e me by showing me
the house you talk of, I will give you four pieces of gold to make
amends for my unbelief."

"I think," said the cobbler, after considering awhile, "that if you were
to blindfold me, I should remember every turning we made; but with my
eyes open I am sure I should never find it." Accordingly the robber
covered Mustapha's eyes with his handkerchief; and the cobbler led him
through most of the principal streets, and stopping by Cassim's door,
said, "Here it is; I went no further than this house."

The robber immediately marked the door with a piece of chalk; and,
giving Mustapha his four pieces of gold, dismissed him. Shortly after
the thief and Mustapha had quitted the door, Morgiana, coming home from
market, perceived the little mark of white chalk on the door. Suspecting
something was wrong, she directly marked four doors on one side and five
on the other of her master's, in exactly the same manner, without saying
a word to any one.

The robber meantime rejoined his troop and boasted greatly of his
success. His captain and comrades praised his diligence; and being well
armed, they proceeded to the town in different disguises, and in
separate parties of three and four together.

It was agreed among them that they were to meet in the market-place at
the dusk of evening, and that the captain and the robber who had
discovered the house were to go there first, to find out to whom it
belonged. When they arrived in the street, having a lantern with them,
they began to examine the doors, and found to their confusion and
astonishment that ten doors were marked exactly alike. The robber, who
was the captain's guide, could not say a word in explanation of this
mystery; and when the disappointed troop got back to the forest, his
enraged companions ordered him to be put to death.

Another now offered himself upon the same conditions as the former; and
having bribed Mustapha, and discovered the house, he made a mark with
the dark red chalk upon the door, in a part that was not in the least
conspicuous; and carefully examined the surrounding doors, to be certain
that no such marks were upon them. But nothing could escape the prying
eyes of Morgiana; scarcely had the robber departed, when she discovered
the red mark; and getting some red chalk, she marked seven doors on each
side, precisely in the same place and in the same manner. The robber,
valuing himself highly upon the precautions he had taken, triumphant