isguised as a merchant, that
he might not be recognized in Persia. After much fatigue, he arrived
at Ispahan, and having privately made inquiry concerning the fate of
Shaseliman, received at first the most distressing accounts of him.

Some days after, as he was walking in the environs of the palace, he
found by chance one of the officers who had assisted the young Prince
when he was sitting near the fountain which we have already mentioned.
Having served together under the reign of Selimansha, they
recollected one another, and entered into conversation.

"You come from Egypt," said the officer: "did you meet Prince
Shaseliman?"

"Shaseliman!" replied the slave. "Ah! can he be alive after the
dreadful news that are spread here concerning him?"

"Yes, he is alive, and I will tell you, in confidence, how we learned
this."

He then related everything which had befallen him, as well as the
other officers, when they had met the Prince, and how, upon their
advice, the latter had taken the road to Egypt.

The pretended merchant, transported with joy, wished, in his turn, to
return the confidence of his former companion, and revealed to him the
whole mystery of his mission into Persia; after this he took his leave
of him to return into Egypt. In every place through which he passed he
made diligent inquiry after the young Prince, describing his
appearance as the officer had represented it to him. Being arrived at
the village where he expected to meet him, he was very much surprised
that no person could give any information concerning him. As he was
preparing to continue his journey, he found, at his going out of the
city, a young man asleep under a tree, near which some sheep were
feeding quietly.

He cast a look of compassion upon this poor creature, whose tattered
garments announced his misery.

"Alas!" said he, "it is impossible that this can be the man whom I
seek. This is doubtless the child of some unhappy shepherd. My trouble
will be lost; yet what do I risk by awaking this young man, and
inquiring concerning the person of whom I am in search? Let me not
neglect even this hopeless expedient."

Having soon awakened him, he put the same questions to him which he
had been accustomed to propose to every one.

"I am a stranger in these places," replied Shaseliman, who was afraid
to make himself known, being ignorant of the motives of this
curiosity; "but, if I am not greatly mistaken, from the description
which y