244 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

by the wives of the poor, and followed him. When they had overtaken the wood-cutter, Mesrour delivered to him. the mes sage of the Caliph, and presented to him the veiled Zubeydeh.

' There is no Grod but God ! ' said the poor man ; ' but how can I support a wife — I, who can scarcely live by my own labors?' 'Dost thou dare to disobey the Commander of the Faithful ? ' cried Mesrour, in such a savage tone, that the man trembled from head to foot ; but Zubeydeh, speaking for the first time, said : ' Take me with thee, 0 Man ! since it is the Caliph's will. I will serve thee faithfully, and perhaps the burden of thy poverty may be lightened through me.' The man thereupon obeyed, and they proceeded together to his house, which was in a remote part of the city. There were but two miserable rooms, with a roof which was beginning to fall in, from decay. The wood-cutter, having thrown down his bundle, went out to the bazaar, purchased some rice and a little salt, and brought a jar of water from the fountain. This was all he could afford, and Zubeydeh, who had kindled a fire in the mean time, cooked it and placed it before him. But when he would have had her raise her veil and sit down to eat with him, she refused, saying : ' I have promised that I shall not increase the burden of thy poverty. Promise me, in return, that thou wilt never seek to look upon my face, nor to enter that room, which I have chosen for my apartment. I am not without learning, 0 Man ! and if thou wilt respect my wishes, it shall be well for thee.'

" The wood-cutter, who was not naturally deficient in intelligence, perceived from the words of Zubeydeh that she was a superior person, and, judging that he could not do better than to follow her counsel, promised at once all that she desired,