M. W. Montague's _Letters_,
Vol. VII, p. 373.]

The pain and my surprise were so great that I fell down in a swoon,
and continued insensible so long that the merchant had time to escape.
When I came to myself I found my cheek covered with blood. The old
woman and my slaves took care to cover it with my veil, and the people
who came about us could not perceive it, but supposed I had only had a
fainting fit.

The old woman who accompanied me being extremely troubled at this
accident, endeavored to comfort me.

"My dear mistress," said she, "I beg your pardon, for I am the cause
of this misfortune, having brought you to this merchant, because he
is my countryman; but I never thought he would be guilty of such a
villainous action. But do not grieve. Let us hasten home, and I will
apply a remedy that shall in three days so perfectly cure you that not
the least mark shall be visible."

The pain had made me so weak that I was scarcely able to walk. But at
last I got home, where I again fainted, as I went into my chamber.
Meanwhile, the old woman applied her remedy. I came to myself, and
went to bed.

My husband came to me at night, and seeing my head bound up, asked me
the reason. I told him I had the headache, which I hoped would have
satisfied him; but he took a candle, and saw my cheek was hurt.

"How comes this wound?" he said.

Though I did not consider myself as guilty of any great offense, yet I
could not think of owning the truth. Besides, to make such an avowal
to a husband, I considered as somewhat indecorous.

I therefore said, "That as I was going, under his permission, to
purchase a silk stuff, a camel,[37] carrying a load of wood, came so
near to me in a narrow street, that one of the sticks grazed my cheek,
but had not done me much hurt."

"If that is the case," said my husband, "to-morrow morning, before
sunrise, the grand vizier Giafar shall be informed of this insolence,
and cause all the camel drivers to be put to death."

"Pray, sir," said I, "let me beg of you to pardon them, for they are
not guilty."

[Footnote 37: The streets of Eastern cities are often so narrow as to
be blocked up with a wide camel load, or to prevent two horsemen
riding abreast. This is the cause of those footmen who run before
great men to prepare the way for them.]

"How, madam," he demanded, "what, then, am I to believe? Speak; for I
am resolved to know the truth from your own mouth."

"Sir," I replied, "I was ta