; if you could
give me a little room to stay in and fix its price, I shall then be
at ease in my mind, and embark likewise.'

"The merchants allotted me a cabin, and I paid the money for the hire
of it. Having set my heart at ease, I went to the nurse's house under
some pretext, and said, 'O mother, I am come to take leave of thee,
and am now returning to my country; if I could through your kindness
see the princess for a moment, it would be a great satisfaction to
me.' At last, the nurse complied [with my request]. I said, 'I will
return at night, and wait in such a place;' she replied, 'Very well,'
Having settled [this point], I returned to the _sarai_, and carried my
chest and bedding on board the vessel and delivered them in charge to
the master, and added, 'I will bring my female slave on board to-morrow
morning.' The master said, 'Come speedily, as we shall weigh anchor
to-morrow early,' I answered, 'Very well.' When the night came, I
went to the place I had fixed upon with the nurse, and waited. After
a watch of the night had passed, the gate of the seraglio opened,
and the princess came out dressed in soiled and dirty clothes, with
a casket of jewels in her hand; she delivered the casket to me, and
went along with me. As soon as it was morning, we reached the seaside,
and embarking on a skiff we went on board the vessel; this faithful
dog also went with me. When it was broad daylight, we weighed anchor
and set sail. We were sailing along in perfect security, when the
report of a cannon was heard from one of the ports. All [on board]
were surprised and alarmed; the ship was anchored, and a consultation
was held among us [to know] if the governor of the port intended some
foul play, and what could be the cause of the firing of cannon.

"It happened, that all the merchants had some handsome female slaves
[on board], and for fear lest the governor of the port might seize
them, they locked them up in chests. I did so likewise, and having
shut up my princess in my chest, I locked it. In the meanwhile,
the governor and his suite appeared on board a swift sailing vessel,
and constantly nearing us, he came and boarded our ship. Perhaps the
cause of his coming to us was this: that when the news of the nurse's
death and the princess's disappearance became known to the king, in
consequence of his being ashamed to mention the [princess's] name,
he sent orders to the governor of the port, saying, 'I have heard
that the Pers