within thy walls supposing him to be a merchant in oil; and that after thou receivedst him hospitably the miscreant had brought these men to murther thee and to plunder thy good and spoil thy house.  But I gave him no opportunity to win his wish.  The last jar I found full of oil and taking somewhat therefrom I lit the lamp; then, putting a large cauldron upon the fire, I filled it up with oil which I brought from the jar and made a fierce blaze under it; and, when the contents were seething hot, I took out sundry cansful with intent to scald them all to death, and going to each jar in due order, I poured within them one by one boiling oil.  On this wise having destroyed them utterly, I returned to the kitchen and having extinguished the lamps stood by the window watching what might happen, and how that false merchant would act next.  Not long after I had taken my station, the robber captain awoke and oft-times signalled to his thieves.  Then getting no reply he came downstairs and went out to the jars, and finding that all his men were slain he fled through the darkness I know not whither.  So when he had clean disappeared I was assured that, the door being double locked, he had scaled the wall and dropped into the garden and made his escape.  Then with my heart at rest I slept.”  And Morgiana, after telling her story to her master, presently added, “This is the whole truth I have related to thee.  For some days indeed have I had inkling of such matter, but withheld it from thee deeming it inexpedient to risk the chance of its meeting the neighbours’ ears; now, however, there is no help but to tell thee thereof.  One day as I came to the house-door I espied thereon a white chalk-mark, and on the next day a red sign beside the white.  I knew not the intent wherewith the marks were made, nevertheless I set others upon the entrances of sundry neighbours, judging that some enemy had done this deed whereby to encompass my master’s destruction.  Therefore I made the marks on all the other doors in such perfect conformity with those I found, that it would be hard to distinguish amongst them.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

       The end of the Six Hundred and Thirty-fifth Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that Morgiana continued to Ali Baba:  “Judge now and see if these signs and all this villainy be not the work of the bandits of the forest, who marked our house that on such wise they might know it again.  Of these forty thieves there yet remain two others concerning whose case I know naught; so beware of them, but chiefly of the third remaining robber, their Captain, who fled hence alive.  Take good heed and be thou cautious of him, for, shouldst thou fall into his hands, he will in no wise spare thee but will surely murther thee.  I will do all that lieth in me to save from hurt and harm thy life and property, nor shall thy slave be found wanting in any service to my lord.”  Hearing these words