ith myself, which made the time pass
agreeably. After the first month had expired, I began to visit my
merchants twice a week, taking with me a public officer to
inspect their books of sale, and a banker to see that they paid
me in good money, and to regulate the value of the several coins.
Every pay-day, I had a good sum of money to carry home to my
lodging at the khan of Mesrour. I went on other days to pass the
morning sometimes at one merchant's house, and sometimes at that
of another. In short, I amused myself in conversing with them,
and seeing what passed in the bazaar.

One Monday, as I was sitting in a merchant's shop, whose name
was Buddir ad Deen, a lady of quality, as might easily be
perceived by her air, her apparel, and by a well-dressed slave
attending her, came into the shop, and sat down by me. Her
external appearance, joined to a natural grace that shone in all
her actions, prepossessed me in her favour, and inspired me with
a desire to be better acquainted with her. I know not whether she
observed that I took pleasure in gazing on her, and whether this
attention on my part was not agreeable to her; but she let down
the crepe that hung over the muslin which covered her face, and
gave me the opportunity of seeing her large black eyes; which
perfectly charmed me. In fine, she inflamed my love to the height
by the agreeable sound of her voice, her graceful carriage in
saluting the merchant, and asking him how he did since she had
seen him last.

After conversing with him some time upon indifferent subjects, she
gave him to understand that she wanted a particular kind of stuff with
a gold ground; that she came to his shop, as affording the best choice
of any in all the bazaar; and that if he had any such as she asked
for, he would oblige her in showing them. Buddir ad Deen produced
several pieces, one of which she pitched upon, and he asked for it
eleven hundred dirhems of silver. "I will," said she, "give you your
price for it, but I have not money enough about me; so I hope you will
give me credit till to-morrow, and in the mean time allow me to carry
home the stuff. I shall not fail," added she, "to send you tomorrow
the eleven hundred dirhems." "Madam," said Buddir ad Deen, "I would
give you credit with all my heart if the stuff were mine; but it
belongs to the young man you see here, and this is the day on which we
settle our accounts." "Why," said the lady in surprise, "do you use me
so? Am not I