“‘Hear then,’ said she, ‘the most afflicting adventure that could possibly have happened to one so deeply in love as myself, who considered myself as at the utmost point of my wishes.  You must know, when I first saw the robbers enter, sword in hand, I considered it as the last moment of our lives.  But death was not an object of regret, since I thought I was to die with the prince of Persia.  However, instead of murdering us, as I expected, two of the robbers were ordered to take care of us, whilst their companions were busied in packing up the goods they found in the house.  When they had done, and got their bundles upon their backs, they went out, and took us with them.

“‘As we went along, one of those that had charge of us demanded of me who I was?  I answered, I was a dancer.  He put the same question to the prince, who replied, he was a citizen.

“When we had reached the place of our destination, a new alarm seized us.  They gathered about us, and after having considered my dress, and the rich jewels I was adorned with, they seemed to suspect I had disguised my quality.  “Dancers,” said they, “do not use to be dressed as you are.  Tell us truly who you are?”

“‘When they saw I made no reply, they asked the prince once more who he was, for they told him they plainly perceived he was not the person he pretended to be.  He did not satisfy them much more than I had done; he only told them he came to see the jeweller, naming him, who was the owner of the house where they found us.  “I know this jeweller,” replied one of the rogues, who seemed to have some authority over the rest:  “I owe him some obligations, which he knows nothing of, and I take upon me to bring him hither to-morrow morning; but you must not expect,” continued he, “to be released till he arrives and tells us who you are; in the mean time, I promise you there shall be no injury offered to you.”

“‘ The jeweller was brought next morning, who thinking to oblige us, as he really did, declared to the robbers the whole truth.  They immediately came and asked my pardon, and I believe did the like to the prince, who was shut up in another room.  They protested to me, they would not have broken open the house where we were, had they known it was the jeweller’s.  They soon after took us (the prince, the jeweller, and myself), carried us to the river side, put us aboard a boat, and rowed us across the water; but we were no sooner landed, than a party of horse-patrol came up to us.

“The robbers fled; I took the commander aside, and told him my name, and that the night before I had been seized by robbers, who forced me along with them; but having been told who I was, released me, and the two persons he saw with me, on my account.  He alighted out of respect to me; and expressing great joy at being able to oblige me, caused two boats to be brought:  putting me and two of his soldiers, whom you have seen, into one, he escorted me hither:  but what is become of the prince and his friend I cannot tell.