and having locked up every thing, affixed my own seal on the door of my house.  This done I went to the jewel-merchant my landlord, paid him what I owed, with a year’s rent in advance and giving him the key, prayed him to keep it for me.  “A very urgent affair,” said I, “obliges me to be absent for some time; I am under the necessity of going to visit my uncles at Cairo.”  I took my leave of him, immediately mounted my horse, and departed with my attendants from Damascus.

I had a good journey, and arrived at Cairo without any accident.  There I met with my uncles, who were much surprised to see me.  To excuse myself, I pretended I was tired of waiting; and hearing nothing of them, was so uneasy, that I could not be satisfied without coming to Cairo.  They received me kindly, and promised that my father should not be displeased with me for leaving Damascus without his permission.  I lodged in the same khan with them, and saw all the curiosities of Cairo.

Having finished their traffic, they began to talk of returning to Moussol, and to make preparations for their departure; but I, having a wish to view in Egypt what I had not yet seen, left my uncles, and went to lodge in another quarter at a distance from their khan, and did not appear any more till they were gone.  They sought for me all over the city; but not finding me, supposed remorse for having come to Egypt without my father’s consent had occasioned me to return to Damascus, without saying any thing to them.  So they began their journey, expecting to find me at Damascus, and there to take me up.

After their departure I continued at Cairo three years, more completely to indulge my curiosity in seeing all the wonders of Egypt.  During that time I took care to remit money to the jewel-merchant, ordering him to keep my house for me; for I designed to return to Damascus, and reside there some years longer.  I had no adventure at Cairo worth relating; but doubtless you will be much surprised at that which befell me on my return to Damascus.

Arriving at this city, I went to the jewel-merchant’s, who received me joyfully, and would accompany me to my house, to shew me that no one had entered it whilst I was absent.  The seal was still entire upon the lock; and when I went in, I found every thing in the order in which I had left it.

In sweeping and cleaning out the hall where I had eaten with the ladies, one of my servants found a gold chain necklace, with ten very large and perfect pearls strung upon it at certain distances.  He brought it to me, when I knew it to be the same I had seen upon the lady’s neck who was poisoned; and concluded it had broken off and fallen.  I could not look upon it without shedding tears, when I called to mind the lovely creature I had seen die in such a shocking manner.  I wrapped it up, and put it in my bosom.

I rested some days to recover from the fatigues of my journey; after which, I began to visit my former acquaintance.  I abandoned myself to every species of pleasure, and gradually squandered away all my money.  Being thus reduced, instead of selling my furniture, I resolved to part with the necklace; but I had so little skill in pearls, that I took my measures very ill, as you shall hear.