endeavour actually to deliver myself from this last mark of her
beneficence. Ah! if I could get hold of her some day, she would find
that she has not obliged an ungrateful person."

"And what will you do to get hold of her?" inquired Mesrour.

"Nothing can be more easy," said the smoker: "if a man like you would
assist me; she will come this evening at nine o'clock to admire
herself, and to bathe in that well which you see in the middle of the
court. I will give you my table, and you will lie in wait. She will
not suspect you; and while she is amusing herself with making her
beams play upon the water, you will suddenly shut the well: then we
shall get hold of her. It will make both our fortunes, and we will see
how she will be put to it to justify her conduct."

"She will speak, then?" said Mesrour. "Shall we hear her?"

"I don't say that you will hear it very distinctly," answered the
smoker; "but I, whose ear is by practice become so perfect as to be
able to mark the cadence of the celestial harmony, shall not lose a
single word. With respect to you, we must know how your ear is
formed."

So saying, the smoker laid down his pipe, examined narrowly Mesrour's
ear, and, taking hold of it very roughly, suddenly pulled it with all
his force, crying out, "Your ear is too short!"

Mesrour uttered a dreadful cry. One of the keepers ran up, and caused
the astrologer to quit his hold. The eunuch, holding his ear with both
his hands, rejoined the Caliph, and related to him his lamentable
adventure.

"I have long been persuaded," said Haroun, smiling, "that those madmen
who have an air of wisdom are most to be distrusted. Come, Giafar,"
said he to his Grand Vizier, "you are warned beforehand not to allow
your ear to be pulled. Proceed to your examination: Mesrour and I will
not go far from the cell which you enter, that we may be at hand to
assist you if there is occasion."

The Grand Vizier had already cast his eye upon a door, by the side of
which sat an old man, with a venerable beard and an engaging air. He
began with giving him alms, and then saluted him. He appeared more
attentive to the civility of the salutation than to the alms he had
received. He returned the salute, and made a sign to Giafar to sit
down on a seat a few paces distant from him.

"You are undoubtedly come here to be instructed, young man," said he
to him. "You ought to thank Heaven for having been so well directed.
Of what chapter in my book do