Page:Arabian Nights Entertainments (1728)-Vol. 4.djvu/26

now is, to find out a Remedy for ſuch a ſhocking Accident—— But, Sir, ſays Scheherazade, I do not conſider ’tis Day. So ſhe ſtopt, and next Night purſued her Story as follows.

THE Doctor and his Wife conſulted together how to get rid of his dead Corps that Night. The Doctor racked his Brains in vain, he could not think of any Stratagem to get clear; but his Wife who was more fertile in Invention ſaid, I have a Thought comes into my Head; let’s carry the Corps to the Leads of our Houſe, and tumble him down the Chimney into the Houſe of the Muſſelman our next Neighbour.

This Muſſelman or Turk was one of the Sultan’s Purveyors, for furniſhing Oil, Butter, and all ſorts of Fat, Tallow, &c. and had a Magazine in his Houſe where the Rats and Mice made prodigious Havock.

The Jewiſh Doctor approving the propoſed Expedient, his Wife and he took the little Hunch-back up to the Roof of the Houſe and, clapping Ropes under his Arm-Pits, let him down the Chimney ſo ſoftly and dextrouſly, that he ſtood upright againſt the Wall, as if he had been alive. When they found he ſtood firm, they pulled up the Ropes, and left the Gentleman in that Poſture. They were ſcarce got down into their Chamber, when the Purveyor went into his, being juſt come from a Wedding-Feaſt with a Lanthorn in his Hand, He was mightily ſurprized when, by the Light of his Lanthorn, he deſcried a Man ſtanding upright in his Chimney; but being naturally a ſtout Man, and apprehending it was a Thief or a Robber, he took up a good luſty Cane, and making ſtrait up to the Hunch-back; Ay, ſays he, I thought it was Rats and the Mite that eat my Butter and Tallow; and ’tis you come down the Chimney to rob me, is it? I queſtion if ever you come back again upon this Errand. This ſaid, he falls foul upon the Man, and gives him a good many ſwinging Thwacks with his Cane. Upon which the Corps fell down, running its Noſe upon the Ground; and the Purveyor redoubled his Blows: But obſerving the Body not to move,