fer lying on a mat to a bed. About
midnight, after the magician had satisfied the master of the
house for what little he had called for, he went out, and
proceeded directly to the cell of Fatima. He had no difficulty to
open the door, which was only fastened with a latch, and he shut
it again after he had entered, without any noise. When he entered
the cell, he perceived Fatima by moonlight lying in the air on a
sofa covered only by an old mat, with her head leaning against
the wall. He awakened her, and clapped a dagger to her breast.

The pious Fatima opening her eyes, was much surprised to see a
man with a dagger at her breast ready to stab her, and who said
to her, "If you cry out, or make the least noise, I will kill
you; but get up, and do as I shall direct you."

Fatima, who had lain down in her habit, got up, trembling with fear.
"Do not be so much frightened," said the magician; "I only want your
habit, give it me and take mine." Accordingly Fatima and he changed
clothes. He then said to her, "Colour my face, that I may be like
you;" but perceiving that the poor creature could not help trembling,
to encourage her he said, "I tell you again you need not fear
anything: I swear by the name of God I will not take away your life."
Fatima lighted her lamp, led him into the cell, and dipping a soft
brush in a certain liquor, rubbed it over his face, assured him the
colour would not change, and that his face was of the same hue as her
own: after which, she put her own head-dress on his head, also a veil,
with which she shewed him how to hide his face as he passed through
the town. After this, she put a long string of beads about his neck,
which hung down to the middle of his body, and giving him the stick
she used to walk with in his hand, brought him a looking-glass, and
bade him look if he was not as like her as possible. The magician
found himself disguised as he wished to be; but he did not keep the
oath he so solemnly swore to the good Fatima; but instead of stabbing
her, for fear the blood might discover him, he strangled her; and when
he found she was dead, threw her body into a cistern just by the cell.

The magician, thus disguised like the holy woman Fatima, spent
the remainder of the night in the cell. The next morning, two
hours after sunrise, though it was not a day the holy woman used
to go out on, he crept out of the cell, being well persuaded that
nobody would ask him any questions; or, if they shoul