When she perceived that we were satisfied with one another, she clapped her hands a second time, and a cadi, with four witnesses, entered, who wrote and signed our contract of marriage.
There was only one condition that my new husband imposed upon me, that I should not be seen by nor speak to any other man but himself; and he vowed to me that, if I complied in this respect, I should have no reason to complain of him.
About a month after our marriage, having occasion for some stuffs, I asked my husband’s permission to go out to buy them, which he granted; and I took with me the old woman of whom I spoke before, she being one of the family, and two of my own female slaves.
When we came to the street where the merchants reside, the old woman said, “Dear mistress, since you want silk stuffs, I must take you to a young merchant of my acquaintance, who has a great variety; I can assure you that you will find in his shop what no other can furnish.” I was easily persuaded, and we entered the shop belonging to the young merchant. I sat down, and bade the old woman desire him to show me the finest silk stuffs he had. The woman wanted me to speak myself; but I told her it was one of the articles of my marriage-contract not to speak to any man but my husband.
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