So saying , Mohammed gave Neangir four piastres to start him in the great city , and obtained leave for him to join a caravan which was about to set off for Constantinople . The journey took some days , as caravans go very slowly , but at last the walls and towers of the capital appeared in the distance . When the caravan halted the travellers went their different ways , and Neangir was left , feeling very strange and rather lonely . He had plenty of courage and made friends very easily ; still , not only was it the first time he had left the village where he had been brought up , but no one had ever spoken to him of Constantinople , and he did not so much as know the name of a single street or of a creature who lived in it . Wondering what he was to do next , Neangir stood still for a moment to look about him , when suddenly a pleasant-looking man came up , and bowing politely , asked if the youth would do him the honour of staying in his house till he had made some plans for himself . Neangir , not seeing anything else he could do , accepted the stranger 's offer and followed him home . They entered a large room , where a girl of about twelve years old was laying three places at the table . ` Zelida , ' said the stranger , ` was I not quite right when I told you that I should bring back a friend to sup with us ? ' ` My father , ' replied the girl , ` you are always right in what you say , and what is better still , you never mislead others . ' As she spoke , an old slave placed on the table a dish called pillau , made of rice and meat , which is a great favourite among people in the East , and setting down glasses of sherbet before each person , left the room quietly . During the meal the host talked a great deal upon all sorts of subjects ; but Neangir did nothing but look at Zelida , as far as he could without being positively rude . The girl blushed and grew uncomfortable , and at last turned to her father . ` The stranger 's eyes never wander from me , ' she said in a low and hesitating voice . ` If Hassan should hear of it , jealousy will make him mad . ' ` No , no , ' replied the father , ` you are certainly not for this young man . Did I not tell you before that I intend him for your sister Argentine . I will at once take measures to fix his heart upon her , ' and he rose and opened a cupboard , from which he took some fruits and a jug of wine , which he put on the table , together with a small silver and mother-of-pearl box . ` Taste this wine , ' he said to the young man , pouring some into a glass . ` Give me a little , too , ' cried Zelida . ` Certainly not , ' answered her father , ` you and Hassan both had as much as was good for you the other day . '
` Then drink some yourself , ' replied she , ` or this young XXXXX will think we mean to poison him . '
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