Page:Ali Baba, or, The forty thieves (1).pdf/20

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fond of Ali Baba's son, offered him many presents, and often detained him to dinner, on which occasions he treated him in the handsomest manner.

Ali Baba’s son thought it was necessary to make some return to these civilities, and pressed his father to invite Cogia Hassan to supper. Ali Baba made no objection, and the invitation was accordingly given.

The artful Cogia Hassan would not too hastily accept this invitation, but pretended he was not fond of going into company, and that he had business which demanded his presence at home. These excuses only made Ali Baba's son the more eager to take him to his father’s house: and after repeated solicitations, the merchant consented to sup at Ali Baba’s the next evening.

A most excellent supper was provided, which Morgiana cooked in the best manner, and, as was her usual custom, she carried in the first dish herself. The moment she looked at Cogia Hassan, she knew him to be the pretended oil-merchant. The prudent Morgiana did not say a word to any one of this discovery, but sent the other slave into the kitchen, and waited at table herself; and while Cogia Hassan was