“The prince was a pale, handsome youth, as those whom women love much are generally wont to be.  He was kept in a remote part of the Seraglio, for although every joy of life was his, and he was surrounded by wealth, pomp, and slave-girls, he was never permitted to quit the Seraglio.  The Sultana herself led Irene to him, thinking that the fine eyes of the handsome youth would be the best talisman against the enchantment obsessing the charms of the strange damsel.  The pale prince was charmed with the looks of the girl.  He coaxed and flattered.  He begged and implored her not to die away beneath his kisses and embraces.  In vain.  The girl swooned at the very first touch, and he who touched her lips might just as well have touched the lips of a corpse.  The prince knelt down beside her, and implored her with tears to come to herself again.  She heard not and she answered not.  At last the fair Sultana Asseki herself had compassion on his tears and lamentations which produced no impression on the dead.  Her heart bled for him.  She bent over the pale prince, embraced him tenderly, and comforted him with her caresses.  And the prince allowed himself to be comforted, and they rejoiced greatly together; for of course there was nobody present to see them, for the senseless damsel on the floor might have been a corpse so far as they were concerned.”

“Hum!” murmured the Berber-Bashi to himself, “this is a thing well worth remembering.”

“On the following day the pale prince made a present of Irene to the Grand Vizier.  The Grand Vizier also rejoiced greatly at the sight of the damsel; took her into his cellar, showed her there three great vats full of gold and precious stones, and told her that all these things should be hers if only she would love him.  Then he took and showed her the multitude of precious ornaments that he had concealed beneath the flooring of his palace, and promised these to her also.  For every kiss she should give him, he offered her one of his palaces on the shores of the Sweet Waters, yes, for every kiss a palace.”

“I would burn all these palaces to the ground!” cried Halil impetuously.

“Nay, nay, my son, be sensible!” said Janaki.  He himself now began to feel that there was something more than a mere tale in all this.

But the Berber-Bashi pricked up his ears and grew terribly attentive when mention was made of the hidden treasures of the Grand Vizier.

“The sight of the treasures,” resumed the girl, “had no effect upon Irene.  She never failed to invoke the name of the Blessed Virgin whenever the face of a man drew near to her face, and the Blessed Virgin always wrought a miracle in her behalf.”

“’Tis my belief,” said Halil, “that there were no miracles at all in the matter; but that the girl had so strong a will that by an effort she made herself dead to all tortures.”