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 of gold into his hand 'Well,' said Baba Mustapha, which was his name, and who was a merry old fellow, looking at the gold, though it was hardly daylight, and seeing what it was, 'this is good handling; what must I do for it? I am ready.'

'Baba Mustapha,' said Morgiana, 'you must take with you your sewing tackle, and go with me; but I shall blindfold you when you come to a certain place.'

Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. 'Oh, ho!' replied he, 'you would have me do something against my conscience, or against my honour.'

'Nay,' said Morgiana, putting another piece of gold into his hand, 'only come along with me, and fear nothing.'

Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his eyes with a handkerchief, at the place she told him of, took him to her deceased master's house, and never unbandaged his eyes till he came in. 'Baba Mustapha,' said she, 'you must make haste and sew these pieces of my master together; and when you have done, I will give you another piece of gold.'

After Baba Mustapha had done, she blindfolded him again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, imposed secrecy on him, and led him back to the place where she first bound his eyes. Then she pulled off the bandage, and let him go home, but watched till he was quite of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to return and dodge her; and then went home.

Morgiana had scarcely got home before the iman and the other ministers of the mosque came. Four neighbours carried the coffin on their shoulders to the burying-ground, following the iman, who recited some prayers. Morgiana, as a slave of the deceased, followed, weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair; and Ali Baba came after with some neighbours.

Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries with the women of the neighbourhood, who came according to custom during the funeral, and, joining their lamentations with hers, filled the quarter far and near with sorrow.

In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed and hushed up between Ali Baba, his wife, Cassim's widow, and