the gate," said he to himself, "and enter, and
throw myself at her feet, and say to her,
'Mother, why hast thou deprived me so long
of thy embraces?' ''

Full of the idea Hassan returned to the
house; and, having arrived there before the
Persian, retired to rest. No one suspected
that he had become possessed of a portion
of the great secret; not even the mother,
who leaned forward as soon as he was
asleep, and threw dear, loving glances and
blessings upon him.

Next evening Hassan was at the foot of the
great wall of the harem waiting breathlessly
for some one to come and open. He remained
there until patience was nearly exhausted.
At last he saw a light coming along the
street. Presently it stopped and went out, and
he knew that the old man and the Persian
were approaching cautiously. At that
moment the postern door was opened suddenly:

"What is the word?" said a voice.

" 'Sand and roses.' "

"Then come in quickly," said the voice;
"for there are inquisitive people skulking
along the wall." The door was closed just
as the Persian and the old man came up.

"This is very strange," said the old man.
"I begin to be afraid. Some one went in just
now."

"Let us wait," replied the Persian, whom
long experience of disappointment had made
patient.

They sat down and waited. Time passed
and no one came; nor was there a sound of
living thing  within.

"This is the time for me to tell thee who I
am," said the old man, in a sad and
forboding tone, "otherwise thou mightst never
know."

"Is there misfortune coming?" asked the
Persian, wrapping his cloak around him; for
either the night was cold, or he began to
shiver with fear.

"The boy Hassan, whom thou hast
watched over," proceeded the old man, "is the
son of my son; who now, for twenty years,
has been a prisoner within those walls. We
were separated long—long ago; and there
was a prophecy against our meeting——"

The old man was about to tell the story of
his separation from his son, when a loud
shriek of pain resounded within the harem.
Soon after, as they looked up, a red light
flashed from a terrace on the summit of the
lofty wall; something was hurled over; it
fell heavily to the ground. Then all became
dark again, and silent.

"We had better light our lantern and see
who it is that has fallen," said the old man
calmly. "I think that all is over."

They lighted the lantern and went towards
an object that lay at the foot of the wall.
It was a human form. The face was
uncovered, but unmutilated. It seemed to have
belonged to a man in the prime of life.

"It is difficult even for a father," said the
old man, ''to recognise in manhood the
offspring he has left in early youth; but my
heart tells me this should be my son. I have
laboured and schemed, and prayed, and had
visions, in vain. This should have been the
night of our re-union; and we are re-united
indeed, but not as was promised. Some
accursed one has crossed our path and
blighted our hopes."

As the old man spoke to the Persian, who
looked on in speechless amazement, the
postern gate was once more opened, and some
one was violently thrust forth. It was Hassan;
who threw himself on the dead body, weeping,
and not uttering a word. The old man
now made a signal, and his servants, who had
been waiting near, came forward. They took
up the corpse, and moved away with it.
All remained silent; and, if their movements
were watched, no one made a sign.

An hour afterwards the servants and the
Persian, and Hassan, and the old man,
entered, bearing the body, a large mansion in
a distant part of the city. No one cared to
enquire of the wretched son in what manner
this ill-timed curiosity had been betrayed to
the prince. It was evident that an interview
had taken place between him and his mother;
who had broken her oath, carried away by
affection. The long-threatened revenge had
followed immediately.

The story does not say that Hassan was
reproached in words for the misfortune his
untimely inquisitiveness had caused; but it
does say that his father and grandfather were
buried in one tomb on one day. Shortly
afterwards there was a magnificent funeral for the
daughter of the princess of the country. Hassan
looked upon all these misfortunes as punishments
by Heaven, justly inflicted upon him.
He retired with the Persian to a lonely place
in the desert, and spent the rest of his life in
devotional exercises; by which he hoped to
atone for the recklessness with which he
had jeopardised the existence of all who were
near and dear to him.

Price Threepence, or stamped Fourpence,
THE PERILS OF CERTAIN ENGLISH PRISONERS,
AND THEIR TREASURE
IN W0MEN, CHILDREN, SILVER, AND JEWELS
FORMING
THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER
Of HOUSEHOLD WORDS; and containing Thirty-six
pages, or the amount of One regular Number and a Half.