'  I  knew  thee  not,'  he  said,  raising  her  up,  and,  for  the  moment
yielding  to  a  softer  feeling,  caressed  her.  '  I  had  been  maddened !
insulted  by  that  dog  of  a  Patdl,  Kasim  AIL  I  knew  thee  not,
Sozun.'

'  Ha  !  dost  thou  know  him  ? '

'  To  my  cost ;  he  and  his  dotard  patron,  Rhyman  Khan,  have
despoiled  me  of  money — ^villified  my  character;  but  enough,  'tis
no  affair  of  thine.     Why  dost  thou  ask  ? '

'  I  have  too  a  reckoning  to  settle  with  him,  but  let  it  pass ;  we
will  speak  of  that  which  once  was  pleasant  to  us.  Thou  hast  not
forgotton  me  then,  Jaffar  ? '

'  Alia  is  my  witness — never  !  But  canst  thou  come  hither  this
night  at  dusk,  unobserved  ?  then  we  will  speak  of  past  times  un-
interruptedly ;  now  I  have  affairs  of  moment  to  settle,  and  must
begone.'

'  I  will  come  surely,'  was  the  reply  j  *  thy  voice  is  music  in
mine  ears  after  so  long  a  separation.'

'  Follow  me  then,  and  I  will  dismiss  thee  openly  before  my
servants ;  but  be  sure  thou  dost  not  fail  to-night.'


CHAPTER    XXXVI.
