"He hath forced me to kill him. I have avenged thy cause. Thou art now delivered from the most violent man I ever saw. What further, madam, wouldest thou have me do for thee?
"Die, villain," replied she, "thou hast killed my lover. O that I were able to tear out thy heart!"
"Why truly, madam," said Zadig, "thou hadst a strange kind of a man for a lover; he beat thee with all his might, and would have killed thee, because thou hadst entreated me to give thee assistance."
"I wish he were beating me still," replied the lady with tears and lamentation. "I well deserved it; for I had given him cause to be jealous. Would to heaven that he was now beating me, and that thou wast in his place."
Zadig, struck with surprise, and inflamed with a higher degree of resentment than he had ever felt before, said:
"Beautiful as thou art, madam, thou deservest that I should beat thee in my turn for thy perverse and impertinent behavior. But I shall not give myself the trouble."
So saying, he remounted his camel, and advanced toward the town. He had proceeded but a few steps, when he turned back at the noise of four Babylonian couriers, who came riding at full gallop. One of them, upon seeing the woman, cried:
"It is the very same. She resembles the description that was given us."
They gave themselves no concern about the dead Egyptian, but instantly seized the lady. She called out to Zadig:
"Help me once more, generous stranger. I ask pardon for having complained of thy conduct. Deliver me again, and I will be thine for ever."
Zadig was no longer in the humor of fighting for her.
"Apply to another," said he, "thou shalt not again ensnare me in thy wiles."
Besides, he was wounded; his blood was still flowing, and he himself had need of assistance: and the sight of four Babylonians, probably sent by King Moabdar, filled him with apprehension. He therefore hastened toward the village, unable to comprehend why four Babylonian couriers should come and seize this Egyptian woman, but still more astonished at the lady's behavior.
As he entered the Egyptian village, he saw himself surrounded by the people. Every one said:
"This is the man who carried off the beautiful Missouf, and assassinated Clitofis."