After this introduction, the jeweller entered upon the matter, and pursued it thus:  Prince, I shall have the honour to tell you, that it is a long time since the conformity of humour, and several affairs we had together, united Ebn Thaher and myself in strict friendship.  I know you are acquainted with him, and that he has been employed in obliging you in all that he could.  I am informed of this from himself; for he keeps nothing secret from me, nor I from him.  I went just now to his shop, and was surprised to find it shut.  I addressed myself to one of his neighbours, to ask the reason; he answered me, that, two days ago, Ebn Thater took his leave of him and other neighbours, offering them his service at Balsora, whither he was gone, he said, about an affair of great importance.  Not being satisfied with this answer, the concern that I have for whatever belongs to him, determined me to come and ask you if you knew any thing particularly concerning his sudden departure.

At this discourse, which the jeweller accommodated to the subject, that he might come the better to his design, the prince of Persia changed colour, and looked so as made the jeweller sensible that he was afflicted with the news.  I am surprised at what you inform me, said he; there could not befal me a greater misfortune.  Ah! said he, with tears in his eyes, I am undone if what you tell me be true!  Has Ebn Thaher, who was all my comfort, and in whom I put all my confidence, left me!  I cannot think of living after so cruel a blow.

The jeweller needed no more to convince him fully of the prince of Persia’s violent passion, which Ebn Thaher had told him:  mere friendship would not let him speak so; nothing but love could produce such feeling expressions.

The prince continued some moments swallowed up with these melancholy thoughts:  at last he lifted up his head, and calling one of his servants, Go, said he, to Ebn Timber’s house, and ask any of his domestics if he be gone to Balsora; run and come back quickly, and tell me what you hear.  While the servant was gone, the jeweller endeavoured to entertain the prince of Persia with indifferent subjects; but the prince gave little heed to him, for he was a prey to fatal grief.  Sometimes he could not persuade himself that Ebn Thaher was gone; at other times he did not doubt the truth of it, when he reflected upon the discourse he had the last time he saw him, and the angry countenance with which he left him.

At last the prince’s servant returned, and reported that he had spoken to one of Ebn Thaher servants, who assured him that he was gone two days before to Balsora.  As I came from Ebn Thaher’s house, added the servant, a slave well arrayed came to me, and, asking if I had the honour to belong to you, she told me she wanted to speak with you, begging, at the same time, that she might come along with me:  she is now in the house, and I believe has a letter to give you from some person of note.  The prince commanded him to bring her in immediately:  he doubted not but it was Schemselnihar’s confident slave, as indeed it was.  The jeweller knew who she was, having seen her several times at Ebn Thaher’s house.  She could not have come at a better time to hinder the prince from despair.