“Give me that note,” said the caliph, interrupting her eagerly, “you were wrong to defer delivering it to me.”

The slave immediately presented to him the note, which he opened with much impatience, and in it Fetnah gave a particular account of all that had befallen her, but enlarged a little too much on the attentions of Ganem.  The caliph, who was naturally jealous, instead of being provoked at the inhumanity of Zobeide, was more concerned at the infidelity he fancied Fetnah had been guilty of towards him.  “Is it so?” said he, after reading the note; “the perfidious wretch has been four months with a young merchant, and has the effrontery to boast of his attention to her.  Thirty days are past since my return to Bagdad, and she now thinks of sending me news of herself.  Ungrateful creature! whilst I spend the days in bewailing her, she passes them in betraying me.  Go to, let us take vengeance of a bold woman, and that bold youth who affronts me.”  Having spoken these words, the caliph rose, and went into a hall where he used to appear in public, and give audience to his court.  The first gate was opened, and immediately all the courtiers, who were waiting without, entered.  The grand vizier, came in, and prostrated himself before the throne.  Then rising, he stood before his master, who, in a tone which denoted he would be instantly obeyed, said to him, “Jaaffier, your presence is requisite, for putting in execution an important affair I am about to commit to you.  Take four hundred men of my guards with you, and first inquire where a merchant of Damascus lives whose name is Ganem, the son of Abou Ayoub.  When you have learnt this, repair to his house, and cause it to be razed to the foundations; but first secure Ganem, and bring him hither, with my slave Fetnah, who has lived with him these four months.  I will punish her, and make an example of that insolent man, who has presumed to fail in respell to me.”

The grand vizier, having received this positive command, made a low prostration to the caliph, having his hand on his head, in token that he would rather lose it than disobey him, and departed.  The first thing he did, was to send to the syndic of the dealers in foreign stuffs and silks, with strict orders to find out the house of the unfortunate merchant.  The officer he sent with these orders brought him back word, that he had scarcely been seen for some months, and no man knew what could keep him at home, if he was there.  The same officer likewise told Jaaffier where Ganem lived.

Upon this information, that minister, without losing time, went to the judge of the police, whom he caused to bear him company, and attended by a great number of carpenters and masons, with the necessary tools for razing a house, came to Ganem’s residence; and finding it stood detached

from any other, he posted his soldiers round it, to prevent the young merchant’s making his escape.