The Bassa rose from his divan and drew aside the hangings leading to a large hall , closely followed by Neangir and Sumi . There they saw two young men , one about seventeen , and the other nineteen years of age . The younger was seated before a table , his forehead resting on his right hand , which he was watering with his tears . He raised his head for a moment when his father entered , and Neangir and Sumi both saw that this hand was of ebony . The other young man was occupied busily in collecting coral beads which were scattered all over the floor of the room , and as he picked them up he placed them on the same table where his brother was sitting . He had already gathered together ninety-eight beads , and thought they were all there , when they suddenly rolled off the table and he had to begin his work over again . ` Do you see , ' whispered the Bassa , ` for three hours daily one collects these coral beads , and for the same space of time the other laments over his hand which has become black , and I am wholly ignorant what is the cause of either misfortune . ' ` Do not let us stay here , ' said Sumi , ` our presence must add to their grief . But permit me to fetch the Book of Spells , which I feel sure will tell us not only the cause of their malady but also its cure . ' The Bassa readily agreed to Sumi 's proposal , but Neangir objected strongly . ` If Sumi leaves us , ' he said to his father , ' I shall not see my beloved Argentine when she returns to-night with the fair Aurora . And life is an eternity till I behold her . ' ` Be comforted , ' replied Sumi . ' I will be back before sunset ; and I leave you my adored Izaf as a pledge . ' Scarcely had the Jewess left Neangir , when the old female slave entered the hall where the three Jews still remained carefully guarded , followed by a man whose splendid dress prevented Neangir from recognising at first as the person in whose house he had dined two days before . But the woman he knew at once to be the nurse of Zelida . He started eagerly forward , but before he had time to speak the slave turned to the soldier she was conducting . ` My lord , ' she said , ` those are the men ; I have tracked them from the house of the Cadi to this palace . They are the same ; I am not mistaken , strike and avenge yourself . ' As he listened the face of the stranger grew scarlet with anger .
He drew his sword and in another moment would have rushed on the Jews , when Neangir and the slaves XXXXX the Bassa seized hold of him .
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