d to take up the dissevered members of the cat, but before he
could effect this, a blow upon the side of the head, from his incensed
lady, laid him sprawling on the floor.

The tattle and scandal of the day spreads from zenaneh to zenaneh with
surprising rapidity, and the wife of Merdek saw in a moment whose
example it was that he had imitated.

"Take that!" said she, as she gave him another cuff, "take that, you
paltry wretch! You should," she added, laughing him to scorn, "have
killed the cat on the wedding day."

[Illustration]

Halechalbe and the Unknown Lady.

[Illustration]

The Caliph Haroun al Raschid sent for Giafar, his Grand Vizier, and
Mesrour, his Chief Eunuch.

"I intend," said he, "to go down to Bagdad in disguise, that I may
visit my hospitals, and examine whether the administration of them is
wise and regular, and whether the patients there receive the
assistance and relief of which they stand in need. I will assume the
disguise of a dervish: do you, who are to accompany me, choose a dress
by which you will be completely concealed."

The orders of the Caliph were obeyed, and he set out with his
attendants on his expedition. He was in the centre of the
establishments which he had proposed to visit, and everything appeared
in the order which he wished for, until he arrived at the gate of a
very large court, where he heard a noise.

"Whence comes this noise?" said he to Giafar.

"This," answered the Vizier, "is the place where mad people are
confined. Those whose madness is not dangerous are allowed to walk in
the great court, and they have their cells or small apartments all
around."

"Let us go in," said the Caliph: "this object is also interesting. Let
us first ascertain if they are all confined for proper reasons. There
are many people left at liberty who deserve to be confined; perhaps
there are some here whom it would be for the interest, both of society
and themselves, to restore to freedom. Let each of us examine apart
one of the inhabitants of this place; let us determine by lot which of
the three shall begin the examination, and we will immediately set to
work."

The lot decided that Mesrour should begin.

All three having entered the court, the Chief Eunuch went straight to
the first cell. He found there a man of about forty years of age,
smoking a pipe with a serious air, and leaning his elbow on a table,
upon which there were some papers. He saluted the smoker, who ma