'When did this accident happen, my lord?' enquired the Syud.

'Oh, yesterday evening.'

' And were you prepared for the bruise?'

'No! God knows, quite unprepared for anything of the kind.'

'What could he be doing up a tree in the evening?' said the Syud in a whisper to the Hakeem.

6

'After a cat, perhaps,' said Jihil, smothering a laugh.

By Allah! it must be so ; and it was a cat I saw in the bed.'

Oh, my lord! how came you to risk your precious life in the pursuit of such reptiles?'

'I tell you there is no cat in the case,' said the Deewan. 'Proceed with your business, and dare not presume to interfere with mine.'

'My lord, your business is now our business, and vice versâ. Therefore, if by knowing the particulars of the case we can better be enabled to effect a cure, surely it is natural, as professional, to learn what those particulars may be.'

'Which you shall never learn from me. So, look ye, dread my anger when I recover, if you speak another word on the subject.'

The two doctors simultaneously thrust their tongues in their cheeks and gave each other a look, as much as to say, 'We had better not say any more.' The Syud touched the bruise, and the Hakeem touched the bruise; and both shook their heads.

'Had you, my lord,' said the former, 'sent for us when this sad accident first happened, we might by this time have been able

to pronounce you out of danger, as we should then have proceeded very differently to what we must now do.'

'Sound, very sound!' said the everlastingly assenting Hakeem. We must proceed very differently.'

I wish I had not called you at all,' said Moye-ed-din. 'If you can't do me any good, say so, and begone about your business.'

'Why, my lord, we can do you good, for we shall first apply a fomentation of neem-leaves, then leeches, then a plaster, and then a blister.'

'You mean,' said the Hakeem, a blister, then a plaster.'

" Ay, ay! that is my meaning, of course.'

'What!' cried Moye-ed-din, all these torments for a bruise?'

'Yes, my lord,' replied both the sages; and then-' 'What then?'

'A few ounces of blood from your arm, hot water, congee-gruel for a week, gentle exercise, and a strong dose of senna every day for a fortnight.'

'But not if the fomentation of neem-leaves has any effect?' enquired the anxious Deewan, who never had dosed himself in his life.

'Why,' said the Hakeem, who now considered it was his turn to speak, 'it is possible the blister may be dispensed with; but the senna and congee diet, in my opinion, are indispensable.'

'That is exactly my opinion also,' said the Syud; 'in that case the plaster will not be requisite.'

True, brother,' observed the Hakeem; 'no plaster if no blister, the one being to heal the effects of the other.'

'But,' said the anxious Deewan, 'if all fail ? '

'Then, my lord, we have but one more remedy-but one more expedient-to resort to.'

'What is that?'

'Firing !'1

By Allah! if you bring your hot irons into this room, you shall both be shorter by the head; so, my learned doctors, just recollect this. Send for some neem-leaves, and come to see me to-morrow. Be off! not another word will I hear.'

So saying, he covered himself up with the bedclothes, and the sagacious physicians withdrew.

1 A common practice amongst the ignorant and unskilful in the medical art.

CHAPTER X.

A SENTENCE COMMUTED.

THE Nuwab, surprised at the non-attendance of the Deewan, sent to enquire the cause; and understanding he was sick, determined to visit him in person, desiring, however, no parade on the occasion, as he should proceed in the most private manner. Moyeed-din, who would gladly have dispensed with the honour, arranged his apartment as well as he could, and desired to be left in quiet, in order that he might obtain some sleep ere the Nuwab made his appearance. So perplexed was he, however, how he should account to the Nuwab for the accident, which had doubtless reached his ears, that little or no sleep visited him, and he saw the hour approach without having hit upon any story likely to be successful in deceiving his master. At last he thought he would say that since his father's death he had made it a practice, once in every year, to visit his tomb, and that in descending the narrow and decayed steps of the vault his foot, owing to the giving way of a stone, slipped, and he was precipitated to the bottom, having received several severe contusions in his fall, which, although he had imagined were not of very great importance, he was informed by the doctors were of a most serious nature. This plausible tale, he imagined, could not fail to satisfy

the Nuwab, and therefore looked upon his approaching visit with less fear than he had before entertained.

The Nuwab made his appearance at the Deewan's palace at the appointed time, and on the stairs met the two learned doctors, who, hearing of the Nuwab's intended visit, determined to let him see how high in repute they were, by the minister's application to them for medical aid. They both bowed to the ground, and the Nuwab, turning to them, said, 'Why, how now, most learned doctors! what is the matter with the Deewan? Is he dying?' 'Hope not, your highness,' said the officious Hakeem; 'only a fall.'

'Oh! a fall, is it?' said the Nuwab.

"Yes, your highness, a fall-fall from a tree.'

'Fall from a tree! By Mahomet! my minister is a more active man than I had any idea of. But what could he be doing up a tree? Well! this is droll indeed. However, I shall soon hear all about it.' Thus saying, he reached the door of the Deewan's apartment, which being thrown open, he entered exclaiming, 'Why, Moye-ed-din, what in the name of the Prophet have you been doing up the trees? By Allah, I never knew such a joke in all my life! Do you want to break your neck, man; or are you turned bird-catcher?'

Poor Moye-ed-din, once more thwarted in his plans, could only hang down his head in melancholy silence; at last he ventured to say, 'My lord, I do not understand you.'

ask

'Not understand me? Why, I think I speak plain enough. I

you how you could be so foolish as to climb trees, fall down, and bruise yourself?'