midday
At the present hour there stands in the great square of Algiers an imposing mosque , which was designed by a Christian slave -- an architect -- whose head was cut off because he had built it -- whether intentionally or accidentally we know not -- in the form of a cross ! For some hours Foster worked uninterruptedly with his pencil , for he believed , like our great Turner in his earlier days , -LRB- though Turner 's sun had not yet arisen ! -RRB- that the preliminary drawing for a picture can not be too carefully or elaborately done . After having bumped himself against the wall twice , and tripped over an ottoman once -- to the gazelle 's intense surprise -- in his efforts to take an artistic view of his work , Foster at last laid down his pencil , stretched himself to his full height , with his hands in the air by way of relaxation , and was beginning to remember that midday meals were not unknown to man , when the negress before mentioned entered with a small round brass tray , on which were two covered dishes . The middy lowered his hands in prompt confusion , for he had not attained to the Moors ' sublime indifference to the opinion or thought of slaves . He was about to speak , but checked the impulse . It was wiser to hold his tongue !