After this introduction, the jeweller entered upon the matter, and continued:  “Prince, I shall have the honour to tell you, that it is a long time since conformity of disposition, and some business we have had together, united Ebn Thaher and myself in strict friendship.  I know you are acquainted with him, and that he has employed himself in obliging you to his utmost.  I have learnt 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 Thaher took leave of him, and other neighbours, offering them his service at Bussorah, whither he is gone, said he, about an affair of great importance.  Not being satisfied with this answer, my concern for his welfare determined me to come and ask if you knew any thing particular concerning this his sudden departure.”

At this discourse, which the jeweller accommodated to the subject, the better to compass his design, the prince of Persia changed colour, and looked at the jeweller in a manner which convinced him how much he was disconcerted at the intelligence.  “I am surprised at what you inform me,” said he; “a greater misfortune could not befall me:  Ah!” he continued, with tears in his eyes, “if what you tell me be true, I am undone!  Has Ebn Thaher, who was all my comfort, 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 of:  mere friendship would not make him speak so; nothing but love could produce such lively sensations.

The prince continued some moments absorbed in melancholy thoughts; at last he lifted up his head, and calling one of his servants, said, “Go, to Ebn Thaher’s house, and ask some of his domestics if he be gone to Bussorah:  run, and come back quickly with the answer.”  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.  He was a prey to fatal grief:  sometimes he could not persuade himself that Ebn Thaher was gone, and at others he did not doubt of it, when he reflected upon the conversation he had had with him the last time he had seen him, and the abrupt manner in which he had left him.

At last the prince’s servant returned, and reported that he had spoken with one of Ebn Thaher’s servants, who assured him that he had been gone two days to Bussorah.  “As I came from Ebn Thaher’s house,” added the servant. “a slave well dressed met me, and after she had asked me if I had the honour to belong to you, told me she wanted to speak with you, and begged at the same time that she might accompany me:  she is in the outer room, and I believe has a letter to deliver to you from some person of consequence.”  The prince