52 I GO A-FISHING. 



" ' We are fellow-countrymen, as I supposed last night ; 

 and now will you do me a service ? One must ask 

 strange things at times. There is a lady in the case, too. 

 Will you give house-room to one in whom I have a deep 

 interest ? You have women about your house, I suppose. 

 Your porter has a wife or two, if he's a Moslem — one, at 

 least, if he's a Jew — I am right? Yes; and will you 

 then let me bring her here for a little while ? She will 

 not disturb your quiet. I will say nothing about paying 

 board just now; for I think you understand that I am 

 not of the kind likely to ask a service and leave it unre- 

 warded, nor do I think you are one to ask or receive re- 

 ward for hospitality.' 



"It was a very sudden thing; but in ten minutes it 

 was arranged, and in ten more the lady, closely veiled, 

 was in my house. The house was built around a court- 

 yard. The rooms on each side were reached only by 

 steps descending into the court. She had one side of 

 the house, and Hebrew women-servants were engaged for 

 her. When she was at length in possession of her rooms, 

 he came to me and said quietly, ' Will you see her ?' 



" I followed him to the harem. Little did I dream of 

 what awaited me. When I reached the room, I found 

 before me, radiant in all her splendid beauty, the lady of 

 the church — such I knew her by the dress and chain of 

 gold — and the lady was Edith ! 



" I was calm. When was I ever otherwise ? She did 

 not recognize me. Why should she ? She thanked me 

 for the hospitality, and I replied briefly, and retired to 

 my seat in the gateway, where, a little later, he left me, 

 pressing my hand and uttering that word which all Orient- 

 als understand as meaning, 'I trust you as I trust my God.' 



" How faithfully I kept that trust ! At first life seemed 



