“Hopes!” replied Alibeg.

“Yes, hopes⁠—”

“Zounds, that is not⁠—”

“I tell you, Sir, that it is, and I expect satisfaction this moment for the lie you give me.” Down they went immediately into the court yard; their scimitars were already drawn, and they were on the point of ending their dispute in a tragical manner, when the Sultan stop’d them, and forbid them to fight, before they had consulted their Helena .

They obeyed, and went to Amina’s house, and Mangogul close after them. “The ball has quite spent me,” said she: “my eyes are dropping out of my head. You are very cruel folks, to come the moment I was ready to get into bed: but both of ye look very oddly. May I be informed what brings ye hither?”