on no account permit it, and 

 at last gave her a positive denial. She said no more and seemed con- 

 tented ; and Ali planning how, on the morrow, he should rid himself 

 of Mohammed's importunities, fell asleep. 



Who shall control the curiosity of woman ? Who can extin- 

 guish the fire that, like phosphorus, water cannot quell, nor aught 

 intervening stay ? The curiosity kindled in the imagination of Ildiz 

 became an uncontrolable desire ! Her beautiful eyes, now so wakeful, 

 were fixed on the extremity of the chamber. They seemed almost 

 to penetrate the secret of that mysterious veil, which, by the pale 

 and flickering light of the lamp, appeared moving with life ! Her 

 heart thrilled with affright as an undefined persuasion came over her 

 mind, that to unravel that mystery would destroy her peace ; but the 



