athers be eternally defiled--those confounded Moussul merchants! Their
supposes always come to pass. I will seek them out, and be revenged."
So saying, Yussuf, who had come prepared with his brushes, razors, and
soap, turned off in a rage, and hastened through the streets for an hour
or two, looking at every passenger, to ascertain if he could find those
upon whom he would have wreaked his vengeance.

After a long walk, Yussuf sat down on a large stone. "Well," said he,
"I am still Yussuf, and my trust is in God; but it would be better,
instead of looking after these rascals, if I were to look out for some
means of providing myself with a supper to-night." So saying, he rose,
went home, put on some clothes of better materials, and twisting up his
red cotton sash for a turban, he took up his praying carpet, with a
determination to go to the bazaar and sell it for what it would fetch.
As he passed the mosque of Hosein, he observed several mollahs, reading
and expounding the more abstruse passages of the Koran. Yussuf knelt
and prayed awhile, and returning to the door of the mosque he was
accosted by a woman, who appeared to be waiting for some one. "Pious
sir," said she, "I perceive by your goodly habit and appearance, that
you are one of the cadi's law officers."

"I am as you please--I am Yussuf, and my trust is in God."

"Oh! my hadji, then become my protector. I have an unjust debtor, who
refuses me my due."

"You cannot entrust a better person," replied Yussuf. "I am a strong
arm of the law, and my interest at court is such, that I have already
procured two decrees."

"Those are great words, O hadji."

"Tell me, then, who is this debtor, that I may seize him, and carry him
before the cadi. Haste to tell me, and for a few dirhems I will gain
your cause, right or wrong."

"My complaint is against my husband, who has divorced me, and
notwithstanding, refuses me my dowry of five dinars, my clothes, and my
ornaments."

"What is your husband's trade?"

"Pious sir, he is an embroiderer of papouches."

"Let us lose no time, my good woman; show me this miracle of injustice,
and by Allah, I will confound him."

Upon this the woman unbound the string of coins from her head, and
cutting off three dirhems, presented them to Yussuf. Yussuf seized the
money, and tucking up his sleeves that he might appear more like an
officer, he bade her to lead to the delinquent. The woman led him to
the great mosque, whe