224 
A CRUSADE IN THE EAST. 
which they returned Yusef’s sidelong smiles, that there was 
not a male member of the audience who was not fired with 
jealousy and mistrust. Low murmurs began to arise between 
man and wife ; smothered rebukes were given by friends and 
relatives; and fair faces began reluctantly to disappear, but 
not without parting glances at the Adonis of Arabs. That 
there was not a female heart in the crowd unscathed by his 
graces of person and flashing silks, as well as by the heroic 
courage which he had displayed in the affair of the Princess, 
was perfectly apparent. Even the husband of Yusef’s niece, 
who was well acquainted with the relationship existing be¬ 
tween his wife and that distinguished adventurer, did not 
seem altogether satisfied that their consanguinity would prove 
a barrier to all danger; indeed, he looked at both parties 
with extreme suspicion ; but perceiving that there was no 
indication of any immediate danger (for they were discreet 
enough not to notice each other) he hastily left the house, 
climbed up on the roof, and relieved his mind in some degree 
by rolling the broken pillar over it furiously for the space of 
half an hour. 
Alas, I wish I could conscientiously say that there was no 
danger ; I wish Yusef had never stopped there ; I would blot 
out that night in tears more copious than were shed by the 
great poet who wept when he found Baalbek in ruins; but a 
stern sense of duty compels me to proceed ; it shall never be 
said that I have smiled at human weakness, or attempted to 
shield the culpable from just and merited reproach. 
The guests having at a late hour retired to their respective 
homes, Yusef spread our mattresses on the floor, and fixed us 
comfortably for the night. His own mattress he left for fu¬ 
ture consideration. The husband of Yusef s niece carefully 
noted the manner in which we were arranged, and apparent¬ 
ly satisfied that all was right so far, he looked into every little 
pigeon-hole in the walls to make assurance doubly sure, and 
then looked at the door between our room and that in which 
himself and wife slept. There was a large wooden bolt at¬ 
tached to it, which he carefully fastened, and then pulled 
back and fastened again, so that he might be sure there was 
