But now I am here, I crave permission to remain a little time, in order that I may hold some communion with you." "Well," said I, "since you are come, you are welcome; please step this way." Thereupon I conducted the man in black to the fireplace, where Belle was standing, who had risen from her stool on my springing up to go in quest of the stranger.

The man in black looked at her with evident curiosity, then making her rather a graceful bow, "Lovely virgin," said he, stretching out his hand, "allow me to salute your fingers." "I am not in the habit of shaking hands with strangers," said Belle.
"I did not presume to request to shake hands with you," said the man in black; "I merely wished to be permitted to salute with my lips the extremity of your two forefingers." "I never permit anything of the kind," said Belle; "I do not approve of such unmanly ways: they are only befitting those who lurk in corners or behind trees, listening to the conversation of people who would fain be private." "Do you take me for a listener, then ?" said the man in black.
"Ay, indeed I do," said Belle; "the young man may receive your excuses, and put confidence in them if he please, but for my part I neither admit them, nor believe them;" and thereupon flinging her long hair back, which was hanging over her cheeks, she seated herself on her stool.
"Come, Belle," said I, "I have bidden the gentleman welcome; I beseech you, therefore, to make him welcome.

He is a stranger, where we are at home; therefore, even did we wish him away, we are bound to treat him kindly." "That's not English doctrine," said the man in black.
"I thought the English prided themselves on their hospitality," said I.
"They do so," said the man in black; "they are proud of showing hospitality to people above them, that is to those who do not want it, but of the hospitality which you were now describing, and which is Arabian, they know nothing.

No Englishman will tolerate another in his house, from whom he does not expect advantage of some kind, and to those from whom he does, he can be civil enough.

An Englishman thinks that, because he is in his own house, he has a right to be boorish and brutal to any one who is disagreeable to him, as all those are who are really in want of assistance.