it was time to retire, Bahader prepared a bed for them, and withdrew into a chamber over against that where they were to lie, and laid himself down, and soon fell asleep, having been fatigued with his beating.  Amgrad and the lady entertained one another a good half hour afterwards; but the lady wanting to go forth before she went to bed, passed through the gallery that parted Bahader’s chamber from theirs; and hearing him snore, and seeing a sabre hanging up by him, she turned back again, and said to prince Amgrad, Pray, my lord, as you love me, do me one favour.  In what can I serve you? replied the prince.  The lady answered, Oblige me so far as to take down your sabre, and cut off your slave’s head.  Amgrad was astonished at such a proposal from a lady, and doubted not it was the wine she had drunk that instigated her.  Madam, said he, let my slave alone; he is not worthy of your notice.  I have beaten him, and you have beaten him; it is sufficient:  I am very well satisfied with him; he is seldom guilty of such faults.

That shall not do! replied the lady in a violent fury; the rogue shall die, if not by your hands, by mine!  Saying this, she ran and took down the sabre from the place where it hung, drew it out of the scabbard, and was going to execute her wicked design.

Amgrad, to prevent her, took the sabre out of her hand, saying, You shall be satisfied; madam; the slave shall die, since you will have it so:  but I shall be sorry that any one but myself should kill him.  When she had given him the sabre, Come, follow me, said he; make no noise, lest we wake him.  They went into the chamber, where Amgrad, instead of gratifying the lady’s desire, struck at her with the weapon, and severing her head with the blow, it fell upon Bahader.

Had not the noise of the blow which Amgrad gave the lady, in cutting off her head, wakened Bahader, her head falling upon him would have done it:  he was amazed to see Amgrad with a sabre covered with blood, and the body of the lady lying headless on the ground.  The prince told him what had passed; and, ending his discourse, said, I had no other way to hinder her from killing you, she was so transported with fury against you.  My lord, replied Bahader, full of gratitude, persons of your rank, and so generous as you, are not capable of doing so wicked an action as she desired of you.  You are my deliverer, and I cannot enough thank you.  After embracing him, in order to show him what sense he had of his obligations, he said, We must carry this corpse out before it is quite day.  Leave it to me; I will do it.  Amgrad would not agree to that, saying that he would carry it away himself, since he had done the deed.  Bahader replied, You are a stranger in this city, and will not come off so well as one who is acquainted here:  I must do it, if for no other reason than both our safeties, to prevent our being questioned for her death.  Stay you here; and if I do not come back before day, you may be sure the watch has taken me:  and, for fear of the worst, I will by a writing give you this house and furniture for your habitation while you stay in this city.