care that nothing be
wanting in the form." After this discourse with his Vizier, the Caliph
ordered Halechalbe to approach.

"Young man," said he, "your wife shall be restored to you, and you
shall have it in your power either to pardon or punish her. She is my
Grand Vizier's daughter; but nothing ought to have any influence in
preventing you from following the inclinations of your heart and the
dictates of your mind."

"O Commander of the Faithful!" exclaimed the young Halechalbe, "can I
retain any resentment against the person who is dearer to me than
life? I aspire after nothing but the happiness of seeing her again,
and if I can once more gain her heart, and the consent of her father,
I vow to an affection which will terminate only with my existence."

"Giafar," replied the Caliph, "I recommend the interests of your
daughter and son-in-law to your care. Henceforth consider him as a man
connected with my service, and for whom I mean to provide."

The Grand Vizier returned to his palace, holding Halechalbe by the
hand, and followed by the old woman, who perceiving herself at
liberty, soon made her escape to go and inform her mistress of the
visit which she might expect to receive. The Vizier, whom she had
outrun, at length arrived at his house. Zeraide arose to meet him, and
to give the usual marks of her attachment and respect; but a signal
with his hand, and a look of severity, forced her to desist.

"Suppress these demonstrations of attachment," said Giafar: "there can
be no love without confidence, and no respect without obedience. You
first married without my consent, and then, in a fit of delirium,
abusing the authority which I gave you over my servants, you went to
the most criminal excess against your husband, and committed a crime
which exposed us to the wrath of the Caliph. When you gave your hand
to the son of the chief of trade at Bagdad--a man esteemed and
respected by everybody, and valued even by the Caliph himself--did you
think that you were entering into a connection with the meanest slave?
And if the life even of these is to be spared, how could you imagine
that you might dispose of your husband's according to your pleasure
and caprice? I have brought him to you; he is your master, and in his
turn has your life in his power. Fall at his feet, and be assured that
you can never regain my esteem unless you obliterate from his mind, by
submission and obedience, the undeserved and cruel treatment wh