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before that judge, otherwife I give you notice that you will be proceeded againft in a criminal manner.'* So faying he went away, leaving me like one thun- der-ftruck. with this citation. The Arabian had no caule to complain of me, and I could not comprehend the traitor's reafon for playing me this trick. Ne- vcrthelefs the thing was not to be neglc&ed. I knew the Cady was a man fevere in appearance, but not at all fcrupulous at bottom; fo 1 put two hundred fultanins of gold in my purfe, and repaired to his houfe. Hecanied me into hrs clofet, and laid, with a ftern look, you are an impious, facrilegious and abominable man; you have interred a dog like a muffulman : what horrid profanation ! is it thus then you regard our moft facretl ceremonies? and did you become a Mahometan, only to make a jeft of our worfhip ? Mr. Cady, (I replied) the Arabian who has made fuch a malicious report of me, that falfe friend, is an accomplice of my crime, if it be a crime to grant the honours of burial to a faithful do- meltican animal that poflcflcd a thoufand good

J jualitics. He loved people of merit and difliftion o much, that even in his laft moments, as a teftimo- ny of his fiiendlhip, lie has left them his whole for­tune by a will, of which I am the foie executor. He bequeaths twenty crowns to one, thirty to another, and, Sir, he has notforgot you, (added I, taking out my purfe) here are two hundred fultanins of gold which he charged me to give you. The Cady lofing his gravity at this difcourfe, could not help laughing, aud as we were alone, took the purfe without cere­mony, faying, while he difmificd me, Go, Signior Sidy Hali, you have done well to inter with pomp and honour, a dog who had fo much conhderation for perfons of worth.

By this I exlricated myfelf out of this affair, which if it did not make me more wife, rendered meat leall more circuinfpcft for the future. I no longer drank, with the Arabia^ nor even with the Jew ; but chofe B a for