were not a little astonished at the honor shown the old
man whom they had taken for a beggar; and when he had left them to sit
with the sheik, they held the steward back and the young writer asked
him: "By the beard of the Prophet! I implore you to tell us who this
old man is with whom we have been conversing, and whom the sheik so
honors?"

"What!" cried the steward clasping his hands in surprise, "do you not
know this man?"

"No."

"But I have seen you speaking with him several times on the street, and
my master has also noticed this and only recently said, 'They must be
valiant young people with whom this man grants a conversation.'"

"But tell us who he is!" cried the young merchant impatiently.

"Go away; you are trying to make a fool of me," answered the steward.
"No one enters this _salon_ without special permission, and to-day the
old gentleman sent word to the sheik that he would bring some young men
with him into the _salon_, if it were not disagreeable to the sheik,
and the sheik sent back the reply that his house was at his service."

"Do not leave us longer in ignorance. As true as I live, I do not know
who the man is. We got acquainted with him by chance, and fell to
talking with him."

"Well, you may consider yourselves fortunate, for you have conversed
with a famous and learned man, and all present honor you and wonder at
you accordingly. He is none other than Mustapha, the learned dervish."

"Mustapha! the wise Mustapha, who educated the sheik's son, who has
written many learned books, and travelled to all parts of the world?
Have we spoken with Mustapha? And spoken, too, as though he were one of
us, without the least respect!"

While the young men were talking about the dervish, Mustapha, and the
honor they felt had been done them by his condescension, the steward
came to them again, and invited them to follow him, as the sheik wished
to speak with them. The hearts of the young men beat excitedly. Never
yet had they spoken with a man of such high rank. But they collected
their wits, so as not to appear like fools, and followed the steward to
the sheik. Ali Banu sat upon a rich cushion, and refreshed himself with
sherbet. At his right sat the old man, his shabby clothes resting on
splendid cushions, while his well-worn sandals were placed on a rich
rug; but his well-shaped head, and his eye, expressive of dignity and
wisdom, indicated that he was a man worthy to be seated near the sheik.

Th