Page:The Garden of Romance - 1897.djvu/33

Rh father, who was already returning from prayers. I looked out at the same time, and saw the barber seated exactly opposite, and on the same bench from whence I had beheld the lady the first time.

"I had now two subjects for alarm, the arrival of the cadi, and the presence of the barber. The young lady dissipated my fears on the first, by telling me that her father very rarely came up into her apartment; but as she had foreseen that such an interruption might take place, she had prepared the means for my escape in case of necessity; but the indiscretion of that unlucky barber caused me great uneasiness, and you will soon perceive that this disquietude was not without foundation.

"As soon as the cadi was returned home, he himself inflicted the bastinado on a slave who had deserved it. The slave uttered loud cries, which were distinguishable even in the street. The barber thought I was the person whom they were treating ill, and that these were my cries. Fully persuaded of this, he began to call out as loud as he could, to tear his clothes, throw dust upon his head, and call for help to all the neighbours who ran out to him. They inquired what was the matter, and what assistance they could give him. 'Alas!' cried he, 'they are assassinating my master, my dear lord;' and without saying another word, he ran to my house, crying out in the same way, and returned, followed by all my servants armed with sticks. They knocked furiously at the door of the cadi, who sent a slave to know what the noise was about; but the slave, quite terrified, returned to his master. 'My lord,' said he, 'above ten thousand men will come into your house by force, and are already beginning to break open the door.'