. "How can I thank you for your
goodness towards a stranger, and for what you have done? Henceforth I
am your slave. Deal with me as you will!"

Then, in order to explain how I came to be changed into a dog, I told
her my whole story, and finished with rendering the mother the thanks
due to her for the happiness she had brought me.

"Sidi-Nouman," returned the daughter, "say no more about the obligation
you are under to us. The knowledge that we have been of service to you
is ample payment. Let us speak of Amina, your wife, with whom I was
acquainted before her marriage. I was aware that she was a magician,
and she knew too that I had studied the same art, under the same
mistress. We met often going to the same baths, but we did not like
each other, and never sought to become friends. As to what concerns
you, it is not enough to have broken your spell, she must be punished
for her wickedness. Remain for a moment with my mother, I beg," she
added hastily, "I will return shortly."

Left alone with the mother, I again expressed the gratitude I felt, to
her as well as to her daughter.

"My daughter," she answered, "is, as you see, as accomplished a
magician as Amina herself, but you would be astonished at the amount of
good she does by her knowledge. That is why I have never interfered,
otherwise I should have put a stop to it long ago." As she spoke, her
daughter entered with a small bottle in her hand.

"Sidi-Nouman," she said, "the books I have just consulted tell me that
Amina is not home at present, but she should return at any moment. I
have likewise found out by their means, that she pretends before the
servants great uneasiness as to your absence. She has circulated a
story that, while at dinner with her, you remembered some important
business that had to be done at once, and left the house without
shutting the door. By this means a dog had strayed in, which she was
forced to get rid of by a stick. Go home then without delay, and await
Amina's return in your room. When she comes in, go down to meet her,
and in her surprise, she will try to run away. Then have this bottle
ready, and dash the water it contains over her, saying boldly, "Receive
the reward of your crimes." That is all I have to tell you."

Everything happened exactly as the young magician had foretold. I had
not been in my house many minutes before Amina returned, and as she
approached I stepped in front of her, with the water in