china tiles, and the floor was paved with white marble.
In front of the throne or elevated dais couched the magnificent lion which we have already mentioned. It was the Dey's whim to use this animal as a footstool on all public occasions, much to the annoyance of his courtiers and household, who felt, although they did not dare to express it, considerable anxiety lest it should take a sudden fancy to feed on human flesh.
Behind the Dey stood several guards, two of whom were negroes.
Don Pedro bowed low on being admitted, and the lion, raising his head, uttered a low growl, which had something distantly thunderous in the tone. Being apparently satisfied that the Don was a friend, it again laid its chin on its paws and appeared to go to sleep.
The Spanish consul was a fine-looking, dignified man, with a nose sufficiently prominent to account for the irreverent reference made to it by Hadji Baba the story-teller.
In a few words he stated his case touching the female captives recently brought in by Sidi Hassan and claimed that, as Spanish subjects, they should be set free and placed under his care.
"What proof can you give," demanded the Dey, "that these ladies are really the subjects of Spain?"
