THE TAILOR’S STORY. 219

the young gentleman IJ spoke to you of the other day ; it is all
over with him; he is at the point of death. and all for love of
you; it is a great pity, I assure you, and you are very cruel.’
‘I do not know,’ said she, ‘ why you should accuse me of being
the cause of his death: how can I have contributed to his ill-
ness?? ‘How!” replied I, ‘did I not tell you that he seated
himself before your window just as you opened it to water your
flowers? He was so charmed with your beauty, that he is now
reduced to the pitiable state I have had the honour of describing
to you. You may remember, madam, continued I, ‘how rigor-
ously you treated me lately when I was going to tell you of his
illness. From that time, madam, he has been in the most im-
minent danger of death, and I do not know whether you could
now save his life even if you were inclined to take pity on him,

“This was what I said to her, added the old lady. ‘The
fear of your death staggered her, and I saw her face change
colour. ‘Is what you say to me quite true?’ said she ; ‘and does
his illness proceed only from his love of me?’ ‘Ah, madam,
replied I, ‘it is but too true’ ‘And do you really think,’ re-
sumed she, ‘that the hope of seeing and speaking to me could
contribute to diminish the peril of his situation?’ ‘It very
likely may, said 1; ‘and if you desire me, I will try this re-
medy. ‘Well, then, replied she, ‘let him hope that he may see
me; but he must not expect more than one visit, unless he as-
pires to marry me, and my father gives his consent!’ * Madam,
said I, ‘you are very good; I will go directly to this young
gentleman, and announce to him that he will have the pleasure
of seeing and conversing with you.’ ‘I do not know,’ said she,
‘that I can fix a more convenient time to see him than on Fni-
day next during the mid-day prayer. Let him observe when my
father goes out to attend at the mosque ; and then let him come
immediately before this house, if he is well enough to go
abroad. 1 shall see him arrive from my window, and will come
down to let him in. We will converse together while prayers
last, and he can retire before my father returns.’

“This discourse of the old lady made me feel quite well, and
having given her some money, she left me.

“Friday morning being arrived, the old lady came whilst I
was dressing, and making choice of the handsomest dcess my
wardrobe contained. ‘Ido not ask you,’ said she, ‘how you