fers you her hand in marriage. If you find it agreeable
to enter into this engagement after you have seen and conversed with
her, no other dowry is required than the ten thousand crowns in which
she stands indebted to you; if you do not agree to it, the money shall
instantly be paid down. But you must resolve to follow me, that you
may have it in your power to know whether the affair is agreeable to
your wishes.'

"During this discourse of the old woman, a flame, to which I was till
then quite a stranger, penetrated through my veins, and the hope which
was now suggested having increased its violence, I soon felt the fire
of love burning in my heart. The beautiful eyes of the lady, from the
first moment I beheld them, had so dazzled and blinded me concerning
my real interest, that I allowed her to carry off my goods without
knowing how I should receive payment for them. Though, in the visits
which she afterwards made me, her veil had wholly concealed the
features of her countenance, yet the fulness of her dress could not
conceal the elegance of her stature, the gracefulness of her motions,
the exquisite form of her foot, and the extraordinary beauty of her
hands. Besides, she disputed with me about the price with so much
courtesy, and with such an angelic voice, that she never left my shop
without carrying away something more than my goods; but I did not well
know what it was. Scarcely had she left my shop, when I felt myself
extremely uneasy; said to myself, This is a charming lady! and then
fell into a long state of profound thoughtfulness.

"When the old woman had informed me that the unknown lady was in love
with me, my passion increased to a desperate height. I ordered my
slaves to shut up my shop; and, having desired them to tell my father
and mother that I was going to enjoy myself with some of my friends,
in a garden at some distance from the city, before I returned home, I
put myself under the direction of the old woman.

"'You will never repent,' said she, as we went along, 'of having put
confidence in me; but you must still give me another proof of it. If
the lady is not agreeable to you, if you do not accept the proposals
which she is to make, and consequently a separation takes place, it is
proper that she should remain always unknown. Her delicacy requires
this; and I was ordered to put a covering over your eyes, that you may
not be able to discover the house to which you are going.'

"I readily agreed