The Moor rose instantly, with profound salaams, before her, and began to
spread before her the richest treasures of his stock. Under plea of the
light, he remained near the entrance with her; money was dear to
him, and must not be lost, but he would make it, if he could, without
awakening the tired soldier. Marvelous caskets of mother-of-pearl;
carpets soft as down with every brilliant hue melting one within
another; coffee equipages, of inimitable metal work; silver statuettes,
exquisitely chased and wrought; feather-fans, and screens of every
beauty of device, were spread before her, and many of them were bought
by her with that unerring grace of taste and lavishness of expenditure
which were her characteristics, but which are far from always found in
unison; and throughout her survey Ben Arsli kept her near the entrance,
and Cecil had slept on, unaroused by the low tones of their voices.
A roll of notes had passed from her hand to the Moslem's and she was
about to glide out to her carriage, when a lamp which hung at the
farther end caught her fancy. It was very singular; a mingling of
colored glass, silver, gold, and ivory being wrought in much beauty in
its formation.
"Is that for sale?" she inquired.
As he answered in the affirmative, she moved up the shop, and, her eyes
being lifted to the lamp, had drawn close to Cecil before she saw him.
When she did so, she paused near in astonishment.
"Is that soldier asleep?"
"He is, madame," softly answered the old man, in his slow, studied
French.
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