your religion; perhaps it may help us, you know, to find the
religion of the future, which we are all longing for. And I am so
interested in oriental religions! there is something so charmingly
picturesque about them. I quite dote on those dear old Shastras, and
Vedas, and Puranas; they contain such a lot of beautiful things, you
know.

_Ali Seyyid_. I know as little, madam, of the Indian books you mention
as I do of the Bible, which I have always heard was a very good book, and
contained also a great many beautiful things. I am neither a Hindoo nor
a Buddhist,--in fact, it is forbidden to me by my religion to tell you
exactly what I am.

_Mrs Allmash_. But indeed I won't tell anybody if you will only confide
in me. Oh, this mystery is too exquisitely delicious! Who knows,
perhaps you might make a convert of me?

_Ali Seyyid_ [_with an admiring gaze_]. Madam, you would be a prize so
well worth winning, that you almost tempt me. The first of our secrets
is that we are all things to all men, until we are quite sure of the
sympathy of the listener; then we venture a step further.

_Mrs Allmash_. How wise that is! and how unlike the system adopted by
Christians! You may be sure of my most entire sympathy.

_Ali Seyyid_. The next principle is--but this is a profound secret,
which you must promise not to repeat--the rejection of all fixed rules of
religion or morality. It really does not matter in the least what you
do: the internal disposition is the only thing of any value. Now, as far
as I understand, you have already got rid of the religion, or you would
not be looking for a new one; all you have to do is to get rid of the
morality, and there you are.

_Mrs Allmash_ [_with an expression of horror and alarm_]. Yes, there I
should be indeed. Oh, Mr Allyside, what a dreadful man you are! Who
started such an extraordinary doctrine?

_Ali Seyyid_. Well, his name was Hassan-bin-Saba--commonly known among
Westerns as the "Old Man of the Mountain." His followers, owing to the
value they attached to murder as a remedial agent, have been known by the
name of the "Assassins."

_Mrs Allmash_. Oh, good gracious!

_Lady Fritterly_. My dear Louisa, what is the matter? You look quite
frightened.

_Ali Seyyid_. Mrs Allmash is a little alarmed because I proposed a new
morality for the future, as well as a new religion.

_Mr Coldwaite_. Excuse me; but in discussions of this sort, I think it
is most imp