l Kassim the tidings that the
Commander of the Faithful had given him a palace and awaited his
visit.

The same evening the new favourite of the Caliph packed all his few
belongings on the horse's back, took the iron casket under his arm
and, amid the cheers of the crowd, entered the palace.

A troop of negroes received him and threw themselves at his feet. An
especially gorgeously arrayed slave led him into a room, where a
banquet awaited him. Abdul Kassim had never fared so well in his life.
But he did not forget to praise Allah for his goodness. Next morning
he put on his gorgeous robe, bound on the magnificent sword he found
in the great hall, and rode, accompanied by the negroes, to visit the
Caliph.

The Commander of the Faithful sat on the throne and awaited his
subject, who, when he appeared, was about to throw himself in the dust
at the ruler's feet, but the Caliph descended the three steps of the
throne, and took the young man's hand.

"Are you Abdul Kassim," he said, "son of Kalif, the merchant who lived
by the Golden Bridge?"

"I am he, Caliph," answered Abdul; "permit me to express my thanks
for the palace with which you have endowed your most humble servant."

"I have heard much good of you," said the Caliph, when he had ordered
his suite to retire; "and pray you to show me the magic jewels that
help you to such power and wisdom."

"Of which jewels are you speaking?" asked Abdul Kassim, amazed.

"Well," smiled the Caliph, "which jewels should I mean but those you
have inherited from your father?"

The young man stared. So the Caliph, too, took him for the possessor
of the magic stones? Without reserve he confessed that, to avoid
disputes he had voluntarily retired and left the stones to his
brothers.

"But," said the Caliph, "Micha ben Jahzeel, the Jew, saw the casket in
your house!"

"The casket he may have seen," answered Abdul Kassim; "I begged it of
my brothers in memory of my father."

The Caliph seemed still in doubt. He sent a slave to Abdul Kassim's
palace to bring the casket. The messenger brought it, gave it to the
Caliph, and retired. The Caliph opened the lid and looked inside. It
was in truth empty! His gaze fell on the inscription:--

"'Tis Allah's will that he who cherishes
The precious gift that never perishes,
Shall make the East to bend as low
As palms that in the whirlwind blow."

He read the verse and looked at the youth. "Abdul Kassim," he said,
"yo