you mad?' said she. 'Need I inform you that the marriage follows
the contract? Come, be wiser, and remain quiet till night, when
everything will be ready for the completion of the ceremony.'

"I continued in the hall, where a great number of slaves were
attentive to every motion and ready to anticipate every wish. I was in
a very extraordinary state of mind. The power of that feeling which
had made me run so fast with my eyes blindfolded was no longer felt,
and love remained fixed at the bottom of my heart, astonished at the
luxury with which I was surrounded, and the ceremony of this
extraordinary marriage.

"Towards the evening, a magnificent repast was served up, accompanied
with all kinds of confections, and exquisite wines, which I used very
sparingly. As soon as I made a signal for them to remove the dishes,
the old woman took me by the hand, and conducted me to the bath. I was
there received by eight slaves, dressed in silk, who wrapped me in
stuffs of the same material, entered into the water with me, and
served me with all that respect and attention which could have been
paid to the Caliph himself.

"Imagine, O respectable dervish, my astonishment: it almost deprived
me of my senses! I was soon drawn from it, however, by the appearance
of twenty female slaves, beautiful and well dressed. Some held
flambeaux, and other pots full of exquisite perfumes, the sweet odour
of which, mingled with that of the wood of aloes, which served to warm
the bath, embalmed the air, and raised an agreeable vapour to the very
roof of the apartment.

"From these delights I was carried to the enjoyment of others. Twenty
slaves went before me, and conducted me into a magnificent apartment;
I sat down on a sofa covered with cloth of gold. I was there attended
by the most melodious music, which was at the same time so cheerful
and lively, and so fitted to inspire delight, that I could not help
feeling a little reanimated. The slaves at length proposed to conduct
me into the apartment destined for the celebration of the nuptials.

"I arose. A great door opened; and I beheld the person approach who
had marked me out for her husband, preceded by twenty other slaves,
whom she alone could surpass in beauty. At the sight of her I remained
almost senseless; but this first impression instantly gave place to
love; and my passion at length assumed over me that power, which even
at this day makes me, every moment of my life, endure torments w