was so struck with her beauty, that I was quite speechless. 'Am I not
right?' said she, smiling. 'From you, madam,' _says I_, 'I can take
nothing; put as many in the basket of your porter as you please.' She
thanked me, and put into the basket all that I had handed down. 'Now,'
_says she_, 'I want some dates, the best and finest that you have.' I
handed some down that would have been admired by the ladies of your
highness's harem. 'These, madam,' _says I_, 'are the best dates that are
to be found in Cairo.' She tasted them, and asked the price; I mentioned
it. 'They are dear,' replied she, 'but I must have them cheaper;' and
again she lifted her veil. 'Madam,' _says I_, 'these dates are much too
cheap at the price which I have mentioned; it really is impossible to
take one para less; observe, madam,' _says I_, 'the beauty of them, feel
the weight, and taste them,' _says I_, 'and you must acknowledge,' _says
I_, 'that they are offered to you at a price which,' _says I_----"

"Holy prophet!" cried the pacha in a rage; "I will hear no more of your
_says I's_: if you cannot tell your story without them, you shall fare
worse than Ali."

"May it please your highness, how will it be possible for you to know
what I said, unless I point out to you what I did say? I cannot tell my
story without it."

"I'll see that," replied the pacha, in a savage tone; and, making the
sign, the executioner made his appearance. "Now, then, go on with your
story; and, executioner, after he has repeated _says I_ three times, off
with his head! Go on."

"I shall never be able to go on, your highness; consider one moment how
harmless my _says I's_ are to the detestable _you knows_ of Ali. That's
what I always told him; 'Ali,' _says I_, 'if you only knew,' _says I_,
'how annoying you are! Why there,' _says I_!" At this moment the blow of
the scimitar fell, and the head of Hussan rolled upon the floor; the
lips from the force of habit still quivering in their convulsions, with
the motioning which would have produced _says I_, if the channel of
sound had not been so effectually interrupted.

"That story's ended!" observed the pacha in a rage. "Of all the
nuisances I ever encountered, these two men have beat them all. Allah
forbid that I ever should again meet with a _says I_, or a _you know_!"

"Your highness is all wisdom," observed Mustapha; "may such ever be the
fate of those who cannot tell their stories without saying what they
said." The pac