"
Mohamed was making one of his usual left-handed blunders. In the
tumult and agitation of this blustering scene, the veils of the
three princesses had been thrown back, and the radiance of their
beauty revealed; and in prolonging the parley, the king had given that
beauty time to have its full effect. In those days people fell in love
much more suddenly than at present, as all ancient stories make
manifest: it is not a matter of wonder, therefore, that the hearts
of the three cavaliers were completely captured; especially as
gratitude was added to their admiration; it is a little singular,
however, though no less certain, that each of them was enraptured with
a several beauty. As to the princesses, they were more than ever
struck with the noble demeanor of the captives, and cherished in their
breasts all that they had heard of their valor and noble lineage.
The cavalcade resumed its march; the three princesses rode pensively
along on their tinkling palfreys, now and then stealing a glance
behind in search of the Christian captives, and the latter were
conducted to their allotted prison in the Vermilion Towers.
The residence provided for the princesses was one of the most dainty
that fancy could devise. It was in a tower somewhat apart from the
main palace of the Alhambra, though connected with it by the wall
which encircled the whole summit of the hill. On one side it looked
into the interior of the fortress, and had, at its foot, a small
garden filled with the rarest flowers.
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