I perceived this plainly; and it only confirmed me the more in my belief in my own evil destiny.
"It happened one day that a lady, richly apparelled and attended by two female slaves, came to my brother's house to make some purchases.

He was out, and I alone was left to attend to the shop.

After she had looked over some goods, she chanced to see my china vase, which was in the room.
She took a prodigious fancy to it, and offered me any price if I would part with it; but this I declined doing, because I believed that I should draw down upon my head some dreadful calamity if I voluntarily relinquished the talisman.

Irritated by my refusal, the lady, according to the custom of her sex, became more resolute in her purpose; but neither entreaties nor money could change my determination.

Provoked beyond measure at my obstinacy, as she called it, she left the house.
"On my brother's return, I related to him what had happened, and expected that he would have praised me for my prudence; but, on the contrary, he blamed me for the superstitious value I set upon the verses on my vase; and observed that it would be the height of folly to lose a certain means of advancing my fortune for the uncertain hope of magical protection.