“‘Who will prevent me?’

“‘I will.’

“The pacha laid his hand on his dagger.  The minister stepped to the window and made a sign.  The next moment the tramp of heavy boots and jingle of spurs were heard upon the stairs; the door opened, and a gigantic corporal of gendarmes made his appearance, his right hand raised to his cocked hat, his left upon the seam of his trouser.

“‘Gennaro,’ said the minister of police, ’if I gave you an order to arrest this gentleman, would you see any difficulty in executing it?’

“‘None, your excellency.’

“‘You are aware that this gentleman’s name is Hussein Pacha.’

“‘I was not, your excellency.’

“‘And that he is dey of Algiers.’

“‘May it please your excellency, I don’t know what that is.’

“‘You see?’ said the minister, turning to the dey.

“’The devil! exclaimed Hussein.

“‘Shall I?’ said Gennaro, taking a pair of handcuffs from his pocket, and advancing a pace towards the dey, who, on his part, took a step backwards.

“‘No,’ replied the minister, ’it will not be necessary.  His highness will do as he is bid.  Go and search the hotel for a man named Osmin, and a woman named Zaida, and take them both to the prefecture.’

“‘What!’ cried the dey; ‘this man is to enter my harem?’

“‘He is not a man,’ replied the minister; ’he is a corporal of gendarmes.  But if you do not wish him to go, send for Osmin and Zaida yourself.’

“‘Will you promise to have them punished?’ enquired the dey.

“‘Certainly; according to the utmost rigour of the law.’

“Hussein Pacha clapped his hands.  A door concealed behind a tapestry was opened, and a slave entered the room.

“‘Bring down Osmin and Zaida,’ said the dey.

“The slave crossed his hands on his breast, bowed his head, and disappeared without uttering a word.  The next instant he came back with the two culprits.

“The eunuch was a little round fat fellow, with beardless face, and small hands and feet.  Zaida was a beautiful Circassian, her eyelids painted with kool, her teeth blackened with betel, her nails reddened with henna.  On perceiving Hussein Pacha, the eunuch fell upon his knees; Zaida raised her head.  The dey’s eyes flashed, and he clutched the hilt of his kangiar.  Osmin grew pale; Zaida smiled.  The minister of police made a sign to the gendarme, who stepped up to the two captives, handcuffed them, and led them out of the room.  As the door closed behind them, the dey uttered a sound between a sigh and a roar.

“The magistrate looked out of the window, till he saw the prisoners and their escort disappear at the corner of the Strada Chiatamone.  Then turning to the dey—­

“‘Your highness is now at liberty to leave Naples, if he wishes so to do,’ said the imperturbable functionary with a low bow.

“‘This very instant!’ cried Hussein.  ’I will not remain another moment in such a barbarous country as yours.’