"I was so struck with her beauty, that I was quite speechless. 'Am I not right?' said she, smiling. 'From you, madam,' _says I_, 'I can take nothing; put as many in the basket of your porter as you please.' She thanked me, and put into the basket all that I had handed down. 'Now,' _says she_, 'I want some dates, the best and finest that you have.' I handed some down that would have been admired by the ladies of your highness's harem. 'These, madam,' _says I_, 'are the best dates that are to be found in Cairo.' She tasted them, and asked the price; I mentioned it. 'They are dear,' replied she, 'but I must have them cheaper;' and again she lifted her veil. 'Madam,' _says I_, 'these dates are much too cheap at the price which I have mentioned; it really is impossible to take one para less; observe, madam,' _says I_, 'the beauty of them, feel the weight, and taste them,' _says I_, 'and you must acknowledge,' _says I_, 'that they are offered to you at a price which,' _says I_----" "Holy prophet!" cried the pacha in a rage; "I will hear no more of your _says I's_: if you cannot tell your story without them, you shall fare worse than Ali." "May it please your highness, how will it be possible for you to know what I said, unless I point out to you what I did say? I cannot tell my story without it." "I'll see that," replied the pacha, in a savage tone; and, making the sign, the executioner made his appearance. "Now, then, go on with your story; and, executioner, after he has repeated _says I_ three times, off with his head! Go on." "I shall never be able to go on, your highness; consider one moment how harmless my _says I's_ are to the detestable _you knows_ of Ali. That's what I always told him; 'Ali,' _says I_, 'if you only knew,' _says I_, 'how annoying you are! Why there,' _says I_!" At this moment the blow of the scimitar fell, and the head of Hussan rolled upon the floor; the lips from the force of habit still quivering in their convulsions, with the motioning which would have produced _says I_, if the channel of sound had not been so effectually interrupted. "That story's ended!" observed the pacha in a rage. "Of all the nuisances I ever encountered, these two men have beat them all. Allah forbid that I ever should again meet with a _says I_, or a _you know_!" "Your highness is all wisdom," observed Mustapha; "may such ever be the fate of those who cannot tell their stories without saying what they said." The pacha, irritated at his disappointment, and little soothed by the remark of Mustapha, without making any answer to it, was about to retire to his harem, when Mustapha, with a low salaam, informed him that the renegade was in attendance to relate his Second Voyage, if he might be permitted to kiss the dust of his presence. "Khoda shefa midêhed--God gives relief," replied the pacha, as he resumed his seat: "let him approach."