commanded her to be immediately introduced, not doubting but it was Schemselnihar’s confidant slave, as indeed it was.  The jeweller knew her, having seen her several times at Ebn Thaher’s house:  she could not have come at a better time to save the prince from despair.  She saluted him.  The prince of Persia returned the salute of Schemselnihar’s confidant.  The jeweller arose as soon as he saw her and retired, to leave them at liberty to converse together.  The confidant, after she had spoken some time with the prince, took her leave and departed.  She left him quite another person from what he was before; his eyes appeared brighter, and his countenance more gay, which satisfied the jeweller that the good slave came to tell him something favourable to his amour.

The jeweller having taken his place again near the prince, said to him smiling, “I see, prince, you have business of importance at the caliph’s palace.”  The prince of Persia, astonished and alarmed at these words, answered the jeweller, “What leads you to suppose that I have business at the caliph’s palace?” “I judge so,” replied the jeweller, “by the slave who has just left you.”  “And to whom, think you, belongs this slave?” demanded the prince.  “To Schemselnihar the caliph’s favourite,” answered the jeweller:  “I know,” continued he, “both the slave and her mistress, who has several times done me the honour to come to my house, and buy jewels.  Besides, I know that Schemselnihar keeps nothing secret from this slave; and I have seen her pass backwards and forwards for several days along the streets, as I thought very much troubled; I imagined that it was for some affair of consequence concerning her mistress.”

The jeweller’s words greatly troubled the prince of Persia.  “He would not say so,” said he to himself, “if he did not suspect, or rather were not acquainted with my secret.”  He remained silent for some time, not knowing what course to take.  At last he began, and said to the jeweller, “You have told me things which make me believe that you know yet more than you have acquainted me with; it concerns my repose that I be perfectly informed; I conjure you therefore not to conceal any thing from me.”

Then the jeweller, who desired nothing more, gave him a particular account of what had passed betwixt Ebn Thaher and himself.  He informed him that he was apprised of his correspondence with Schemselnihar. and forgot not to tell him that Ebn Thaher, alarmed at the danger of being his confidant in the matter, had communicated to him his intention of retiring to Bussorah, until the storm which he dreaded should be blown over.  “This he has executed,” added the jeweller, “and I am surprised how he could determine to abandon you, in the condition he informed me you were in.  As for me, prince, I confess, I am moved with compassion towards you, and am come to offer you my service.  If you do me the favour to accept of it, I engage myself to be as faithful to you as Ebn Thaher; besides, I promise