THE FORTY THIEVES 259

Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as
did also his son; and Khaujeh Houssain, seeing
that she was coming to him, had pulled his purse
out of his bosom to make her a present ; but while
he was putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with a
courage and resolution worthy of herself, plunged
the poniard into his heart.

Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action,
cried out aloud. ‘Unhappy wretch!” exclaimed
Ali Baba, “‘what have you done to ruin me and
my family?” ‘It was to preserve, not to ruin
you,” answered Morgiana; ‘for see here,” con-
tinued she (opening the pretended Khaujeh Hous-
sain’s garment, and showing the dagger), “ what
an enemy you had entertained! Look well at
him, and you will find him to be both the fictitious
oil-merchant and the captain of the gang of forty
robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no
salt with you; and what would you have more to
persuade you of his wicked design? Before I saw
him I suspected him as soon as you told me you
had such a guest. I knew him, and you now find
that my suspicion was not groundless.”

Ali Baba, who’immediately felt the new obliga-
tion he had to Morgiana for saving his life a second
time, embraced her: “ Morgiana,” said he, “I
gave you your liberty, and then promised you that