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Ahmet was speaking, one of the servants of the house, whose duty, according to Ottoman usage, was only to announce visitors and nothing else, appeared at the entrance of the gallery.

"Seigneur Ahmet," he said, addressing the young man, "a stranger is below and desires to speak with you."

"Who is he?" asked Ahmet.

"A Maltese captain; he insists upon seeing you, and says you will receive him."

"Very well, I will come down," said Ahmet.

"My dear Ahmet, why not receive him here, if he has nothing of a private nature to communicate?" said Amasia.

"Perhaps he commands that pretty felucca," observed Nedjeb, indicating the vessel which was anchored off the steps.

"Perhaps he does," said Ahmet; "let him come in!"

The servant retired, and almost immediately afterwards the stranger presented himself.

Captain Yarhud—for he it was—had, greatly to his chagrin, been delayed considerably in his voyage. Immediately he and Scarpante, the intendant, had parted, the captain had started for Odessa by railway, and had thus got in advance of Kéraban by many days. But when the worthy Yarhud had reached Odessa, he found the weather so bad that he could not put to sea. The wind had only moderated that morning sufficiently to permit his making sail, and he had accordingly come out and anchored before the banker's villa. So after all he had obtained but a little start of Kéraban, and the delay might prove very prejudicial to his interests.