t none
the less surprised at his reception, lingered about the doorway for a
time and then returned home. He greeted his wife more pleasantly than
he had for many days, and told her of his strange reception.

"Why," said his wife, "don't you understand what the basin of water
thrown out of the door means?"

"Alas! no," said Hadji.

"Veyh! Veyh! (an exclamation of pity) it means that at the back of the
house there is a running stream, and that you must go to her that
way."

Off rushed Hadji and found that his wife was right; there was a
running stream at the back of the house, so he knocked at the back
door. The Hanoum, however, instead of opening it, came to the window,
showed a mirror, reversed it and then disappeared. Hadji lingered at
the back of the house for a long time, but seeing no further sign of
life, he returned to his home much dejected. On entering the house,
his wife greeted him with: "Well, was it not as I told you?"

"Yes," said Hadji. "You are truly a wonderful woman, Mashallah! But I
do not know why she came to the window and showed me a mirror both in
front and back, instead of opening the door."

"Oh," said his wife, "that is very simple; she means that you must go
when the face of the moon has reversed itself, about ten o'clock." The
hour arrived, Hadji hurried off, and so did his wife; the one to see
his love, and the other to inform the police.

Whilst Hadji and his charmer were talking in the garden the police
seized them and carried them both off to prison, and Hadji's wife,
having accomplished her mission, returned home.

The next morning she baked a quantity of lokum cakes, and taking them
to the prison, begged entrance of the guards and permission to
distribute these cakes to the prisoners, for the repose of the souls
of her dead. This being a request which could not be denied, she was
allowed to enter. Finding the cell in which the lady who had
infatuated her husband was confined, she offered to save her the
disgrace of the exposure, provided she would consent never again to
look upon Hadji, the merchant, with envious or loving eyes. The
conditions were gratefully accepted, and Hadji's wife changed places
with the prisoner.

When they were brought before the judge, Hadji was thunderstruck to
see his wife, but being a wise man he held his peace, and left her to
do the talking, which she did most vigorously, vehemently protesting
against the insult inflicted on both her and her hus