1G? ‘CHE ARABIAN NIGHTS,

you will afford this company a great pleasure if you will relate
them.”

“Sir,” replied the guest, “it is not only on my right hand
that I have no thumb, my left is also in the same state.” He held
out his left hand at the same time, that we might be convinced
he spoke the truth. “Nor is this all,” he added; “I have lost
the great toe from each of my feet. I have been maimed in this
manner through a most unheard-of adventure, and which, if you ©
will have the patience to listen to it, I have no objection to relate,
First of all, however, permit me to wash my hands.” Having said
this, he got up from table, and after washing his hands one hun-
dred and twenty times, he sat down again, and related his history
in the following terms :—

“You must know, gentlemen, that my father lived at Bagdad
during the reign of the caliph Haroun Alraschid, where I also
was born, and he was reckoned one of the richest merchants
in that city. But as he was a man of expensive habits, at his
death I encountered great difficulties, and was obliged to make
use of the greatest economy to pay the debts he left behind him.
With great attention, however, and care, I at last discharged
them all, and my small fortune then began to assume a favour-
able appearance.

“ One morning when I was opening my shop, a lady, mounted
upon a mule, accompanied by a slave, passed close to my door,
and stopped. The slave directly assisted her to alight by
taking hold of her hand; he then said to her, ‘I am afraid,
madam, you have arrived too soon; you see there is no one
yet come to the market” She looked everywhere about, and
finding that there was in fact no other shop open but mine, she
came up, and, saluting me, requested permission to sit down in
it till the other merchants were arrived.

“When the lady had entered my shop and sat down, as she
observed that there was no one to be seen in the market except
the slave and myself, she took off her veil in order to enjoy the
air. I had never before seen any one so beautiful; and to see
and to be passionately in love were with me one and the same
thing. I kept my eyes constantly fixed upon her, and I thought
she looked as if my attention was not unpleasing to her.

“After she had adjusted her dress as it was. before, she in-