e sight of the dangerous
Fatima. I have no passion for any other woman.'

"'Then,' said my friend, embracing me, and quitting the tone of anger
which he had assumed only to try my resolution to the utmost, 'Then,
Saladin, Fatima is yours.'

"I scarcely dared to believe my senses; I could not express my joy! 'Yes,
my friend,' continued the merchant, 'I have tried your prudence to the
utmost, it has been victorious, and I resign my Fatima to you, certain
that you will make her happy. It is true I had a greater alliance in
view for her--the Pacha of Maksoud has demanded her from me; but I have
found, upon private inquiry, he is addicted to the intemperate use of
opium, and my daughter shall never be the wife of one who is a violent
madman one-half the day and a melancholy idiot during the remainder. I
have nothing to apprehend from the pacha's resentment, because I have
powerful friends with the grand vizier, who will oblige him to listen to
reason, and to submit quietly to a disappointment he so justly merits.
And now, Saladin, have you any objection to seeing the feast of tulips?'

"I replied only by falling at the merchant's feet, and embracing his
knees. The feast of tulips came and on that day I was married to the
charming Fatima! The charming Fatima I continue still to think her,
though she has now been my wife some years. She is the joy and pride of
my heart; and, from our mutual affection, I have experienced more
felicity than from all the other circumstances of my life, which are
called so fortunate. Her father gave me the house in which I now live,
and joined his possessions to ours; so that I have more wealth even than
I desire. My riches, however, give me continually the means of relieving
the wants of others; and therefore I cannot affect to despise them. I
must persuade my brother Murad to share them with me, and to forget his
misfortunes: I shall then think myself completely happy. As to the
sultana's looking-glass and your broken vase, my dear brother," continued
Saladin, "we must think of some means--"

"Think no more of the sultana's looking-glass or of the broken vase,"
exclaimed the sultan, throwing aside his merchant's habit, and showing
beneath it his own imperial vest. "Saladin, I rejoice to have heard,
from your own lips, the history of your life. I acknowledge, vizier, I
have been in the wrong in our argument," continued the sultan, turning to
his vizier. "I acknowledge that the hi