d handed down.

"`Now,' _says she_, `I want some dates, the best and finest that you
have.' I handed some down, that would have been admired by the ladies
of your highness's harem. `These, madam,' _says I_, `are the best dates
that are to be found in Cairo.' She tasted them, and asked the price: I
mentioned it. `They are dear,' replied she, `but I must have them
cheaper,' and again she lifted her veil. `Madam,' _says I_, `these
dates are much too cheap at the price which I have mentioned; it really
is impossible to take one para less; observe, madam,' _says I_, `the
beauty of them, feel the weight, and taste them,' _says I_, `and you
must acknowledge,' _says I_, `that they are offered to you at a price
which,' _says I_--"

"Holy Prophet!" cried the pacha in a rage; "I will hear no more of your
_says I's_: if you cannot tell your story without them, you shall fare
worse than Ali."

"May it please your highness, how will it be possible for you to know
what I said, unless I point out to you what I did say? I cannot tell my
story without it."

"I'll see that," replied the pacha, in a savage tone; and making a sign,
the executioner made his appearance. "Now, then, go on with your story;
and, executioner, after he has repeated _says I_ three times, off with
his head! Go on."

"I shall never be able to go on, your highness; consider one moment how
harmless my _says I's_ are to the detestable _you knows_ of Ali. That's
what I always told him `Ali,' _says I_, `if you only knew,' _says I_,
`how annoying you are! Why there,' _says I_--"

At this moment the blow of the scimitar fell, and the head of Hussan
rolled upon the floor; the lips, from the force of habit, still
quivering in their convulsions with the motioning which would have
produced _says I_, if the channel of sound had not been so effectually
interrupted.

"That story's ended!" observed the pacha in a rage. "Of all the
nuisances I ever encountered, these two men have beat them all. Allah
forbid that I should again meet with a _says I_, or _you know_!"

"Your highness is all wisdom," observed Mustapha; "may such ever be the
fate of those who cannot tell their stories without saying what they
said." The pacha, irritated at his disappointment, and little soothed
by the remark of Mustapha, without making any answer to it was about to
retire to his harem, when Mustapha, with a low salaam, informed him that
the renegade was in attendance to relate his S