ook the same oath, and both waited
Mesrour's return.

While the caliph and Zobeide were disputing so earnestly, and
with so much warmth, Abou Hassan, who foresaw their difference,
was very attentive to whatever might happen. As soon as he
perceived Mesrour through a window, at which he sat talking with
his wife, and observed that he was coming directly to their
apartment, he guessed his commission, and bade his wife make
haste to act the dead part once more, as they had agreed, without
loss of time; but they were so pressed, that Abou Hassan had much
ado to wrap up his wife, and lay the piece of brocade which the
caliph had given him upon her, before Mesrour reached the house.
This done, he opened the door of his apartment, and with a
melancholy, dejected countenance, and his handkerchief before his
eyes, went and sat down at the head of the pretended deceased.

By the time he was seated, Mesrour came into the room. The dismal
sight which met his eyes, gave him a secret joy on account of the
errand the caliph had sent him on. Abou Hassan rose up to meet
him, and kissing his hand out of respect, said, sighing and
sobbing, "You see me under the greatest calamity that ever could
have befallen me the death of my dear wife, Nouzhatoul-aouadat,
whom you honoured with your favours."

Mesrour, affected by this discourse, could not refuse some tears to
the memory of the deceased. He lifted up the cloth a little at the
head, and peeping under it, let it down again, and said, with a deep
sigh, "There is no other God but Allah, we must all submit to his
will, and every creature must return to him. Nouzhatoul-aouadat, my
good sister," added he, sighing, "thy days have been few: God have
mercy on thee." Then turning to Abou Hassan, who was all the time in
tears, "We may well say," added he, "that women sometimes have whims,
and lose their senses in a most unpardonable manner; for Zobeide, good
mistress as she is, is in that situation at present; she will maintain
to the caliph that you are dead, and not your wife; and whatever the
caliph can say to the contrary, he cannot persuade her otherwise. He
called me to witness and confirm this truth; for you know I was
present when you came and told him the sorrowful news: but all
signifies nothing. They are both positive; and the caliph, to convince
Zobeide, has sent me to know the truth, but I fear I shall not be
believed; for when women once take up a thing, they are not to be
beaten