hopes, however, that the lady would
return; but the evening came, and she had not made her appearance.
This unhappy day was followed by two others of the same kind, and my
mother saw my distress increase, without being able to give it any
relief.

"In vain did she tell me that she would supply this loss out of her
own purse, and that I should consider what had happened to me as a
useful misfortune, for it was only by experience that man could learn
wisdom.

"All her discourses were in vain: nothing could console me for having
allowed myself to be cheated by a pair of fine eyes, by mere
compliment and show; my vanity, which was hurt, tormented my soul.

"On the fourth day the unknown lady at last came to my shop, and threw
a large purse upon my counter.

"'Fair young man,' said she, 'I bring you your money; see if the
account is right.'

"At this desirable and unexpected sight my fears and anxieties
vanished, and I felt myself suddenly recover new life.

"The unknown lady caused other stuffs to be brought to her. She chose
some of them, and carried from my shop goods to the value of three
hundred pieces of gold. In my enthusiasm I would have given her credit
for two thousand. As soon as she was gone I returned to my mother, and
now showed as much joy as formerly I had shown sorrow and dejection. I
related to her the lucky adventure of the day, and perceived the full
force of the reasoning which till that time she had made use of in
vain, to persuade me that in trade _he who never ventures can never
gain_.

"In short, respectable dervish, I continued to deal in the same manner
with the unknown lady, who always carried from my shop stuffs worth
more money than she left in it, till she was owing me about ten
thousand crowns, equal to all the profit which I had been able to make
in my different bargains with her.

"One day, after opening my shop, I was scarcely seated on my sofa when
an aged woman came and accosted me. I thought she wanted some robes or
stuffs, and proposed to show them to her.

"'No, my son,' answered she, 'I am entrusted with a commission of much
greater importance: I come from the young lady who owes you ten
thousand crowns. I do not bring you payment, but I am charged by her
to tell you that you became her merchant in preference to every other
of the same profession at Bagdad, only because her heart granted you a
preference of another kind. In short, she is beautiful, young, and
rich, and of