She saluted him, and the prince of Persia did likewise salute Schemselnihar’s confident.  The jeweller rose as soon as he saw her appear, and stepped aside, to leave them at liberty to speak together.  The confident, after conversing some time with the prince, took leave, and departed.  She left him quite another thing than before; his eyes appeared brighter, and his countenance more gay; which made the jeweller know that the good slave came to tell him some news that favoured his amour.

The jeweller having taken his place again near the prince, said to him, smiling, I see, prince, you have important affairs at the caliph’s palace.  The prince of Persia was astonished and alarmed at this discourse, and answered the jeweller, why do you judge that I have affairs at the caliph’s palace?  I judge, replied the jeweller, by the slave that is gone forth.  To whom, think you, belongs this slave? said the prince.  To Schemselnihar, the caliph’s favourite, answered the jeweller.  I know, continued he, both the slave and her mistress, who have several times done me the honour to come to my house, and buy jewels.  Besides, I know that Schemselnihar keeps nothing secret from this slave; and I have seen her go and come for several days along the streets, very much troubled, which made me imagine that it was upon some affair of consequence concerning her mistress.

The jeweller’s words did much trouble the prince of Persia.  He would not say so, said he to himself, if he did not suspect, or rather know, my secret.  He remained silent for some time, not knowing what to answer.  At length he said to the jeweller, You have told me those things which make me believe that you know yet more than you have acquainted me with.  It will tend much to my quiet if I be perfectly informed; I conjure you, therefore, not to dissemble.

Then the jeweller, who desired no better, gave him a particular account of what had passed between Ebn Thaher and himself; so that he let him know that he was informed of his correspondence with Schemselnihar; and forgot not to tell him that Ebn Thaher was afraid of the danger of being his confident in the matter, which was partly the occasion of his retiring to Balsora, to stay till the storm which he feared should he over.  This he has done, added the jeweller; and I am surprised how he could determine to abandon you in the condition he informed me you was in.  As for me, prince, I confess I am moved with compassion towards you, and am come to offer you my service; and if you do me the favour to accept of it, I engage myself to be as faithful to you as Ebn Thaher; besides, I promise to be more constant, I am ready to sacrifice my honour and life for you; and, in fine, that you may not doubt my sincerity, I swear, by all that is sacred in our religion, to keep your secret inviolable!  Be persuaded, then, that you will find in me the friend that you have lost.  This discourse encouraged the prince, and comforted