THE FORTY THIEVES 241

“Last night, sir,” said she, ‘““when you were
gone to bed, I got your bathing-linens ready, and
gave them to Abdoollah; afterwards I set on the
pot for the broth, but as I was preparing the
materials, the lamp, for want of oil, went out;
and as there was not a drop more in the house,
I looked for a candle, but could not find one.
Abdoollah, seeing me vexed, put me in mind of
the jars of oil which stood in the yard. I took
the oil-pot, went directly to the jar which stood
nearest to me, and, when I came to it, heard a
voice within, saying, ‘Is it time?’ Without
being dismayed, and comprehending immediately
the malicious intention of the pretended oil-
merchant, I answered, ‘Not yet, but presently.’
I then went to the next, when another voice
asked me the same question, and I returned the
same answer; and so on, till I came to the last,
which I found full of oil; with which I filled
my pot.

“When I considered that there were thirty- .
seven robbers in the yard, who only waited for a
signal to be given by the captain, whom you took
to be an oil-merchant, and entertained so hand-
somely, I thought there was no time to be lost.
I carried my pot of oil into the kitchen, lighted
the lamp, afterwards took the biggest kettle I