al art, the effect
of which will soon be perceived.

At the sight of Daboul, Margam descended from the sofa, and came to
meet the pretended Armenian, without allowing him time to kneel, as
was usual, and made him sit down on the sofa, giving him the
right-hand place.

"Permit this homage," added he: "it is that of a young magician
towards his master." The astonished Daboul was silent. "Here are my
proofs," pursued Margam, and, uncovering his deliman, he showed him
the red, yellow, and green-coloured girdle which adorned his breast.
"I earnestly wished," continued the false Sultan, "again to bring near
me the man for whom wonderful circumstances have inspired me with as
much respect as curiosity. The moment is now come, and I congratulate
myself upon it."

"Sultan," replied Daboul, "when science is united with power,
everything must bend before them. And you see me in admiration at
being within the reach of kissing the feet of another Solomon."

"Let us leave to ordinary men," said Margam, "the desire of external
respect. I seek not for empty homage, but am desirous to obtain new
knowledge. Besides, what is an earthly sovereignty, subjected to so
much labour and exposed to so many dangers, compared to that which you
enjoy? What a happiness to be able to acquire immense riches, and to
diffuse the blessings thereof, without being burdensome to any!"

"I cannot, O wise Sultan," replied Daboul, "but approve of this noble
ambition and these virtuous sentiments. We can make ourselves masters
of many things with great facility, and without delivering a whole
people to misery and the horrors of war: we sacrifice but one man."

"That is precisely," interrupted Margam, "what I wanted to avoid. I
would wish to be able to save a man, and it is on this very subject I
was desirous to consult you."

"To save him?" said Daboul. "When he is predestined to it, one could
not preserve him even by putting oneself in his place."

"In this case, he must be abandoned; but I would wish, at least, that
he might only be a slave."

"Sultan, you would obtain nothing. He must be a victim of consequence,
and of a distinguished rank."

"But it appears to me," said Margam, "that in a choice like this one
is exposed to dangerous resentments."

"There is a method of consulting beforehand," replied the magician,
"such as I made use of in my last search, and I received for answer,
'_In order that you may run some danger, it would be necessary