you wish to understand the text or the
explanation?"

The book, of which this man seemed to speak, was a small square plank
of cedar, on which there were no characters. Giafar asked what book it
was.

"What! do you not distinguish in these characters the finger of God,
and the inspiration of the angel Gabriel? A Mussulman not know the
divine Koran, nor discover in him who presents it, according as he was
inspired, the great prophet Mahomet!"

Upon this exclamation, the Vizier rose up and withdrew.

Having joined the Caliph, "Commander of the Faithful," said he, "I
have been forced to abandon my project. The man whom I have left makes
me tremble at his blasphemy: he says he is the Great Prophet."

"It is not certain that he blasphemes," replied the Caliph: "every man
may call himself a prophet, provided he proves his mission by
miracles. Go and ask him concerning this point."

Giafar obeyed, and returned to his place.

"If you are Mahomet," said he to the old madman, "who has put you in a
place like this?"

"My ungrateful people," replied the pretended prophet. "They would not
believe in me, and this has vexed rather than surprised me, for they
scarcely believe in Allah."

"But a prophet proves his mission by miracles. Why have you wrought
none?"

"My people should first have demanded them from me; but they were
afraid of being convinced: they seek to believe nothing."

"You could work miracles, then?"

"Do you doubt the power of Mahomet?"

"Work them immediately."

"Your request shall not be refused. Ascend to the top of this spire by
this outer stair, and throw yourself down from it without hesitation.
When you are at the earth, though you were in a thousand pieces, with
one word I will set you upon your feet, straighter and with a better
carriage than you now have."

"I would rather," said Giafar as he was going away, "believe you a
prophet than oblige you to prove yourself one."

He came and gave the Caliph an account of the proposal which had been
made to him.

"You can learn very little," said Haroun to him, "for you will make no
trial."

"If any one wishes to be instructed in this matter," replied Giafar,
"the man and the tower are there, he may try the adventure--I will not
be jealous of his success."

The conversation of the Prince and his ministers was a little
interrupted by some persons who accosted them. One of them was Caliph,
and came to propose Haroun's quitting his habit of de