THE THREE CALENDERS AND FIVE LADIES. 65

ment was in tune, sung for some time on the same subject ; but
she became so affected by the words she uttered, that she had
not power to finish the air. Zobeidé began to praise her sister 5
“You have done wonders,” said she; “it is easy to perceive
that you feel the griefs you express.” Aminé had not time to
reply to this speech ; she felt herself so oppressed at that moment
that she could think of nothing but giving herself air, and
opening her robe, she exposed a bosom, not white, as the
beautiful Aminé ought to have had, but so covered with scars as
to create a species of horror in the spectators. This, however,
gave her no relief, and she fainted away.

Whilst Zobeidé and Safié ran to assist their sister, one of the
calenders exclaimed, “ We had better have slept in the open air
than come here to witness such a spectacle.”

The caliph, who heard him, drew near, and inquired what all
this meant. “We know no more than you,” replied the calender.
“What,” resumed the caliph, “do not you belong to the house?
Cannot you inform me about these two black dogs, and this lady,
who appears to have been so ill-treated?” “Sir,” said the
calender, “we never were in this house before now, and entered
it only a few minutes sooner than you did.” This increased the
astonishment of the caliph ; “ Perhaps,” said he, “the man who
is with you can give you some information.” The calender
made signs to the porter to draw near, and asked him if he
knew why the black dogs had been beaten, and why the bosom
of Aminé was so scarred. “Sir,” replied the porter, “I swear
by the great Prophet, that if you know nothing of the matter,
we are all equally ignorant. It is true that I live in this
city ; but before to-day I never entered this house; and if
you are surprised to see me here, I am not less so at being in
such company.” !

The caliph and his party, as well as the calenders, thought
that the porter belonged to the family, and that he would have
been able to have informe¢ them of what they wished so much
to know. The caliph, whatever might be the consequence,
tesolved to satisfy his curiosity. “Attend to me,” he said to
the rest ; ““we are seven men, and there are only three women ;
let us, then, compel them to give us the information we request,
and if they refuse to comply with a good grace, we can force
them to it.” The grand vizier, Giafar, opposed this plan, and

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