And since I place my honour in your hands, you may be assured that I have preserved it intact, in spite of all the perils and trials I have undergone.  Opportunity to converse together will be easily afforded us, and to me this will be most pleasing, provided you never address me on the subject of your suit; from the moment you do so, I shall cease to see you; for I would not have you suppose that my spirit is so weak as to be swayed by captivity.  With the favour of heaven, I hope to prove like gold which becomes the purer the more it is passed through the furnace.  Be content with the assurance I have given you, that I shall no longer look upon you with repugnance, as I used to do; for I must tell you, Ricardo, that I always found you somewhat more arrogant and presumptuous than became you.  I confess, also, that I was deceived, and that my eyes being now opened, if the experiment were to be made over again, perhaps I should be more humane to you, within the bounds of honour.  Go now, and God be with you; for I am afraid lest Halima may have been listening to us, and she understands something of our language.”

“I fully acknowledge the propriety of all you have said, lady,” replied Ricardo.  “I am infinitely obliged for the explanation you have given me, and perhaps time will show you how profoundly respectful is the adoration I profess for you.  Rely upon me that I will deal in the best manner with the cadi, and do you do the same with Halima.  Believe me, lady, since I have seen you, there has sprung up in my heart an assured hope that we shall soon achieve our freedom; and so I commend you to God’s keeping, deferring to another time to tell you the events by which fortune brought me to this place, after we were parted.”

They now separated, Leonisa well pleased with Ricardo’s modest behaviour, and he overjoyed at having heard from her lips words unmixed with harshness.  Halima, meanwhile, had shut herself up in her room, and was praying to Mahomet for Leonisa’s success in the commission she had given her.  The cadi was in the mosque, burning, like his wife, with desire, and anxiously awaiting the answer to be brought him by the slave he had sent to speak to Leonisa, and whom Mahmoud was to admit to her presence for that purpose, even though Halima was at home.  Leonisa inflamed Halima’s impure desires, giving her very good hopes that Mario would do all she wished, but telling her that two months must elapse before he could consent to what he longed for even more than herself; and that he asked that delay that he might complete a course of devotion for the recovery of his freedom.  Halima was satisfied with this excuse, but begged Leonisa to tell her dear Mario to spare himself the trouble and her the delay he proposed, for she would give him, at once, whatever the cadi required for his ransom.