220 
DANGER OF DETECTION. 
lodging in his stable, and then, pushing me by the shoulders, 
sent me to return thanks to God and the Prophet. 
At nightfall I again presented myself at M. Delaporte's 
house : as I was entering, the female servant, not recognizing 
me, ran back uttering a loud cry this brought from the street 
the Vice-Consul's guard who, precipitately entering the 
house, put his hand upon my shoulder, and demanded who 1 
was, and what I wanted. I was completely disconcerted, 
M. Delaporte, being brought down by the noise, knew me, 
but affected great anger, and spoke very harshly to prevent 
suspicion. "Turn out this dog of a beggar," said he, "what 
can he want here? begone !" The soldier still asking what 
1 wanted, I examined the house as though in doubt; and 
saying, " What ! does not Sidi-Mohammed reside here ? I 
fear 1 have made a mistake,^' I retired ; the soldier following 
me a short distance, but by favour of the night I easily 
escaped him. On my return to the fandac I threw myself 
upon the ground, to recover from the emotion which this un- 
toward accident had occasioned. After an hour's repose, I 
again repaired to the street where M. Delaporte resided, 
hoping that he would send some one to me with a message 
of encouragement ; but I saw no one. I passed another 
agitated night, sleeping little ; and at day -break took my sta- 
tion in front of the Vice-Consul's house to seek a decisive in- 
terview with him, the suspense in which I continued having 
become insupportable. I seated myself at the door of a poor 
shoemaker, to watch the moment when I might enter the 
house without observation. The Jewish maid servant, who 
had been so unfortunately alarmed the preceding evening, re- 
cognized me : and, having given notice to M. Delaporte, 
made me a sign to come in. The Vice-Consul obligingly 
expressed his regret for the unpleasant scene of the preceding 
evening ; he did not dissemble his apprehensions for me, in 
case I continued long in my present situation, but could de- 
vise no means for my escape ; I was still more perplexed, as 
