girl?” “You can see that I am old enough to look after myself,” Viteska replied hastily; “I am much obliged to you, and must beg you not to follow me any more; I am known in this neighborhood, and it might damage my reputation.”  “Oh!  You are very much mistaken if you think you will get rid of me so easily,” he replied.  “I have just come from the East and am returning there soon, come with me, and as I fancy that you are as sensible as you are beautiful, you will certainly make your fortune there, and I will bet that before the end of a year, you will be covered with diamonds, and be waited on by eunuchs and female slaves.”

“I am a respectable girl, sir,” she replied proudly, and tried to go on in front, but the stranger was immediately at her side again.  “You were born to rule,” he whispered to her.  “Believe me, and I understand the matter, that you will live to be a Sultaness, if you have any luck.”  The girl did not give him any answer, but walked on.  “But, at any rate, listen to me,” the tempter continued.  “I will not listen to anything; because I am poor, you think it will be easy for you to seduce me,” Viteska exclaimed:  “but I am as virtuous as I am poor, and I should despise any position which I had to buy with shame.”  They had reached the little house where her parents lived, and she ran in quickly, and slammed the door behind her.

When she went into the town the next morning, the stranger was waiting at the corner of the street where she lived, and bowed to her very respectfully.  “Allow me to speak a few words with you,” he began.  “I feel that I ought to beg your pardon for my behavior yesterday.”  “Please let me go on my way quietly,” the girl replied.  “What will the neighbors think of me?” “I did not know you,” he went on, without paying any attention to her angry looks, “but your extraordinary beauty attracted me.  Now that I know that you are as virtuous as you are charming, I wish very much to become better acquainted with you.  Believe me, I have the most honorable intentions.”

Unfortunately, the bold stranger had taken the girl’s fancy, and she could not find it in her heart to refuse him.  “If you are really in earnest,” she stammered in charming confusion, “do not follow me about in the public streets, but come to my parents’ house like a man of honor, and state your intentions there.”  “I will certainly do so, and immediately, if you like,” the stranger replied, eagerly.  “No, no,” Viteska said; “but come this evening if you like.”

The stranger bowed and left her, and really called on her parents in the evening.  He introduced himself as Ireneus Krisapolis, a merchant from Smyrna, spoke of his brilliant circumstances, and finally declared that he loved Viteska passionately.  “That is all very nice and right,” the cautious father replied, “but what will it all lead to?  Under no circumstances can I allow you to visit my daughter.  Such a passion as yours often dies out as quickly as it arises, and a respectable girl is easily robbed of her virtue.”  “And suppose I make up my mind to marry your daughter?” the stranger asked, after a moment’s hesitation.  “Then I shall refer you to my child, for I shall never force Viteska to marry against her will,” her father said.