dy snakes big and
little, any one of which would have sufficed to drive away guests from
the inn "Under the Ship."

The flute-player gave out shriller and shriller notes; the serpent-
tamer squirmed, foamed at the mouth, quivered convulsively, and
irritated the reptiles till one of them bit him on the hand, another on
the face, while he swallowed alive a third one, the smallest.

The guests and the servants looked at the exhibition of the serpent-
tamer with alarm. They trembled when he irritated the reptiles, they
closed their eyes when they bit him; but when the performer swallowed
one of the snakes, they howled with delight and wonder.

The traveler in the front gallery, however, did not leave his cushions,
he did not deign even to look at the exhibition. But when the tamer
approached for pay, he threw to the pavement two copper utens, giving a
sign with his hand not to come nearer.

The exhibition lasted half an hour perhaps. When the performers left
the courtyard, a negro attending to the chambers of the inn rushed up
to the host and whispered something anxiously. After that, it was
unknown whence, a decurion of the police appeared, and when he had
conducted Asarhadon to a remote window, he conversed long with him. The
worthy owner of the inn beat his breast, clasped his hands, or seized
his head. At last he kicked the black man in the belly, and commanded
him to give the police official a roast goose and a pitcher of Cyprus
wine; then he approached the guest in the front gallery, who seemed to
doze there un brokenly, though his eyes were open.

"I have evil news for thee, worthy lord," said the host, sitting at the
side of the traveler.

"The gods send rain and sadness on people whenever it pleases them,"
replied the guest, with indifference.

"While we were looking at the snake-tamers," continued the host,
pulling at his parti-colored beard, "thieves reached the second story
and stole thy effects, three bags and a casket, of course very
precious."

"Thou must inform the court of my loss."

"Wherefore the court?" whispered the host. "With us thieves have a
guild of their own. We will send for their elder, and value the
effects; Thou wilt pay him twenty per cent of the value and all will be
found again. I can assist thee."

"In my country," replied the guest, "no man compounds with thieves, and
I will not. I lodge with thee, I trusted thee with my property, and
Thou wilt answer."

The worthy Asarhado