Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/2

as I have been lame ever ſince. I was not ſenſible how bad it was at firſt, and therefore got up quickly to get away from the People, who laugh’d at me; nay, I threw handfuls of Gold and Silver among them, and whilſt they were gathering it up, I made my Eſcape by croſs Streets and Alleys. But the curſed Barber improving the Stratagem that I had made uſe of to get away from the Mob, follow’d me cloſe, crying, ſtay Sir, why do you run fo faſt? If you knew how much I am afflicted at the ill Treatment you received from the Cadis, you, who are ſo generous a Perſon, and to whom I and my Friends are ſo much oblig’d! Did not I tell you truly, that you would, expoſe your Life by your obſtinate Refuſal to let me go with you? See now, what has happened to you by your own Fault? and if I had not reſolutely follow’d you, to ſee whither you went, what would have become of you? Whither you go then, Sir, ſtay for me.

Thus the wretched Barber cry’d aloud in the Street; it was not enough for him to have occaſioned ſo great a Scandal in the Quarter of the Cadis, but he would have it be known through the whole Town. I was in ſuch a Rage, that I had a great mind to have ſtay’d and cut his Throat; but conſidering that that would have perplex’d me farther, I choſe another Courſe; for perceiving that his calling after me, expoſed me to vaſt Numbers of People, who crowded to their Doors or Windows, or ſtopt

in the Streets to gaze on me, I enter’d into a * Khan^[1] or Inn, the Chamberlain of which knew me; and finding him at the Gate, whither the Noiſe had brought him, pray’d him, for the Sake of Heaven, to hinder that Madman from coming in after me, He promiſed to do ſo, and was as good as his Word; but not without a great deal of Trouble, for the obſtinate Barber would go in in ſpight of him, and did not retire without calling him a thouſand ill Names; and after the Chamberlain ſhut the Gate, the Barber continued telling the Mob what great Service he had done me. Thus I rid my ſelf of that troubleſome Fellow, After that, the Chamberlain pray’d me to