de him
a due return.

"I suppose," said Mesrour to him, "that you are entrusted with
overseeing those who make a noise in the court?"

"Overseeing," answered the smoker, "is a trouble from which I am free;
I am entrusted with watching over myself, and that is quite enough."

"But surely," said Mesrour, "you are not kept here in confinement
among the number of mad people?"

"And why should I not be kept in that character? Do you think me wiser
than others? They have done me that justice, which they ought to do to
all the inhabitants of Bagdad. I cannot complain: I was condemned by
my equals, and they are so attentive as to come here every day to
visit me."

"I understand you," said Mesrour: "we have all a small grain of
madness. However, when it does not pass certain bounds, we are very
properly allowed to enjoy our liberty. It is only extraordinary
madness----"

"Ah, you are right," interrupted the smoker: "men excuse all their
ordinary follies, however ridiculous; but when any one raises himself,
by his ideas, knowledge, and observation, above others, he is a kind
of reproach to them for the debasement into which they allow
themselves to fall, and they endeavour to remove him from their sight.
This is my history: I knew more than the vulgar, and therefore was
separated from them."

"In what branch did you excel?" inquired Mesrour.

"In that science which is the chief of all others--astrology."

"And were you in possession of that science?"

"I endeavoured after it, but my progress was interrupted."

"You were in correspondence with the stars, then?"

"Yes, indeed."

"And by whom were you chiefly favoured?"

"By the moon."

"Are you no longer in favour with her?"

"Since I have lost my liberty, she uses me as she pleases. She
formerly owed me great obligations, but now she has forgotten them.
She had an enormous wart upon her nose, of which I cured her. Thus it
is to me she owes that beautiful appearance which you sometimes see
her assume. Besides, by causing her to go on her side, I saved her
from an eclipse which was expected by all the astronomers. At first
she showed me some gratitude; but since I have been confined, if I
address her in her increase, she is yet too weak to act in my favour;
if I address her when she is full, she is surrounded with clouds and
mist; but if in her wane, all her malignant influences are at my
service. Defluxions, rheumatisms, catarrhs are showered down upon me.
I