TWILIGHT LAND

the throne. But the king spoke to him kindly, and
~ raised him up and sat him on the seat beside him. They
talked for a while concerning different things, and then
the king said at last, “Tell me, my friend, whence comes
all the inestimable wealth that you must possess to allow
you to live as you do?”

“Sire,” said the young man, “I cannot tell you whence
it comes. I can only tell you that it is given to me.”

The king frowned. ‘You cannot tell,” said he; “ you
must tell. It is for that that I have sent for you, and you
must tell me.”

Then the young man began to be frightened. “I
beseech you,” said he, “do not ask me whence it comes.
I cannot tell you.”

Then the king’s brows grew as black as thunder.
“What!” cried he, “do you dare to bandy words with
me? I know that you have discovered some treasure.
Tell me upon the instant where it is; for the half of it
by the laws of the land, belongs to me, and I will have it.”

At the king’s words Aben Hassen the Fool fell on his
knees. “Sire,” said he, “I will tell you all the truth.
There is a demon named Zadok—a monster as black as a
coal. He is my slave, and it is he that brings me all the
treasure that I enjoy.” The king thought nothing else
than that Aben Hassen the Fool was trying to deceive
hun. He laughed ; he was very angry. ‘ What,” cried
he, “do you amuse me by such an absurd and unbeliev-
able tale? Now I am more than ever sure that you have
discovered a treasure and that you wish to keep the
knowledge of it from me, knowing, as you do, that the
one-half of it by law belongs tome. Take him away !”
cried he to his attendants. “Give him fifty lashes, and

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