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88 "Certainly not. That is true," remarked Ahmet.

At a sign from Yarhud, the sailor who accompanied him unrolled some samples, which the captain presented to the young lady.

"Here are some Broussa silks, embroidered with silver," he said. "They are intended for sale in the bazaars of Constantinople."

"That is certainly a beautiful fabric," said Amasia, as she examined the silk, which under the skilful fingers of Nedjeb scintillated like luminous tissue.

"See! see!" cried the Zingara, "we could not have found anything better in the merchants' houses in Odessa."

"That really appears to have been made expressly for you, my dear Amasia," said Ahmet.

"I would suggest that you should also examine these muslins from Scutari and Turnova. From this sample you may judge of the exquisite workmanship. But you will be fairly surprised, when you come on board, by the variety of the designs, and the colours of the fabrics."

"Well, it is quite understood that we are going to visit the Guidare, captain," said Nedjeb.

"You will never regret your visit," replied Yarhud. "But permit me to show you some other articles. Here are brocades studded with diamonds; chemises of silk; crape of diaphanous texture; tissues for feredjis, muslins for jacmalls, Persian shawls for girdles, taffetas for pantalons."

Amasia could not sufficiently admire the magnificent stuffs which the Maltese captain unfolded before her, and displayed with such cunning artifice. If he were as good a sailor as he was a skilful trader, the Guidare would never meet with any mishap under Yarhud's command. All women—and young Turkish women are no exception to the general rule—permit themselves to be tempted by the sights of fabrics from the best looms of the East.

Ahmet perceived at once how much struck Amasia was with the display, and certainly, as Nedjeb had said, neither the bazaars of Odessa nor Constantinople, not even the great stores of Ludovic, the celebrated Armenian merchant, could offer a more extended choice.