situated the barber's shop, in the hope that Buxoo, having turned his hair red, might be acquainted with the means of turning it black again.

Accompanied by the Captain, he set off for the Mahmud-abaugh palace, directing his bearers to stop at Buxoo's shop. The bearers accordingly halted at the well-known shaving-place; and the Deewan, apologising to the Captain, assured him he would be with him in a few moments, and alighted from his palanquin. The Deewan, in a low voice, informed him of the effects of his cursed dye, and demanded forthwith his own black beard again. The barber was really concerned at the unfortunate consequences, particularly when he understood his master was about to make his first visit to the Nuwab.

'If you will spare a moment, my lord, and condescend to enter my shop, I think I may be able to put all right again. The Deewan followed, and submitted to the operations of the barber, who applied a black mixture, which soon restored the minister's beard to all its former beauty. Pleased beyond measure, he rewarded the barber, and joined his companion, to whom he made many apologies, taking care to muffle up his head, to prevent his observing the sudden change of beard; intending, however, to explain the whole affair, if necessary, as soon as the Persian lady should be safely lodged in the Nuwab's Zenana.

Whilst these personages are proceeding towards the palace in the country we shall take the opportunity of accounting for the Cotwall's solicitude concerning the fair captive on board the Arab ship.

43

CHAPTER V.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF A BEARD.

It has been before stated that the barber, on his return from the Arab ship early in the morning, and previous to his waiting on the Deewan, mentioned to his wife having beheld the most beautiful creature the earth had ever contained; but not having commanded her to keep the circumstance a secret, she conceived there could be no harm in relating it to a neighbour, should an opportunity present itself. When Buxoo left her to proceed to the Deewan's palace she employed herself in her household duties; and on looking over some clothes which had been laid by for some time, considered if these were dyed and dressed they would become very serviceable; and having a small sum of money in hand, determined forthwith to proceed to the dyer's, and accordingly entered old Kuzl-bashee's shop, where she saw him up to his armpits in indigo, apparently employed in some very profitable business.

'Salaam, Kuzl-bashee,' said the barber's wife.

'Bless you, neighbour!' replied the dyer.

'I have brought a few cloths to be dyed, neighbour. When will you let me have them?'

'Why, truly,' said the dyer, 'I have now so much work in hand that I cannot promise to get them ready before ten days hence.'

'Ten days!' exclaimed the barber's wife. 'Lord knows what may happen before that time; I may be dead.'

'Beauty must perish, you know, neighbour,' said the dyer; 'but let us hope yours will bless our eyes yet a little longer.'

'Psha! old Kuzl-bashee; don't talk nonsense. My beauty, indeed! If you want to bless your eyes with beauty, go on board the Arab ship just arrived; there, indeed, is an houri from Paradise.'

'What say you, a beauty on board the Arab ship? How came you to be so well-informed?'

'Oh! my husband, long ere you were awake, dressed the Captain's beard, and peeped at the lady; his brain is turned by her beauty.'

'My good woman, don't believe him; I have seen her myself; it is all his exaggeration. Beauty, indeed! why, she is no more than four feet high, with an African nose, and one of her teeth is broken.'

'Well, Kuzl-bashee, I thought as much. My husband is terribly given to the marvellous, and thinks every new face a paragon of beauty.'

'Ah! well, woman, rest assured she is no beauty. Go home, and I will get your things dyed in a week's time, if possible. Salaam.'

The woman took her departure; and on her way gossiped with many a friend, taking care not to mention a syllable about the lady on board the Arab ship, not conceiving the arrival of an ugly woman to be news of any importance whatever. This was exactly as the dyer desired it should be, and for this very purpose,

to stop her babbling, he invented the story of the African nose and broken tooth; and as soon as she had turned her back put on his coat and repaired to the Cotwall, with whom he had been great friends ever since his dispute with the butcher. The Cotwall readily admitted the dyer, who was on the same footing, and played the same part in his house, as the barber did in that of the minister, if we except the shaving, et cetera. In a word, he had become the newsmonger and tale-bearer-in-general to the Cotwall, and was therefore always sure of admittance, at whatever hour he called.

'Well, Kuzl-bashee,' said the police magistrate, 'what news to-day? Something of importance, I warrant, by your smiles and early appearance.'

'Give me your ear, my lord,' said the dyer. A beauty has this day arrived that has dazzled the eyes of the very few who have seen her: such a figure, such a nose, and oh! such teethnature never before or can hereafter mould. Young, beautiful, animated, fair, elegant, and graceful, Paradise alone could have given birth to her.'

'Have you seen her yourself, Kuzl-bashee?'

'No, my lord, I have not been so fortunate; I was but this minute informed of the circumstance.'

'Who was your informer ?'

'The barber, my lord, Buxoo himself, who dressed the beards of the crew, and peeped at the lady.'

'Go, Kuzl-bashee, on board directly; take with you your cloths for sale to the sailors. One of my confidential servants shall accompany you, as your assistant in your trade; and as soon as

he has contrived to get a sight of this houri send him back to me.' So saying he called aloud, 'Ho! there, who waits?' An attendant appearing, the Cotwall desired him to send Sheik Ibrahim to him without delay. He soon made his apearance; and the Cotwall having explained to him the part he was to act, despatched him, in company with the dyer, on board the vessel, which they soon reached; but, notwithstanding all their cunning, failed in obtaining the wished for bird's-eye view of the fair captive. It was one of Sheik Ibrahim's rules never, if possible, to return to his employer with reports of a failure in his missions; consequently he whispered his intentions of proceeding to the Cotwall, to assure him the report of the lady's beauty was by no means exaggerated. Kuzl-bashee approving the plan, favoured it by ordering his companion to go on shore and fetch some more cloths, that the Arabs might have a greater number to select from. Off went Sheik Ibrahim, and found the Cotwall anxiously expecting him.

'Well, Sheik Ibrahim, is it all true?'

'More than true, by Allah: she is indeed divinely beautiful.' 'Fine eyes?'

'Transcendently so !'

'Fair complexion?'

'Alabaster!'

'Figure ?'

'Graceful beyond conception!'

'Sheik Ibrahim, we must negociate for this lady. Send hither my treasurer and dobash. Away! lose not a moment.'

Whilst all this was passing at the Cotwall's house old Kuzl