d Ahmet all he knew about the
necklace, but this gave no clue, and in despair he asked how many
diamonds the necklace contained. On being told that there were
twenty-four, Ahmet, to put off the evil hour, said it would take an
hour to discover each diamond, consequently would the Pasha come on
the morrow at the same hour when, Inshallah, he would perhaps be able
to give him some news.

The Pasha departed, and no sooner was he out of earshot, than the
troubled Ahmet exclaimed in a loud voice:

"Oh woman! Oh woman! what evil influence impelled you to go the wrong
path, and drag others with you! When the twenty-four hours are up, you
will perhaps repent! Alas! Too late. Your husband gone from you
forever! Without a hope even of being united in paradise."

Ahmet was referring to himself and his wife, for he fully expected to
be cast into prison on the following day as an impostor. But the slave
who had been listening gave another interpretation to his words, and
hurrying off, told her mistress that the astrologer knew all about the
theft. The good man had even bewailed the separation that would
inevitably take place. The Pasha's wife was distracted, and hurried
off to plead her cause in person with the astrologer. On approaching
Ahmet, the first words she said, in her excitement, were:

"Oh learned Hodja, you are a great and good man. Have compassion on
my weakness and do not expose me to the wrath of my husband! I will do
such penance as you may order, and bless you five times daily as long
as I live."

"How can I save you?" innocently asked Ahmet. "What is decreed is
decreed!"

And then, though silent, looked volumes, for he instinctively knew
that words unuttered were arrows still in the quiver.

"If you won't pity me," continued the Hanoum, in despair, "I will go
and confess to my Pasha, and perhaps he will forgive me."

To this appeal Ahmet said he must ask the stars for their views on the
subject. The Hanoum inquired if the answer would come before the
twenty-four hours were up. Ahmet's reply to this was a long and
concentrated gaze at the heavens.

"Oh Hodja Effendi, I must go now, or the Pasha will miss me. Shall I
give you the necklace to restore to the Pasha without explanation,
when he comes to-morrow for the answer?"

Ahmet now realized what all the trouble was about, and in
consideration of a fee, he promised not to reveal her theft on the
condition that she would at once return home and place the