'Why, to tell you plainly, young man, I object to your visits. above all others.'

Indeed! Why?'

'Why, because you select strange hours and places to pay me your visits. Now do you comprehend me ?'

'Not I, indeed, Master Nugdee. Pray explain yourself. I never even entered your house at any time; you took good care of that.'

'Ah, indeed did I,' said the miser; and shall be doubly cautious in future. The window is blocked up, young man.'

'Window blocked up! What window? Do you mean to insinuate that I am a thief?'

'Why, replied old Nugdee, it certainly looked very much like it.'

'I tell you what, Master Nugdee,' said Ashuk; 'we must come to an understanding in this business.'

'My worthy friend,' replied the miser, all the understanding I wish to come to is this-never come near my house again, either by day or night, and we shall be the better friends, rely on it.'

'Well, now, Master Nugdee, the understanding I wish to come to is this-if you have any charge to make against me for coming through your window, either by night or by day, I desire you will instantly accompany me to the Cotwall's court, and there make your complaint; or, if you do not do so, go down on your knees and beg my pardon, and explain all your ambiguous hints, so injurious to my honour.'

'Well,' thought Nugdee, 'I have heard of impudent fellows, but this young man beats all that were ever read or heard of.'

They had now arrived at the miser's great gates, and Nugdee was applying the key to the same, when Ashuk prevented him, saying, 'You won't escape thus, my friend. I demand an explanation, either here or before the Cotwall. By Allah! I will drag you before the Nuwab.'

'Oh, mercy!' cried the terrified miser; 'it was not you: now I am quite sure it could not be you; yet it was very like you, I

must confess.'

'What? Who was like me?'

The alarmed Nugdee related all the events of the preceding night, when Ashuk expressed his surprise that a man of his good sense should heed the malicious reports of Ajeez, his decided enemy, and one with whom he had been at variance from his childhood.

'Consider, sir; I never had an opportunity of entering your mansion; how was it likely, therefore, I could expect, even were I so wickedly inclined, to come directly at your hidden treasure without risk of discovery? I must own I feel hurt at your unjust suspicions.'

The miser now really began to believe he had been mistaken, and that Ajeez had been mistaken also; he therefore most humbly craved the young officer's pardon, congratulating himself on his caution and prudence in not prosecuting Ashuk, as advised by his informant, Ajeez.

The miser and Ashuk now parted better friends, though the latter could not obtain permission to enquire occasionally after the old man's health, Nugdee persisting in declaring he was always well, and always should continue so; that knocking at his gate for the

purpose of enquiring after him would only be attended with trouble and inconvenience to both parties; saying which, he opened the portal, made a salaam, and then shut out poor Ashuk from all hope of gaining a friendly footing in that dwelling, wherein, of all others, he most wished to be admitted as a visitor.

CHAPTER II.

THE BUTCHER'S STORY (continued).

On the following day Ashuk repaired to the schoolmaster, who he hoped had consulted with his son-in-law, Fureeb Khash, captain of the good ship 'Futteh Mobaruk.' Adeeb Khan, perceiving Ashuk approach his school, which happened at the time to be occupied by the boys, signed him to enter into the interior of his dwelling; and this he did in so significant a manner as to plainly inform Ashuk he had good news to communicate.

'Well, Adeeb, have you seen the captain?' eagerly enquired the youth.

'I have, Ashuk; and for a promise of a reward, should you succeed in marrying the miser's daughter, he will do all you require of him.'

'Thanks, my friend,' said the anxious boy; 'I certainly will promise to reward him, and will commit my promise to writing.'

'Gently, my friend, not so hasty with your pen. Fureeb Khash, although my son-in-law, is not a man to be trusted with written agreements. I have pledged myself to see him satisfied, and that is sufficient; and rely on it, if he once gets Ajeez on shore, there he will leave him.'

'Ah! but how is this to be managed, Adeeb?'

'This we must leave to my son-in-law, who is a crafty fellow, and will probably stop at some place on pretence of scarcity of water, induce Ajeez to accompany him, and there leave him to find his way to Calcutta as well as he can, where he will make many apologies for the urgent necessity he was under, owing to the tides and winds, for leaving his sagacious supercargo to shift for himself.'

'Admirable !' cried Ashuk. 'I will not only reward him, but you also. I feel I must succeed.'

'Farewell, Ashuk !' said Adeeb Khan; 'but be careful not to be seen conversing with the captain on any account. They sail in three days' time. Ajeez is already gone to Cambay, and my sonin-law joins him to-morrow. Farewell!'

The delighted Ashuk now tormented his imagination by framing plans to obtain an interview with Kheir Neyut, and daily passed the firmly-closed portal of her father's house, hoping some accident would one day cause him to be admitted into the courtyard, or once more into the shed. One day, as he passed the gate, he perceived an old woman carrying a basket containing perfumes, sweetmeats, scissors, &c. She knocked at the miser's gate, and Ashuk determined to ascertain from a distance the result of her application. No one came to the gate until the old woman had thrice repeated her summons, when old Nugdee himself appeared, and seeing the old woman with her wares, bade her in a loud and angry voice 'begone, and come again on the following day, as he as well as his daughter were at present engaged in business.'

The poor woman retired, promising to come again on the