tleman, in order to amuse you, has told you of all our follies. If
he thereby succeeded in cheering you up, I shall not regret having been
made the object of your sport. As concerns music and dancing, however,
I will confess that it would be difficult to find any thing that so
cheers my heart. But yet, do not suppose that I blame you, O Sire, that
you do not likewise----"

"Enough! not another word!" cried the sheik, smiling, and waving his
hand. "Every one to his taste, you were about to say. But there stands
another: that must be the young man who is so fond of travelling. Who,
then, are you, young gentleman?"

"I am a painter, O Sire," answered the young man. "I paint landscapes,
sometimes on the walls of _salons_, and sometimes on canvas. To see
foreign lands is, above all things, my wish, for one sees there a great
variety of beautiful regions that can be reproduced, and what one sees
and sketches is as a rule much finer than that which is evolved from
one's fancy."

The sheik surveyed the group of handsome young men with an earnest
look. "I once had a dear son," said he, "and he must by this time be
grown up like you. You should be his companions, and every one of your
wishes should be satisfied. With that one he would read, hear music
with this, with the other he would invite good friends and make merry,
and I would send him with the painter to beautiful regions and would
then feel sure of his safe return. But Allah has ordained otherwise,
and I bow uncomplainingly to his will. Still, it is within my power to
fulfill your wishes, and you shall leave Ali Banu with happy hearts.
You, my learned friend," continued he, turning to the young writer,
"will take up your residence in my house, and take charge of my books.
You will be at liberty to do as you think best, and your only duty will
be, when you have read some very fine story, to come and relate it to
me. You, who love to sit at a good table with your friends, shall have
the oversight of my entertainments. I myself live alone and take no
pleasures; but it is a duty that attaches to my office to now and then
invite guests. Now you shall prepare every thing in my place, and can
also invite your friends whenever you please to sit down with you--and,
let it be understood, to something better than watermelons. I certainly
can not take the young merchant away from his business, which brings
him in money and honor; but every evening, my young friend, dancers,
singer