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my hand : I meant only a little badinage « What " is that ? " said Sidi , with a smile . " We borrow it from the French , " replied Signor Giovanni Battista .
" Now is the time , after this insufficient borrowing from the French , to contract a larger loan from the Mussulman , " said Sidi Dahr ; on which he took off his slipper and slapped it against the door . A greybearded servant entered with
two ample handfuls of cypress branches , about three feet long , with their little green cones upon them , very ornamental . Under his left arm were two halters . " Which of you , " said Sidi , complacently , " made the first proposition to betray an innocent girl ?"
They both denied : moreover , the young gentleman threatened his father ' s resentment , next the Grand-Duke ' s , and lastly , the Minister ' s .
" I have an opium in my warehouse that can allay ministerial irritation , " said Sidi , smiling ; " and it is well for you if you have any for that which you are now about to experience . "
He gave a signal , and a halter was thrown by the old servant over Signor Giovanni Battista's head and shoulders , and in an instant both arms were straight and motionless as a mummy's . Sidi Dahr then ordered his venerable minister
of justice to present a plate of dried . Turkey figs to his visitor . These were box-wood erases
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which admitted the teeth up to > the gums . Signor Giovanni Battista was prevailed upon toaccept one of these by the gentleman who did the honours of the house ; and partly from
fear , partly from agony , his head looked like Medusa ' s , when the painter has only chalked it , and not begun the snakes .
" Signora , " said Sidi to the governess , " in this country the lady , I hear , is usually served first . " The old slave presented her with a broad yellow riband , and raised it to her lips ; but she declined the investiture . He , however , was
so pressing that the ceremony was no longer to be deferred . He drew it across her mouth , behind her neck , under her chin , over the eyes , and once
more under the chin again , taking advantage of what she intended should be a fainting-fit . Sidi then bowed , and asked her whether it was her pleasure that what little remained to be
done should be performed by her minister or his . She gave no answer by sign or token . " Perhaps , sir , " said the Mussulman , turning round to Signor Giovanni Battista , " as you are in confidence one with the other , you will save her from the dishonour of being whipt by an unbeliever . "
He nodded . His right wrist was immediately relieved from its ligature . Sidi stood with an ebony staff beside him , and requested him to prepare the lady for her inauguration * He undid some pinnings and
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High and Low Life in Italy . 10 & :
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Nc . 221—11 . I
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 1, 1837, page 105, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1834/page/33/
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