beaten, and why the bosom of Amina
was so scarred.

"Sir," replied the porter, "if you know nothing of the matter, I know
as little as you do. I never was in the house until now; and if you
are surprised to see me here, I am as much so to find myself in your
company."

The caliph, more and more perplexed at all he heard, determined that
he would have the information he required for the explaining these
mysterious proceedings. But the question was, who should first make
the inquiry? The caliph endeavored to persuade the calenders to speak
first, but they excused themselves. At last they all agreed that the
porter should be the man.

While they were consulting how to put the question, Zobeide herself,
as Amina had recovered from her fainting, approached them, and
inquired, "What are you talking of? What is your contest about?"

The porter then addressed her as follows: "These gentlemen, madam,
entreat you to explain why you wept with those dogs, after having
treated them so ill, and how it has happened that the lady who fainted
has her bosom covered with scars."

At these words Zobeide put on a stern look, and turning toward the
caliph and the rest of the company: "Is it true, gentlemen," said she,
"that you desired him to ask me these questions?"

All of them, except the vizier Giafar, who spoke not a word, answered
"Yes." She thereupon exclaimed, in a tone of resentment: "Before we
granted you the favor of receiving you into our house, and to prevent
all occasion of inquiry from you, we imposed the condition that you
should not speak of anything that did not concern you, lest you might
hear that which would not please you; and yet, after having received
our entertainment, you make no scruple to break your promise. Our easy
compliance with your wishes may have occasioned this, but that shall
not excuse your rudeness."

As she spoke these words, she gave three stamps with her foot, and
clapping[13] her hands as often together, cried, "Come quickly!"

Upon this a door flew open, and seven black slaves[14] rushed in; each
one seized a man, threw him to the ground, and dragged him into the
middle of the room, brandishing a scimitar over his head.

[Footnote 13: This is the ordinary mode in the East of calling the
attendants in waiting.]

[Footnote 14: In this manner the apartments of ladies were constantly
guarded.--Beckford's _Vathek_, Notes to p. 204.]

We can easily conceive the alarm of the caliph. He repe