408 THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

Far from feeling satisfaction at the good fortune which his
brother had met with to relieve him from poverty, Cassim con-
ceived implacable jealousy on the occasion. The next moming
before sunrise he went to him. “ Ali Baba,” said he, address-
ing him, “ you are very reserved as to your affairs ; you pretend
to be poor and miserable, and yet you measure your money.”
“ Brother,” replied Ali Baba, “I do not understand your mean-
ing.” “Do not pretend ignorance,” resumed Cassim; and
shewed him the piece of gold his wife had given him.

From this speech Ali Baba soon conjectured that Cassim, and
his wife also, were already acquainted with what he was so inter-
ested to conceal from them ; but the discovery was made, and
nothing could now be done to remedy the evil. Without shewing
the least sign of surprise or vexation, he frankly owned to his
brother the whole affair, and told him of the retreat of the
thieves, and where it was situated ; and he offered, if he would
agree to keep it secret, to share the treasure with him.

“ This I certainly expect,” replied Cassim in a haughty tone ;
and added, “but I desire to know also the precise spot where
this treasure lies concealed, the marks and signs which may
lead to it, and enable me to visit the place myself, should I feel
myself inclined, otherwise I will go and inform the officer of the
police of it. If you refuse to comply, you will not only be de-
prived of all hope of obtaining any more, but you will even lose
that you have already taken ; and I, instead, shall receive my
portion for having informed against you.”

Ali Baba, led rather by his natural goodness of heart than inti-
midated by the insolent menaces of a cruel brother, gave him all
the information he desired, and even told him the words he
must pronounce, both on entering the cave and on quitting it.
Cassim left his brother ; and, full of the hope of possessing him-
self of the whole treasure, he set off the next morning before break
of day with ten mules charged with large hampers, which he pro-
posed to fill He took the road which Ali Baba had pointed
out, and arrived at the rock and the tree, which from description
he knew to be the same that had concealed his brother. He
looked for the door and soon discovered it. Having pronounced
“ Open, sesamé,” the door obeyed ; he entered, and it imme-
diately after closed. In examining the cave, he was in the ut-
most astonishment to find much more riches than the descrip-