ALI BABA
13
evening, and that the captain, and the robber who had discovered the house, were to go there first, to find out to whom it belonged.
Accordingly being arrived in the street, and having a lantern with them, they began to examine the doors, and found, to their confusion and astonishment, that ten doors were marked exactly alike.
The robber who was the captain's guide could not say a word in explanation of this mystery; and when the disappointed troop got back to the forest his enraged companions ordered him to be put to death.
Another now offered himself upon the same conditions as the former; and having bribed Mustapha, and discovered the house, he made a mark with dark red chalk upon the door, in a part that was not in the least conspicuous; and carefully examined the surrounding doors, to be certain that no such mark was upon any one of them.
But nothing could escape the prying eyes of Morgiana; scarcely had the robber departed, when she discovered the red mark; and getting some red chalk, she marked seven doors on each side, precisely in the same place and in the same manner.
The robber, valuing himself highly upon the precautions he had taken, triumphantly conducted his captain to the spot; but great indeed was his confusion and dismay, when he found it impossible to say which among fifteen houses marked alike, was the right one.
