ith all speed."

When they came to the house there was neither bed, sofa, table, nor
dish in it. The slave instantly sent Alischar to the market to get a
few necessary moveables and provisions. He did what she bade him.
Smaragdine forthwith put the house in the nicest order, and set about
dressing a little supper with the most exquisite skill. In short, the
next day Alischar married the beautiful slave. Then Smaragdine set
herself busily to work in embroidering a carpet. She represented on it
all sorts of quadrupeds so skilfully that one expected to see them
move; and birds, so that it was a wonder one did not hear them
singing. In the whole of this work she occupied only eight days, and
when these were over she sent her man to the market to sell the
carpet, cautioning him, however, with great strictness, to avoid
falling into any adventure that might terminate in their separation.
Alischar followed scrupulously the instructions of his wife, and in
this manner, supported by Smaragdine's needlework, they spent a whole
year of undisturbed felicity.

One day, as Alischar was going to market with one of Smaragdine's
coverlets, as usual, to sell, he happened to meet with a certain
Infidel who at once offered him sixty ducats for it. He had a secret
disinclination to have any dealings with a Giaour, and asked first
sixty-five, and then seventy ducats, and so up at last to a hundred.
The man, to his astonishment, said, "Well, there is your money;" and
not having the face to play the extortioner further, Alischar pursed
the gold, and returned homewards. He was close to the door of his
house ere he observed that the Giaour had been following him, and was
just behind him.

"I see you are now at home," said the Infidel, "and I beg you will
have the kindness to give me a cup of water, for I have been broiling
in the streets all day, and am ready to expire with thirst."

Alischar, who would never have forgiven himself for refusing so
trivial a civility, went immediately into the house for a jug of
water.

"Where have you been lingering so long to-day?" said Smaragdine. "I
know not how or why, but a certain painful anticipation of some
misfortune has been hanging over my mind ever since you went out. It
rejoices my very heart to see you come home sound and well again; but
what is it you want with the water-jug?"

"Only to refresh a person who seems about to die of thirst," answered
Alischar; "but I shall be back again in a mo