nance totally disfigured. The blood was at length
stopped, but I was unable to allay the swelling or remove the marks of
her cruel teeth.

"At this moment the old woman came for me, and appeared surprised at
the situation in which she beheld me. I intended to tell her that I
had fallen upon a piece of broken glass, and I was ready to give the
same account to my spouse. But the treacherous Zaliza had previously
informed her of the whole matter. It was she who had played me that
base trick, and she had no doubt reported it to my spouse in such a
manner as to make me appear much more guilty than I really was. When I
arrived at the palace, instead of being received as formerly by an
eager and affectionate wife, I fell into the power of an enraged and
implacable judge.

"'What has hurt your cheek?' was the first question proposed by my
wife as soon as I was before her. I was about to tell her of the
pieces of glass, but she interrupted me with asking, 'whence I got the
censer which I held in my hand?'

"'It cost me two thousand sequins,' said I, stammering.

"'Liar!' replied my spouse, her eyes inflamed with rage, 'it cost you
much more: the account of it is on your cheek. Vile and base man! you
have made a trade of your love, but you shall pay dear for your
infamous conduct. Morigen,' said she, addressing her first eunuch,
'let him be beheaded.'

"Morigen had already seized me, when the old woman, our confidante,
threw herself at the feet of her mistress.

"'Oh, madam!' said she, 'do not commit such a crime; do not expose
yourself to remorse which you will be unable to support.'

"The behaviour of the old slave brought my wife to reflection. She
appeared to meditate a little; and then, changing her opinion, ordered
me to receive the bastinado. While Morigen was executing her rigorous
orders, which I endeavoured to bear without complaining, she seized a
musical instrument, and made the chords resound with an air which
expressed a mixture of jealous rage and malignant satisfaction.

"The pain I suffered totally deprived me of feeling; and I did not
recover till I was in my father's house, placed upon a bed, surrounded
by the whole family, and attended by physicians, who were employed in
procuring me relief. I had been carried away after the fatal execution
of my wife's orders, and left on the threshold of my father's door.

"It was six weeks before I recovered from the consequences of the
severe treatment I had und