Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/83

THE Prince of Perſia did likewile ſalute Schemſelnihar’s Confidant. The Jeweller aroſe as ſoon as he ſaw her appear, and ſtepp’d aide, to leave them at Liberty to ſpeak together. The Confidant after ſhe had convers’d ſome time with the Prince, took her Leave and departed, She left him quite another thing than before: His Eyes appeared brighter, and his Countenance more gay, which made the Jeweller know that the good Slave came to tell him ſome News that favoured his Amour.

The Jeweller having taken his Place again, near the Prince, ſays to him ſmiling, I ſee, Prince, you have important Affairs at the Califf Palace. The Prince of Perſia was aftoniſh’d, and alarm’d at this Diſcourſe, and anſwer’d the Jeweller, Why do you judge that I have Affairs at the Califf’s Palace? I judge reply’d the Jeweler, by the Slave who is gone forth. And to whom think you belong this Slave, reply’d the Prince? To Schemſelnihar the Califf’s Favoourite, anſwer’d the Jeweller: I know, continues he, both the S’ave and her Miftreſs, who has ſeveral times done me the Honour to come to my Houſe and buy Jewels. Beſides, I know that Schemſelnihar keeps nothing ſecret from this Slave; and have ſeen her go and come for ſeveral Days along the Streets very much troubled as I thought; I imagined that it was for ſome Afſair of Conſequence concerning her Miſtreſs.

The Jeweller’s Words did much trouble the Prince of Perſia. He would not ſay ſo, ſays he to himſelf, if he did not ſuſpect, or rather know my Secret. He remained ſilent for ſome time, not knowing what to anſwer. At laſt he began, and ſaid to the Jeweller, You have told me thoſe Things which make me believe, that you know yet more than you have acquainted me with, it will tend much to my Quiet, if I be perfecly inform’d, I conjure you therefore not to diſſemble with me.

Then the Jeweller, who deſired no better gave him a particular Account of what had paſſed betwixt Ebn Thaher and himſelf; ſo that he let him know that he was inform’d of his Correſpondence with Schemſelnihar, and forgot not to tell him that Ebn Thaher was afraid of the