Albert looked at her with curiosity, for she had not yet related what he most desired to know⁠—how she had become the slave of the count. Haydée saw at a glance the same expression pervading the countenances of her two auditors; she continued:

“When my mother recovered her senses we were before the seraskier. ‘Kill,’ said she, ‘but spare the honor of the widow of Ali.’⁠—‘It is not to me to whom you must address yourself,’ said Kourchid.

“ ‘To whom, then?’⁠—‘To your new master.’

“ ‘Who and where is he?’⁠—‘He is here.’

“And Kourchid pointed out one who had more than any contributed to the death of my father,” said Haydée, in a tone of chastened anger.

“Then,” said Albert, “you became the property of this man?”