32 ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES.

so you would have said had you known

_ that not long ago I sewed up a dead body

in a place where there was not more light
than we have now.” ;

The thief felt great satisfaction at
having so soon found a man who gave
him the very news he wanted. “A
body,” said he, with feigned surprise,
‘‘why sew up a dead body?”. * Oh!”
said Baba Mustapha, ‘I know ; you want
me to tell you all about it, but you shall
not know another word.”

The thief hereupon drew out a piece of
gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha’s
hand, said, ‘I have no desire to know any
secret. The only thing I ask of you is
to come with me, and show me the house
where you sewed up the dead body.”

“*T cannot,” replied Baba Mustapha.
“And I will tell you why: they took
me to a particular street and there they
bound my eyes, and then led me to the —
house; and when I had finished led me
back the same way.” ‘But at least,”
said the thief, <‘ you must remember the
way you went after your eyes were
bound ; pray come with me, I will put a
bandage over your eyes at that place,
and we will walk together along the
same streets, and follow the same