he shot up to nearly double his ordinary stature.

"O thou of little sense and breeding!" he cried, in a loud voice; "how
camest thou to deliver the bottle in which I was confined into the hands
of this learned man?"

Ventimore, startled as he was, did not lose his self-possession. "My
dear sir," he said, "I did not suppose you could have any further use
for it. And, as a matter of fact, I didn't give Professor Futvoye the
bottle--which is over there in the corner--but merely the stopper. I
wish you wouldn't tower over me like that--it gives me a crick in the
neck to talk to you. Why on earth should you make such a fuss about my
lending the seal; what possible difference can it make to you even if it
does confirm my story? And it's of immense importance to _me_ that the
Professor should believe I told the truth."

"I spoke in haste," said the Jinnee, slowly resuming his normal size,
and looking slightly ashamed of his recent outburst as well as
uncommonly foolish. "The bottle truly is of no value; and as for the
stopper, since it is but lent, it is no great matter. If there be any
legend upon the seal, perchance this learned man of whom thou speakest
will by this time have deciphered it?"

"No," said Horace, "he won't tackle it till to-morrow. And it's as
likely as not that when he does he won't find any reference to
_you_--and I shall be up a taller tree than ever!"

"Art thou so desirous that he should receive proof that thy story is
true?"

"Why, of course I am! Haven't I been saying so all this time?"

"Who can satisfy him so surely as I?"

"You!" cried Horace. "Do you mean to say you really would? Mr. Fakrash,
you _are_ an old brick! That would be the very thing!"

"There is naught," said the Jinnee, smiling indulgently, "that I would
not do to promote thy welfare, for thou hast rendered me inestimable
service. Acquaint me therefore with the abode of this sage, and I will
present myself before him, and if haply he should find no inscription
upon the seal, or its purport should be hidden from him, then will I
convince him that thou hast spoken the truth and no lie."

Horace very willingly gave him the Professor's address. "Only don't
drop in on him to-night, you know," he thought it prudent to add, "or
you might startle him. Call any time after breakfast to-morrow, and
you'll find him in."

"To-night," said Fakrash, "I return to pursue my search after Suleyman
(on whom be peace!). For not yet have I fo