Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 5.djvu/86

ſo many Aflictions, we ſhall come to a happy Accompliſhment of our Deſires. Adieu.

While the Jeweller was converſing with the Prince of Perſia, the Confidant had time to return to the Palace, and tell her Miſtreſs the ill News of Ebn Thaher’s Departure, Schemſelnihar immediately wrote this Letter, and ſent back her Confidant with it to the Prince of Perſia, but ſhe negligently dropp’d it.

The Jeweller was glad to find it, for it was a good Way to ſethim right with the Confidant, and bring him to the Point he deſired. When he had read it, he perceived the Slave, who ſought it with a great deal of Uneaſineſs, looking about every where. He cloſed it again quickly, and put it into his Boſom, but the Slave took Notice of it; and ran to him; Sir, ſays ſhe, I have dropp’d a Letter, which you had juſt now in your Hand, I beſeech you be pleaſed to reſtore it, The Jeweller taking no Notice that he heard her, continued his Way till he came to his Houle, He did not ſhut the Door behind him, that the Confidant, who followed him, might come in. She accordingly did ſo, and when ſhe came to his Chamber, Sir, ſays ſhe to him, you can make no Uſe of that Letter you have found and you would make no Difficulty of returning it to me, if you knew from whom it came, and to whom it is directed, Beſides, let me tell you, you cannot honeſtly keep it.

Before the Jeweller anſwer’d the Confinement, he made her fit down, and then he ſaid to her, Is not this Letter from Schemſelnihar, and is it ngt directed to the Prince of Perſia? The Slave, who expected no ſuch Queſtion bluſh’d: The Queſtion puzzles you, replies he, but I aſſure you I don’t propoſe it raſhly: I could have given you the Letter in the Street, but I ſuffer’d you to follow me, on purpoſe that I might diſcourſe with you: Is it juſt, tell me, to impute an unhappy Accident to People who no Ways contributed towards it? Yet this you have done, in telling the Prince of Perſia, that it was I who counſell’d Ebn Thaher to leave Bagdad for his own Safety. I don’t pretend to loſe time in juſtifying my ſelf to you, it’s enough that the Prince of Perſia is fully perſwaded of my Innocence in this Matter, I will only tell you, that inſtead