necklace
between the mattresses of her Pasha's bed. This the grateful woman
agreed to do, and departed invoking blessings on Ahmet, who in return
promised to exercise his influence in her behalf for astral
intervention.

When the Pasha came to the astrologer at the appointed time, he
explained to him, that if he wanted both the necklace and the thief or
thieves, it would take a long time, as it was impossible to hurry the
stars; but if he would be content with the necklace alone, the
horoscope indicated that the stars would oblige him at once. The Pasha
said that he would be quite satisfied if he could get his diamonds
again, and Ahmet at once told him where to find them. The Pasha
returned to his home not a little sceptical, and immediately searched
for the necklace where Ahmet had told him it was to be found. His joy
and astonishment on discovering the long-lost article knew no bounds,
and the fame of Ahmet the cobbler was the theme of every tongue.

Having received handsome payment from both the Pasha and the Hanoum,
Ahmet earnestly begged of his wife to desist and not bring down sorrow
and calamity upon his head. But his pleadings were in vain. Satan had
closed his wife's ear to reason with envy. Resigned to his fate, all
he could do was to consult the stars, and after mature thought give
their communication, or assert that the stars had, for some reason
best known to the applicant, refused to commune on the subject.

It happened that forty cases of gold were stolen from the Imperial
Treasury, and every astrologer having failed to get even a clue as to
where the money was or how it had disappeared, Ahmet was approached.
Poor man, his case now looked hopeless! Even the Chief Astrologer was
in disgrace. What might be his punishment he did not know--most
probably death. Ahmet had no idea of the numerical importance of
forty; but concluding that it must be large he asked for a delay of
forty days to discover the forty cases of gold. Ahmet gathered up the
implements of his occult art, and before returning to his home, went
to a shop and asked for forty beans--neither one more nor one less.
When he got home and laid them down before him he appreciated the
number of cases of gold that had been stolen, and also the number of
days he had to live. He knew it would be useless to explain to his
wife the seriousness of the case, so that evening he took from his
pocket the forty beans and mournfully said:

"Forty cases of go