le found the ex-minister awaiting his coming with breathless impatience, and speedily arrayed himself in the dress necessary for the character he was about to assume. Both being ready to sally forth, Moye-ed-din began to entertain serious apprehensions of a discovery, should he, by any accident, meet with any of the inhabitants of the city, to whom he was well known.

Buxoo, never at a loss for an act of ingenuity, recommended his master to stain his beard, assuring him he knew of a certain dye which would answer the purpose admirably; accordingly he was again despatched on this second errand. He quickly returned, however, and opening a small phial, poured the contents into the palms of his hands and applied it to the beard of his master, which in a few moments, from one of the most glossy black, was converted into a coarse sort of carroty-red colour, by which means they trusted discovery would be next to impossible. Moye-ed-din led the way down a narrow back-staircase, and taking a key from his girdle, unlocked a private door, from whence by a few steps they arrived at the water's edge. Beckoning to some fishermen, a boat was soon in readiness for them, and in a short time they reached the Arab ship, and were allowed to come on board, where the captain was walking the deck. The barber pointed to his companion, the perfumer, who was beginning to uncover his sweets, when his intentions were thwarted by beholding, on the opposite gangway, old Kuzl-bashee, the dyer, disposing of some of his cloths to the Arab crew. Buxoo, not having noticed the dyer, was at a loss to account for his companion's extreme awkwardness, and proceeded with his own hands to select the different essences.

The attention of all around the perfumer was

directed to the opposite side of the deck, where stood the Arabs abusing the dyer for staring about him, without concluding their bargains. The fact was, he having smelled the perfumes, lifted up his eyes to see which of the perfumers of the city had been fortunate enough to be the first to treat with the Arabs. What was his surprise, therefore, on beholding a face to which, though by no means altogether a stranger, yet one which he certainly had never remembered to have seen selling essences in the bazaar. Unable to solve the mystery, he entirely neglected his own affairs, and brought on him the abuse of the crew, who threatening to forcibly possess themselves of his goods, he was under the necessity of paying attention to their demands, and when again he found leisure to lift up his eyes the perfumer was gone, though the barber was still stationary.

The captain, to avoid the bustle on deck, had taken the perfumer to his own cabin, where it was his intention to make his selection; and whilst so employed, the dyer, who had now tied up his bundle, approached the well-known Buxoo, and having paid him the compliment of the usual salutation of 'Salaam Alikum,' commenced a conversation with which the barber would willingly have dispensed cursing his unlucky stars for bringing him in contact with the very fellow the mention of whose name alone, on a former occasion, had brought down the wrath of the minister.

'How sweet you smell, brother barber,' said old Kuzl-bashee, snuffing up the odour of the perfumes. 'What! are you turned attar?'1

1 Perfumer.

'No,' answered Buxoo, 'I don't meddle with other persons' trades.'

'Indeed, Buxoo, one would think, by the sweet smell about you, that you had entered quite a different line of business: now, is not this the case? And was not that your partner who was here just now?'

'It is not the case; and he that was here just now is not my partner.'

'Well, excuse my asking, but I never saw him before in the bazaar. Pray what is his name? His perfumes are so powerful, I should like to be a purchaser. What may be his name, pray?'

'His name is Kumbuckt.'1

'Ah! my friend Buxoo, you are facetious; but seriously I am anxious to know his name.'

'Then ask him yourself; you can't have better authority; and as to his perfumes, they are far beyond your means to obtain.’

'True, brother, but he has departed. Oh, no, here he comes -been into the cabin, has he !-made rare bargains, I warrant.' Moye-ed-din, on stepping upon deck, had espied the old dyer in conversation with the barber at the gangway, and instantly covered his face with his shawl. The barber called to his companion, saying, 'The boat is ready, brother.' And Moye-ed-din, brushing past the dyer, hastily descended into the boat, followed by the anxious Buxoo, who, looking up, perceived the dyer likewise descending the ship's side, with the intention of joining them. He gave a sign to the fishermen, therefore, who, comprehending his meaning, pushed off ere the dyer's foot could touch the boat,

Unfortunate.

thus leaving him clinging to the ship's side, to the no small amusement of the crew and all on board. Rowing briskly, they quickly regained the minister's palace without any further interruption.

Secure from interruption, the Deewan threw off his disguise, and was half-inclined to embrace the barber, so delighted was he with their success. The only damp to his spirits was the sight of the innocent cause of all his misfortunes, old Kuzl-bashee. The barber, however, soothed his apprehensions by positive assurances of the impossibility of his having been recognised, and anxiously enquired if he had obtained a sight of the lovely captive on board the ship. The Deewan answered in the affirmative, and dismissed his friend Buxoo, with particular injunctions not to mention to anyone the existence of the fair lady. Remember, Buxoo,' said he, 'great shall be your reward if all succeeds; therefore be secret; and as we are beforehand with everyone, let us keep so.' The barber swore to develop the secret to no one, and intended most faithfully to adhere to his oath. The caution of Moye-ed-din, however, came rather too late, for the tattling Buxoo had already informed his wife of his discovery, previous to his waiting upon the Deewan to trim his beard. Not anticipating any bad consequences therefrom, he wisely was silent on the subject when receiving the injunctions of secrecy from his master. Humbly bowing, therefore, he took his leave.

31

CHAPTER IV.

AN ARAB'S WORD.

It will be necessary to state by what fortunate event Moyeed-din had been enabled to obtain a sight of the fair lady on board the Arab ship. Having succeeded in gaining an introduction into the cabin, and free from the scrutinising glances of old Kuzl-bashee, he felt considerably more at ease, and sufficiently collected to maintain the character he had assumed. Quickly opening his box, therefore, he overpowered the captain with his offers and recommendations of this scent and that perfume, speaking with a volubility which astonished the noble captain, who, however, comprehended not a syllable of what he heard; for although Moye-ed-din was an excellent Arabic scholar, he was too circumspect to make use of that language. The captain, puzzled to discover which were the best perfumes, took several bottles into the adjoining cabin, to consult with the fair captive, leaving Moyed-din in uninterrupted possession of the great cabin. Anxiously he sought out and discovered the friendly chink in the partition described by the barber, and there gratified his senses by beholding a being far more exquisitely beautiful than he could have imagined the earth to be possessed of.

'She must be in the Nuwab's Zenana,' said he to himself, 'and