ite his
agonised protests, the trembling wretch was made to lead us to the very
spot where the jewel was hidden.

I took up the stone and showed the Magistrate the box in which the
diamond was concealed, while Mustapha grovelled on the ground, pleading
for mercy.

What followed was a matter of course. The merchant Mustapha was
arrested, I was released and commissioned to let Shin Shira know that if
he applied in person for his jewel it would be returned to him, and an
apology offered for his unwarranted arrest.

And so I was set free--a stranger and alone in Baghdad.

MYSTERY NO. VII

SHIN SHIRA AND THE ROC

When I found myself alone in Baghdad after my extraordinary adventure
with the Magic Crystal, my first intention was to return at once to
England.

I found, however, that it would be impossible for me to do so for at
least four days; so I prepared to make the best of matters by doing a
little sight-seeing while I was still confined to the ancient and
interesting city.

There were two additional reasons which made the delay less disagreeable
to me.

The first one was that I might possibly happen to meet Shin Shira again
before I departed; and the other was that, on the second day of my stay,
I saw a printed notice to the effect that, according to the ancient
usage of the country relating to condemned prisoners, all of Mustapha's
goods were to be immediately sold by public auction, and the money
realised was to be confiscated by the Crown.

I had noticed a number of very quaint and curious articles in the shop,
and thought that it would be an excellent opportunity for me to purchase
some souvenirs of my visit, to take back with me to England.

The sale took place the next day, and I was able to secure several
interesting pieces, which have a place in my study to this day. In fact,
I was tempted to buy so many things that I began to fear that I should
soon not have enough money left to take me back again to London; and I
was just about to leave the auction, in order to be out of the way of
temptation, when I caught sight of the quaintest, most uncanny-looking
brass lamp being offered for sale that you could possibly imagine.

It was slightly damaged too, and looked very old, so I hoped that it
might be going very cheap.

I was right, and to my great delight it was knocked down to me for a
mere trifle.

Clutching my treasures about me, I hurried back to my hotel, and spent
the whole of the re