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 see them, the reason of it. 'My good master,' answered she, 'you will be better informed of what you wish to know, when you have seen what I have to show you, if you will take the trouble to follow me.'

As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her; and when she brought him into the yard, she bade him look into the first jar, and see if there was any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back frightened, and cried out. 'Do not be afraid,' said Morgiana; 'the man you see there can do neither you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead.'

'Ah, Morgiana! ' said Ali Baba, 'what is this you show me? Explain the meaning.'

'I will,' replied Morgiana; 'do not excite the curiosity of your neighbours; for it is of great importance to keep this affair secret. Look in all the other jars.'

Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when he came to that which had the oil in it, he found it much sunk, and stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his surprise. At last, when he had recovered himself he said, 'And what has become of the merchant?'

'Merchant!' answered she: 'he is as much one as I am. I will tell you who he is, and what has become of him; but you had better hear the story in your own room; for it is time for your health that you had your broth after your bathing.'

While Ali Baba went to his room, Morgiana went into the kitchen, to fetch the broth, and carry it to him; but before he would drink it, he first bade her satisfy his curiosity, and tell him the whole story, and she obeyed him.

'This,' said Morgiana, when she had finished, 'is the account you asked for; and I am convinced it is the sequel of an observation which I had made two or three days before, but did not think it necessary to acquaint you with; for when I came in one morning, early, I found our street-door marked with white chalk, and the next morning with red; and both times, without knowing what was the meaning of those chalks, I marked two or three neighbours' doors on each side in the same manner. If you reflect on this,