, from the
moment when he was privately taken to a madhouse in a state of
insanity.

Her mistress now yielded to despair, and shut herself up with her
confidante, that she might indulge her sorrow and shed her tears
without restraint. The musical instrument, which had formerly been
employed to insult over the misfortune of Halechalbe, now served to
express her own complaints. The lady, quite inconsolable, could no
longer make verses, as she was wont to do when inspired by love or
revenge, but only uttered a few broken words, intermingled with sighs
and tears.

The good old woman was one day traversing the city, little thinking
that she would have any agreeable news to carry to her mistress, when,
as she passed through the quarter where Halechalbe's shop was, she
observed it open. Stopping to look at it, she discovered the master
himself, seated on a sofa and lost in deep thought, and she determined
to enter. As soon as she saw him she wished to throw herself into his
arms, and Halechalbe was running to meet her when he perceived her
approaching; but the Grand Vizier's spies, who had not lost sight of
the slave, interposed, carried off the woman, and conducted her to
Giafar.

Great was the astonishment of Giafar to find that the woman now
brought before him was Nemana, the old governess of his beloved
daughter Zeraide.

"Is it possible," said he, "that you whom my daughter loads with her
kindness should be engaged in the intrigue of Halechalbe's marriage?
Who is the woman you have given him for a wife?"

"O my Prince and master," answered Nemana, in great astonishment,
"whom could I serve but your daughter, the Princess Zeraide?"

Giafar was thunderstruck when he learned that his daughter had married
without his knowledge and consent; but knowing that the Caliph was
very anxious to get this affair unravelled, instead of returning to
his own palace to get an explanation from Zeraide, he instantly
repaired to the Commander of the Faithful, followed by Nemana and the
spies whom he had sent in pursuit of her.

"Wise Prince," said he "the old woman who was concerned in
Halechalbe's marriage has been found: she is at the door, and I have
put some questions to her. Halechalbe's wife," continued the Vizier,
"has only availed herself of the law delivered in the Koran, by
chastising her husband, who was surprised in a fault worthy of
punishment. The duties of husband and wife are reciprocal, and
Halechalbe had received