of Constantinople, and was received as a messenger from Heaven. To
such effect did I labour that ere long the Emperor and his officers of
state thought of nothing else but playing chess all day and night, and the
empire fell into entire confusion, and the Saracens mightily prevailed. In
consideration of these services the Emperor was pleased to bestow those
distinguished honours upon me which thou didst witness at his palace gate,
dear brother.

"After, however, the fire which was occasioned through thy instrumentality,
though in no respect by thy fault, the people murmured, and taxed the
Emperor with seeking to destroy his capital in league with a foreign
sorcerer, meaning thee. Ere long the chief officers conspired and entered
the Emperor's apartment, purposing to dethrone him, but he declared that he
would in nowise abdicate until he had finished the game of chess he was
then playing with me. They looked on, grew interested, began to dispute
with one another respecting the moves, and while they wrangled loyal
officers entered and made them all captive. This greatly augmented my
credit with the Emperor, which was even increased when shortly afterwards I
played with the Saracen admiral blockading the Hellespont, and won of him
forty corn-ships, which turned the dearth of the city into plenty.

"The Emperor bade me choose any favour I would, but I said his liberality
had left me nothing to ask for except the life of a poor countryman of mine
who I had heard was in prison for burning the city. The Emperor bade me
write his sentence with my own hand. Had I known that it was thou, Tu-sin,
believe me I had shown more consideration for thy person. At length I
departed for my native land, loaded with wealth, and travelling most
comfortably by relays of swift dromedaries. I returned hither, bought our
father's cottage, and on its site erected this palace, where I dwell
meditating on the problems of chessplayers and the precepts of the sages,
and persuaded that a little thing which the world is willing to receive is
better than a great thing which it hath not yet learned to value aright.
For the world is a big child, and chooses amusement before instruction."

"Call you chess an amusement?" asked his brothers.

MADAM LUCIFER

Lucifer sat playing chess with Man for his soul.

The game was evidently going ill for Man. He had but pawns left, few and
straggling. Lucifer had rooks, knights, and, of course, bishops.