The old lady, having talked to me in this fashion, paused, expecting my answer; but, though what she had said made a strong impression upon me, I durst not lay open to her the bottom of my heart; I only turned to her, and fetched a deep sigh without saying any thing.  Is it bashfulness, said she, that keeps you from speaking? or is it want of confidence in me?  Do not doubt the effect of my promise.  I could mention to you an infinite number of young men of your acquaintance, that have been in the same condition with you, and have received relief from me.  In fine, the good lady told me so many things more, that I broke silence, declared to her my evil, pointed out to her the place where I had seen the object which caused it, and unravelled all the circumstances of my adventure.  If you succeed, said I, and procure me the felicity of seeing that charming beauty, and revealing to her the passion with which I burn for her, you may depend upon it I will be grateful.  My son, said the old woman, I know the lady you speak of; she is, as you judged right, the daughter of the first cadi of the city:  I think it no wonder that you are in love with her; she is the handsomest, comeliest lady in Bagdad; but what I most boggle at is, that she is very proud and of difficult access.  You see how strict our judges are in enjoining the punctual observance of the severe laws that lay women under such a burdensome constraint; and they are yet more strict in the observation of their own families:  nay, the cadi you saw is more rigid than all the other magistrates put together.  They are always preaching to their daughters what a heinous crime it is to show themselves to men; and by this means the girls themselves are so prepossessed with the notion, that they make no other use of their own eyes than to conduct them along the streets when necessity obliges them to go abroad.  I do not say absolutely that the cadi’s daughter is of that humour; but I still fear to meet with as great obstacles on her side as on her father’s.  Would to God you had loved some other lady, then I had not had so many difficulties to surmount.  However, I shall employ all my wits to compass the thing; but time is required.  In the mean time, take heart, and trust to me.

The old woman took leave; and as I weighed within myself all the obstacles she had been talking of, the fear of her not succeeding inflamed my illness.  Next day she came again, and I read in her countenance that she had no favourable news to impart.  She spoke thus:  My child, I was not mistaken in the matter; I have somewhat else to conquer besides the vigilance of a father; you love an indifferent, insensible girl, who takes pleasure in making those to burn with love that suffer themselves to be charmed by her; when she has once gained that point, she will not deign them the least comfort.  She heard me with pleasure, when I spoke of nothing but the torment she had made you undergo; but I had no sooner requested her to allow you to see, and converse with her, than, with a terrible look, You are very bold, said she, to make such a proposal to me; I discharge you ever to see me again with such discourse in your mouth.