assassinate him; but I will prevent him."

Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to
execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated.

When Abdalla came for the dessert or fruit, and had put it with
the wine and glasses before Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed
herself neatly, with a suitable head-dress like a dancer, girded
her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard
with a hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a handsome mask
on her face.

When she had thus disguised herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take
your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son's
friend, as we do sometimes when he is alone."

Abdalla took his tabor and played all the way into the hall before
Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by
way of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off
playing. "Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia
Houssain see what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks
of your performance."

Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper,
began to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the
opportunity he thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed
his aim to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly
correspondence with the father and son; therefore, though he could
have wished Ali Baba would have declined the dance, he pretended
to be obliged to him for it, and had the complaisance to express