French and Oriental Love in a Harem

I will not try to depict for you the state of excitement in which I

found my sultanas, nor the accounts which they had to give me themselves

of this great event. Their sanguine imaginations were already occupied

by the absolute necessity, as they deemed it, of returning my aunt's

call. Her kindness had very naturally charmed them to the point of

believing that no obstacle could arise to hinder the continuance of

friendly relations so well inaugurated. They went on chattering all the

evening about the incidents of this lucky and delightful event, taking

particular pleasure in repeating before Koudjé-Gul who had been absent

(and whom they confidently hoped to exclude from their new relations),

all the kind things which the pasha's wife had said to them. It was

certainly a splendid revenge upon their rival for that evening escapade

which she had boasted so much about.

Poor Kondjé-Gul, disappointed as she was already at having had no share

in this unexpected treat, listened without a word, her sad eyes

questioning me all the time. I reassured her with a nod, letting the

silly creatures prattle away in their glee, and amuse themselves with

sanguine projects of such a revolutionary character that it would have

been impossible to discuss them.

I began to consider for myself the best way to cut short these

unforeseen complications. Although I was out of danger for the present,

the veil which concealed the secrets of El-Nouzha was only supported by

a thread. My aunt was not the woman to remain long deceived, and with

her quick mind, the slightest imprudent word, the slightest clue, would

suffice to arouse her suspicions. I did not even feel sure but what my

aunt, impelled by her curiosity, might be only too eager to exchange

visits with His Excellency's daughters, and the very thought of this was

enough to make me tremble.

The result of my cogitations was a resolve to take decisive measures for

putting a stop to such extremely delicate and critical complications as

I apprehended. It might, indeed, have been possible for me, while

carefully mystifying every one, to have continued unabashed my oriental

pursuits and avocations under the secure shelter of the walls of

El-Nouzha. They represented, after all, nothing worse than one of those

intrigues in the neighbourhood with which my aunt had herself credited

me, but after this visit to the Kasre which had brought her into contact

with my houris, the most ordinary respect for the proprieties required

me to prevent such conjunctures from recurring. Moreover, our time at

Férouzat was drawing to a close, for we were to spend the winter in

Paris. I therefore determined to anticipate our departure, and to remove

my harem immediately. Once lost in the crowd and din of Paris, my secret

would be safe.