is beard.
"I have accomplished such transformations on several occasions."

"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself, that's all. The question is
now--how do you propose to restore him again?"

"Far from undoing be that which is accomplished!" was the sententious
answer.

"What?" cried Horace, hardly believing his ears; "you surely don't mean
to allow that unhappy Professor to remain like that for ever, do you?"

"None can alter what is predestined."

"Very likely not. But it wasn't decreed that a learned man should be
suddenly degraded to a beastly mule for the rest of his life. Destiny
wouldn't be such a fool!"

"Despise not mules, for they are useful and valuable animals in the
household."

"But, confound it all, have you no imagination? Can't you enter
at all into the feelings of a man--a man of wide learning and
reputation--suddenly plunged into such a humiliating condition?"

"Upon his own head be it," said Fakrash, coldly. "For he hath brought
this fate upon himself."

"Well, how do you suppose that you have helped _me_ by this performance?
Will it make him any the more disposed to consent to my marrying his
daughter? Is that all you know of the world?"

"It is not my intention that thou shouldst take his daughter to wife."

"Whether you approve or not, it's my intention to marry her."

"Assuredly she will not marry thee so long as her father remaineth a
mule."

"There I agree with you. But is that your notion of doing me a good
turn?"

"I did not consider thy interest in this matter."

"Then will you be good enough to consider it now? I have pledged my word
that he shall be restored to his original form. Not only my happiness is
at stake, but my honour."

"By failure to perform the impossible none can lose honour. And this is
a thing that cannot be undone."

"Cannot be undone?" repeated Horace, feeling a cold clutch at his heart.
"Why?"

"Because," said the Jinnee, sullenly, "I have forgotten the way."

"Nonsense!" retorted Horace; "I don't believe it. Why," he urged,
descending to flattery, "you're such a clever old Johnny--I beg your
pardon, I meant such a clever old _Jinnee_--you can do anything, if you
only give your mind to it. Just look at the way you changed this house
back again to what it was. Marvellous!"

"That was the veriest trifle," said Fakrash, though he was obviously
pleased by this tribute to his talent; "this would be a different affair
altogether."

"But child's