Part 34 (1/2)

One of the servants appeared to be struck by so unusual, as I pronouncedit; but all suspicion was at an end when they felt the weight which I gave myself, as they helped

I deliberately dish I bungled about the passages, yet, following the man who seemed to act as the confidential servant, I came to the little door which leads into the anderun I permitted him to do what he no doubt was daily accustomed to do, and just as he had opened the door, and I had advanced two or three paces, he shouted out, ?_Cheragh biar_, bring lights,? and then retired

A clatter of slippers and wo slaves ca towardswho should first reach hted up, and I could perceive in it more women than one That I took to be the residence of the principal personage, the no of the deceased; and I dreaded lest the slaves should conduct ood stars, I must have fallen upon a most propitious moment, when the mollah bashi+ and his wife had quarrelled; an event which see hted apartment, drew me on to a door which led into a s rooet rid of them was my next care; for as they had walked before ht of my face, and had they entered the room with me, perhaps they would have ht fron of the head Had I been the same inconsiderate youth as at the time of my acquaintance with Zeenab, perhaps I should have coht have led toslaves with apprehension and even with terror; and certainly one of the reeable moments of my existence hen I saw them turn their backs upon e inthe last hour, was so unexpected, that I felt like one treading between heaven and earth; andgot over the most difficult part of the imposture, was at one moment to exult and be joyful, and at another to shi+ver with apprehension lest ht abandon me

[Illustration: Hajji in the ]

CHAPTER LVIII

Of the consequences of the adventure, which threaten danger, but end in apparent good fortune

I carefully fastened the inside of my door as soon as I was left to myself, and put my candle in so remote a corner of the roolass , they could never discover that I was not thedone this, it then struck ht be elicited froined ?Let ood irdle; perhaps they ht-hand pocket were two notes, a rosary, and his seals In the left his ink-stand, a slass, and a comb His watch was kept in the breast of his coat, and in another small pocket, nearly under his arm-pit, was his purse

The purse first caold and two pieces of silver The watch was gold, and of English manufacture His inkstand, beautifully painted, was also valuable, and contained a penknife, scissors, and pens All these and the other trinkets I duly looked upon as ame), and I replaced them in their proper places on my person

The notes then came under inspection One was to this purpose, without a seal

?O friend! my intimate! my brother!? (?O,? said I, ?this is from an equal!?) ?You know the affection that the friend who addresses you entertains for that bright star of the age, the shadow of our blessed Prophet, and his only wish is, that their intithen He sends him six choice Ispahan melons, such as are not to be found every day, and requests hiive him an unlimited permission to drink wine; for the doctors assure hi to be the scourge and extirpator of the enemies of the true faith?

?This can only be from the chief executioner,? said I immediately

?Who else in Persia could express in such feords his own character, na of this; but let me look at the other note I opened it, and read as follows:

?O my lord and master, ?The humble inferior who presumes to address the prop of the true faith, the terror of infidels, and the refuge of the sinner, begs leave to lay before hi encountered a thousand difficulties, he has at length succeeded in getting froes one hundred tomauns in ready rain: that the h he had bastinadoed him twice, and he had in consequence taken possession of his ts: that he would go on beating and exerting himself to the best of his abilities; and if some one was sent for the money which he had now in hand, he would deliver it over upon receiving a proper order?

The note then finished with the usual form of words from an inferior to his master, and was sealed with a small seal, upon which was impressed Abdul Kerim, the name of the writer

?Ah,? said I, ?may my lucky stars still protect me, and I will discover who this Abdul Kerie from whence he writes, and then the hundred tomauns become mine However, I let that ood account to which I ht turn the note from the chief executioner After due reflection I wrote as follows:--

?O my friend! my soul! ?The note of that friend without compare has been received, and its contents understood When the sacred standard of Isla that lion of lions, that double-bladed sword, that tower of strength, when he may be saved and preserved, who can doubt what is to be done? Drink, O friend, drink wine, and copiously too; and let the enemies of all true believers tremble May thy house prosper, for the melons; but add one more favour to the many already conferred; lend thy friend a horse, duly caparisoned, for he has pressing business on hand, and he will return it safe and sound, as soon as the star of his destiny shall direct hiain?

This I impressed with the seal of the deceased, and deter

To the other note I wrote the following answer:

?To the well-beloved Abdul Kerim ?We have received your note, and have understood its contents This will be delivered to you by our confidential Hajji Baba Beg, to whom you will deliver whatever money you have in hand for us On other subjects you will hear froo on with the bastinado, and we pray Allah to take you into his holy keeping?

Having duly accomplished this, I waited for a proper hour to er of a discovery, which perhaps ht, and I was preparing to issue in great secrecy froently pressed as if soined than described I expected to see, at least, the _daroga_ (police istrate) and all his officers rush in and seize ony for the result of the intrusion, when I heard the sound of a feitation prevented ht have been the object of the visit, I had but one answer to give, and that was a loud and heavy snore, which sufficiently proclaimed that the occupant of the apartment was in no humour to be disturbed

I waited for sohout the mansion, theneasily opened, I fled as if pursued I watched the best opportunities to steal along the streets withoutdiscovered by the sentinels on duty The day at length dawned, and the bazaars, little by little, began to open