having a moment to lose, I set out without being
able to inform my father of my departure. I dispatched an express as
soon as it was in my power; but some accident must have befallen him,
as no news have been received of me.'

"The lady was satisfied with the excuse.

"'All Bagdad, however,' said she, 'supposed you dead, and, moreover,
magnificently buried; for a superb funeral was given you yesterday. I
will relate the whole affair to you, when once my husband has prepared
our neighbours for again seeing in good health the son whom they
believed dead.'

"The husband having with great pleasure undertaken the commission, the
woman returned to her recital.

"'Your slave informed your father and mother that you were to spend
the remainder of the day and the night in a garden with your friends.
This prevented them from being uneasy during that evening and next
day; but on the following days all the merchants of Bagdad were in
search of you. Messengers were sent to all the gardens in the
neighbourhood of the city, to the woods, and to a great distance in
the country. As you were nowhere to be found, and nobody had observed
you, it was conjectured that you had fallen into one of those snares
which are too common at Bagdad, where young people without knowledge
and experience find death in the very cup of pleasure.

"'Your father and mother tore their hair through grief; your family
and friends went into mourning. Some kind of consolation was supposed
to be derived from the pretended funeral, which all the mourners in
Bagdad were hired to attend, but where many real tears were shed.
Every person was affected with the distress of your parents.'

"This recital, O virtuous dervish! made me very uneasy. I perceived
the dreadful consequences of forgetting myself and my duty; and I
always considered my misfortunes, and the distraction of mind which
was the consequence thereof, as a punishment from Heaven, because, in
the arms of love, I was unmindful of the sacred obligations of nature.

"After our neighbour had related that part of my history which it was
necessary I should know, she rose up.

"'It is now time,' said she, 'to appear: my husband must already have
announced you; go, and confirm the account which he has given of your
return.'

"I then entered my father's house, and it is impossible to describe
his joy, much less that of my mother, who fainted away in my arms.

"'What!' said my father, 'you are returned from