After an undisturbed commerce of two years, whether through inconstancy or disgust, Kerfael took to a dancer at the opera of Banza, and grew cold towards Fatme, yet without coming to an open rupture. He resolved to make a decent retreat; which obliged him to continue his visits in the house. Fatme enraged for being thus forsaken, meditated revenge, and made use of this remnant of his assiduities to destroy her unfaithful lover.

One day, that the convenient husband had left them tête-à-tête, and that Kerfael, having ungirt his scimitar, was endeavouring to allay Fatme’s suspicions by protestations, which cost nothing to lovers, but never surprise the credulity of a jealous woman; she assumed an affrighted air, and having tore her dress at five or six pulls, shriek’d out horridly, and call’d to her husband and domestics for help; who ran immediately, and became witnesses to the injury, which Fatme said she received from Kerfael; and showing the scimitar, added: “This the infamous villain lifted at my head ten times to make me submit to his will.”