ey, and
could not unlock the chest; said he must go in search of it, and that he
would call on me again.

"After he had left me, I examined some writing upon the lid of the chest
that had been nearly effaced. I made out the word 'Smyrna,' and this was
sufficient to confirm all my suspicions. The Jew returned no more; he
sent some porters to carry away the chest, and I heard nothing of him for
some time, till one day, when I was at the house of Damat Zade, I saw a
glimpse of the Jew passing hastily through one of the courts, as if he
wished to avoid me. 'My friend,' said I to Damat Zade, 'do not attribute
my question to impertinent curiosity, or to a desire to intermeddle with
your affairs, if I venture to ask the nature of your business with the
Jew who has just now crossed your court?'

"'He has engaged to supply me with clothing for my slaves,' replied my
friend, 'cheaper than I can purchase it elsewhere. I have a design to
surprise my daughter Fatima, on her birthday, with an entertainment in
the pavilion in the garden, and all her female slaves shall appear in new
dresses on the occasion.'

"I interrupted my friend, to tell him what I suspected relative to this
Jew and his chest of clothes. It is certain that the infection of the
plague can be communicated by clothes, not only after months, but after
years have elapsed. The merchant resolved to have nothing more to do
with this wretch, who could thus hazard the lives of thousands of his
follow-creatures for a few pieces of gold. We sent notice of the
circumstance to the cadi, but the cadi was slow in his operations; and
before he could take the Jew into custody the cunning fellow had effected
his escape. When his house was searched, he and his chest had
disappeared. We discovered that he sailed for Egypt, and rejoiced that
we had driven him from Constantinople.

"My friend, Damat Zade, expressed the warmest gratitude to me. 'You
formerly saved my fortune; you have now saved my life, and a life yet
dearer than my own: that of my daughter Fatima.'

"At the sound of that name I could not, I believe, avoid showing some
emotion. I had accidentally seen this lady, and I had been captivated by
her beauty and by the sweetness of her countenance; but as I knew she was
destined to be the wife of another, I suppressed my feeling, and
determined to banish the recollection of the fair Fatima for ever from my
imagination. Her father, however, at this instant thre