21
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 Houssian was drinking, she
perceived he had a dagger under his coat.
When supper was ended, and the desert
and wines on table, Morgiana went away
and dressed herself in the habit of a dancing
girl; she next called Abdalla, a faithful
slave, to play on his tabor while she danced.
As soon as she appeared at the parlour
door, her master who was very fond of see-
ing her dance, ordered her to come in and
entertain the guest with some of her best
dancing, Cogia Houssian was not very
well satisfied with this entertainment; but
was compelled, for fear of discovering him-
self, to seem pleased with the dancing, while
in fact he wished Morgiana at the devil, and
was quite alarmed. Jest he should lose his
opportunity of murdering, Ali Baba and his
son.
Morgiana danced several dances with the
utmost grace and agility, and then draw-
ing a poinard from her girdle, she perform-
ed many surprising things with it, sometimes
presenting the point to one, then at another
and then seeming to strike it into her own
bosom. Suddenly she pausęd, and holding
the poinard in the right hand, held: her left
to her master, as if begging some money;
