to escape the Resentment of those popular Tumults; but my Head, Sir, is better turn'd for the Highway than for News; I have taken several Ladies Prisoners in the Course of my Excursions; I keep none of them for my Part; and as to such as are handsomer than ordinary, I make the best Market I can of them, without enquiring who they are. Their Quality or Titles will fetch no Price at all; a Queen, if she be homely, is worth nothing. 'Tis probable, Sir, I have dispos'd of the Lady myself; and 'tis possible, likewise, she may be dead; 'tis no Concern of mine; and to my thinking, it should be an Affair of no Manner of Importance to you. After this Declaration, he drank so hard, and confounded his Ideas in such a Manner, that _Zadig_ was not one whit the wiser. Upon which he was struck dumb, confounded, and stood as motionless as a Statue. _Arbogad_, in the mean while, swill'd down whole Bumpers, told a Hundred merry Tales, and swore a thousand Times over, that he was the happiest Creature upon God's Earth; persuading _Zadig_ to be as merry, and thoughtless as himself. At last, being gradually overcome by the Fumes of his Liquor, he fell fast asleep. _Zadig_ spent the Remainder of the Night in deep Contemplation, and in all the Uneasiness of Mind imaginable. What, said he, the King first became crazy, and then was murder'd. I think I have just Grounds for Complaint. The whole Empire is in Confusion, and torn to Pieces, and this Free-booter is as happy as a King. O Fortune! O Fate! a Highwayman as happy as a Monarch! and the most amiable Creature that Nature ever fram'd has suffer'd perhaps, an ignominious Death, or perhaps, is in a State of Life a thousand Times worse than Death itself! O _Astarte! Astarte!_ What art thou become? As soon as it was Break of Day he went out, and ask'd every one he saw if they knew any Thing of her: But the whole Gang were too intent upon other Matters, to return him any Answer. By Virtue of their Night's Excursions, they had brought in some fresh Booty, and were busy in dividing the Spoil. All the Favour he could procure, in their Hurry and Tumult, was, to go away without the least Examination. He took the Advantage of their Remissness, and mov'd off the Premises, but more overwhelm'd with Grief and deep Reflection than ever. _Zadig_, in his March, was very restless and uneasy. His Thoughts were forever rolling on the unfortunate _Astarte_, the King of _Babylon_, his Bosom-Friend _Cador_, the happy _Free-booter_, _Arbogad_, the fair _Coquet_, that was taken Prisoner on the Confines of _Egypt_, by the _Babylonish_ Courier; in a Word, on the various Scenes of Misfortunes and Disappointments, which he had successively met with. CHAP. XIV. _The_ FISHERMAN.