race has had so much
influence over the languages of the world."

I saw that all that related to his race was the weak point of the
Armenian. I did not flatter the Armenian with respect to his race or
language. "An inconsiderable people," said I, "shrewd and industrious,
but still an inconsiderable people. A language bold and expressive, and
of some antiquity, derived, though perhaps not immediately, from some
much older tongue. I do not think that the Armenian has had any
influence over the formation of the languages of the world. I am not
much indebted to the Armenian for the solution of any doubts; whereas to
the language of Mr. Petulengro--"

"I have heard you mention that name before," said the Armenian; "who is
Mr. Petulengro?"

And then I told the Armenian who Mr. Petulengro was. The Armenian spoke
contemptuously of Mr. Petulengro and his race. "Don't speak
contemptuously of Mr. Petulengro," said I, "nor of anything belonging to
him. He is a dark mysterious personage; all connected with him is a
mystery, especially his language; but I believe that his language is
doomed to solve a great philological problem--Mr. Petulengro--"

"You appear agitated," said the Armenian; "take another glass of wine;
you possess a great deal of philological knowledge, but it appears to me
that the language of this Petulengro is your foible: but let us change
the subject; I feel much interested in you, and would fain be of service
to you. Can you cast accounts?"

I shook my head.

"Keep books?"

"I have an idea that I could write books," said I; "but, as to keeping
them . . . " and here again I shook my head.

The Armenian was silent some time; all at once, glancing at one of the
wire cases, with which, as I have already said, the walls of the room
were hung, he asked me if I was well acquainted with the learning of the
Haiks. "The books in these cases," said he, "contain the master-pieces
of Haik learning."

"No," said I, "all I know of the learning of the Haiks is their
translation of the Bible."

"You have never read Z---?"

"No," said I, "I have never read Z---."

"I have a plan," said the Armenian; "I think I can employ you agreeably
and profitably; I should like to see Z--- in an English dress; you shall
translate Z---. If you can read the Scriptures in Armenian, you can
translate Z---. He is our Esop, the most acute and clever of all our
moral writers--his philosophy--"

"I will have nothing to do