At the door, reclining on a kind of sofa, lay Heli; the noise of the horses made him start: Discerning who they were, he hastened to meet them.
"Ah!" cried he, "never more wished for, nor more welcome. The prophet has sent you to my wishes, or this night I should have sent for you."
"Have you then particularly wanted us?" asked Ferdinand.
"Yes," replied Heli.—"Strange things have happened; but come into this little room, and I will unfold the whole to you."
As they dismounted and entered, the Count asked for Fatima.
"Ah! the ingrate," cried he; "she is but too well, I believe."
This reply induced them to suppose she had behaved ill, if not deserted him; but they waited a farther explanation from him; and when they were seated, he thus began, addressing Ferdinand, as the Count was not so well acquainted with the language.
