THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 359 



crowd, stood for some moments before the object of 

 attraction, and gazed, as if admiringly, upon her vari- 

 ous adornments in succession ; then, bowing grace- 

 fully, he addressed to her some words of compliment 

 upon the splendour and value of the dazzling bird 

 upon her head. " Fair lady," he continued, " I have 

 a daughter whom I fondly love, and fain would I 

 bestow upon her youthful beauty such ornament as 

 yours. But say, I pray you, where can the cunning 

 hand be found which fashions such glorious birds'? 

 Was it in Venice or Vienna that you bought this 

 masterpiece of art?" Unsuspicious of evil, and 

 bridling with gratified vanity at this attention from 

 a stranger of such distinguished mien, the spoil-be- 

 decked fair one replied to him as she had done to 

 others. 



" I bought this ornament, some weeks backs, in 

 Venice, at the store of a Greek trader from the 

 Levant." 



" Ha ! " exclaimed the stranger ; " and where dwelt 

 this Greek, that I may see and ask him for another 

 such 1 " 



The conscious lady, embarrassed by such close 

 questioning, and somewhat alarmed by the kindling 

 glances of the questioner, replied in haste " Xay, 

 signor, now I remember better, it was not of a Greek 

 I bought these gauds, but of a trading Jew, who walks 

 the Merceria with a box of jewellery." 



" Just now, methinks, you said a Greek, fair lady ; 

 VOL. iv. 2 A 



