rvish, and
accepting the place of Vizier. He intended to clothe him in a
magnificent robe: it was an old piece of stuff, full of holes, dirty,
and devoured by vermin. Another, with a basket full of nut-shells,
came to sell him confections.

These short and public scenes did not answer the design of Haroun, nor
the purpose of the agreement into which he had entered with his
ministers. It was his turn to go into a cell, where, like his two
companions in adventure, he might have a private conversation. He
passed near one, which appeared larger and better furnished than the
rest. A young man, of a soft and engaging figure, was sitting upon a
sofa, and appeared to be in deep melancholy: he held in his hand the
Koran. The Caliph accosted and saluted him, addressing him in that
kind and familiar tone which the robe of a dervish authorized him to
assume.

"Young man," said he, "why is a man so rational as you appear to be,
to be found among mad people?"

At this question, the young man shut his book, modestly opened his
eyes, looked at the dervish, and answered him: "All the actions of my
life have not been rational; I have given reason for the abuse which
is now made of power in keeping me here."

"And could not I," said the dervish, "learn from you your history,
when you appear to be so well qualified for giving it?"

"Pious dervish," answered the young man, "were you the Caliph, I would
persuade you to sit down by me, and I would open to you my heart.
Every day do I beseech God to send me this equitable Prince; but it
would serve no purpose to have any other confidant. You see here a
victim of his Grand Vizier Giafar, by whose orders I was brought
hither, for a reason which appeared well founded; but I can declare
that there is no reason why I should be still detained; and without
the support of religion, I should sink under the weight of my
misfortune and the horror of my situation."

The Caliph was greatly astonished to hear so reasonable and connected
a discourse. He called Giafar and Mesrour, and repeated what he had
heard. The Grand Vizier attentively considered the young man, and
assured the Caliph that the prisoner and his history were totally
unknown to him. Haroun's curiosity grew stronger, and made him anxious
to hear his history. He entered the cell with that freedom which
dervishes generally use, and sat down beside the supposed victim of
Giafar's orders.

"Unfortunate young man," said he to him, "you k