Allah, I will show you to every one of my customers, and relate to them the shabby treatment I have met with.'

'My good man,' said I, 'you may show me to whoever you please; no one will, I should imagine, pay you for the sight of a man whose appearance bears no marked peculiarity.'

'Wah, wah! here is fine language from a beggar! By Allah, my fine fellow, if I can't get any money by letting folks see you, when they hear you speak I think I may expect some profit.'

'Perhaps so,' said I, when they do hear me; but suppose I don't choose to open my lips?'

'Suppose I get you well bastinadoed, my good, worthy customer; I think that will make you open your lips.'

'I don't know that it would. I am not certain that it would; but still, where will be your profit? Trust me, honest barber, I will undoubtedly pay you for your trouble.'

'Who are you?' said the barber.

'I am the son of misfortune.

I was wealthy-am now poor;

but unless the star of my destiny is for ever shrouded in the cloud of malignity—unless men and angels have conspired against me, the day may come when I shall burst forth in all my former splendour; I will then-'

'Then,' interrupted the barber, 'you will, I suppose, pay me for trimming your beard. Harkee, sirrah: I cannot afford to wait for your stars, and your clouds, and your angels, and devils, either coming or going; pay me directly, or it will be the worse for you.'

Barber,' I cried, 'I see you have a tender heart.'

'The devil you do! You must see very deep then, for I have not yet evinced much tenderness.'

'That I know,' said I; 'your education has naturally tended to sully a heart fraught with every virtue.'

'No, no, my friend,' said the barber, this won't do. I am not such a fool as you are anxious to make me out; and give me leave to say, your education, though it may have filled your mouth with vain words, has not had the same effect upon your purse.'

I could not deny this retort, but determined on trying whether he were a fool or not. I therefore said, 'Friend, I see you are a clever, honest, upright man; I have the money in my purse, but on this day certain circumstances prevent me from paying you. I am a magician—nay, be not alarmed—stand still, and look earnestly on the wall before you, and there will appear some writing, the attention to which will make you a rich man.' Saying which, I turned him to the wall, with his back towards me, saying, 'Turn not until I command you.' The barber stood patiently, whilst I sneaked out of the shop, leaving him to make what he could out of the wall thereof. It was my intention, however, to call and pay him as soon as possible.

On

On this day the only lucky accident I ever met with happened to me. Two Persians were fighting in the street; much blood was spilled, and with difficulty the combatants were separated; a crowd followed them, however, leaving me standing aloof. the ground where the action had been so strongly maintained I perceived a small bag; it was laden with toomauns.1 'Here begins my fortune,' said I. In this city I distinguished myself under the Governor of Tebriz, and here it is, doubtless, destined I am to remain.’

1 Gold coin current in the country.

The first use I made of my treasure was to pay the poor barber. On seeing me he began a volley of abuse, which soon ceased on beholding a piece of money between my fingers. 'I am come to pay you,' said I, ' according to my promise, and to give you some advice. Never boast again of not being a fool. All men are fools, though they imagine themselves vastly clever.' I here recited some stanzas, much to the wonder of the pacified barber.

'By my faith,' said he, 'you would be no small acquisition to Gazub, the king's poet.'

'Is he in want of an assistant?' I enquired.

'He is,' replied the barber. 'Would you like to try your hand at poetry?'

'I would not scruple becoming his assistant,' said I, 'provided it be worth my while.'

'What will you give me if I procure you the situation ?' enquired the shaver.

'A fourth of my first month's salary,' said I.

'Sit down, then,' said he, 'and pen a specimen of extempore poetry, and suffer me to take it to-morrow to Gazub, who, if he approve, will probably hire you.'

I obeyed, taking care to enquire what religion Gazub professed.

'Why,' said the barber, in an undertone, 'he professes to be a Sheah; but there are some who strongly suspect he is a rascally Sufi, to whom be perdition.'

Upon hearing this I penned some lines, which, from their

peculiarity, could not fail of letting Gazub know that the author was a true Sufi, and thus I anticipated a lucrative situation in the city of Ispahan. Having given the lines into the barber's hands, I departed, promising to call again on the following day.

CHAPTER XII.

THE DYER'S STORY (continued).

I VISITED the barber next day, and learned with pleasure the poet had expressed a strong desire to see me. I therefore hastened to the dwelling of Gazub; and seeing a little misshapen hump-backed creature in the verandah, enquired for Gazub, the poet.

‘I am he,' said the little hunchback, to my no small surprise and astonishment.

I made a salaam, and mentioned the barber, into whose hands I had given my verses. The little poet begged me to enter his house and be seated, when we conversed for some time. It required little penetration to discover that Gazub was indeed a Sufi; and, I fancy, he as quickly fully understood I was of the same persuasion. Gazub, though misshapen and deformed, was by no means advanced in years; he appeared to be about the age of forty. He bore a most intelligent countenance, as much as could be seen of it, for his whole face was so enveloped in hair of a coarse carroty colour, that two sparkling eyes and the tip of a well-formed nose were alone visibly distinct. On his head he wore a purple velvet skull-cap, cocked a little on one side, which added greatly to the little fellow's self-sufficient appearance.

His