Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 6.djvu/4

and are got to the other Side of the Water, are Thieves who having laſt Night broke open the Houſe that we were in, pillag’d it, and afterwards carry’d us to an obſcure Inn, where, by ſome Intreaty and Management, we pravailed on them to let us have our Liberty ; to which End they brought us hither. They have reſtor’d us Part of the booty they had taken from us —————— At which Words he ſhew’d the Plate he had recover’d.

The Commander not being ſatisfy’d with what the Jeweller had told him, came up to him and the Prince of Perſia, and looking ſtedſaſtly at them, ſaid, tell me truly, who is this Lady? How came you to know her, and where abouts do you live?

This Demand ſurpriz’d them ſtrangely, and ty’d their Tongues, inſomuch that neither of them could anſwer; till, at length, Schemſelnihar taking the Commander aſide, told him frankly who ſhe was; which he no ſooner came to know, but he alighted, paid both her and the Company great Reſpect, and cauſed two Boats to be got ready for their Service.

When the Boats were come, he put Schemſelnibar into one, and the Prince of Perſia and Jeweller intothe other, with two of his People in each Boat: They had Orders to accompany them whitherſoever they were bound. Being aboard, the two Boats took different Routs, but we ſhall at preſent ſpeak only of that wherein was the Prince and Jeweller.

The Prince, to ſave his Guides Trouble, bad them land the Jeweller with him, and nam’d the Place whither he would go. The Guides miſtaking his Orders, ſtopp’d juſt before the Califf's Palace, which put both him and the Jeweller into a mortal Fright, tho’ he durſt diſcover nothing of the Matter ; for, although they had heard the Commander’s Orders to his Men, they could not help imagining they were to be deliver’d up to the Guard, to be brought before the Califf next Morning.

This neverthelefs was not the Intention of the Guides, for after they had landed them, they, by their Maſter’s Command, recommended them to an Officer of the Guard, who next Morning aſſigned them Soldiers to conduct them by Land to the Prince’s Chateau, which was at ſome Diſtance from the River.