"I believe as much as I can believe any thing in this world, that I did
see money paid; but I doubt the sum, and I doubt the metal, and I have
also my other doubts. May it please your highness, I am an unfortunate
man, I have been under the influence of doubts from my birth; and it has
become a disease which I have no doubt will only end with my existence.
I always doubt a fact, unless----"

"What does the ass say? What is all this but Bosh?--nothing. Let him
have a fact."

The pacha gave the sign--the ferashes appeared--the man was thrown, and
received fifty blows of the bastinado. The pacha then commanded them to
desist. "Now, by our beard, is it not a fact that you have received the
bastinado? If you still doubt the fact, we will proceed."

"The fact is beyond a doubt," replied the man, prostrating himself. "But
excuse me, your sublime highness, if I do continue to assert that I
cannot always acknowledge a fact, without such undeniable proofs as your
wisdom has been pleased to bring forward. If your highness were to hear
the history of my life, you would then allow that I have cause to
doubt."

"History of his life! Mustapha, we shall have a story."

"Another fifty blows on his feet would remove all his doubts, your
highness," replied Mustapha.

"Yes; but then he will be beaten out of his story. No, no; let him be
taken away till the evening, and then we shall see how he will make out
his case."

Mustapha gave directions, in obedience to the wish of the pacha. In the
evening, as soon as they had lighted their pipes, the man was ordered
in, and in consideration of his swelled feet, was permitted to sit down,
that he might be more at ease when he narrated his story, which was as
follows.

THE STORY OF HUDUSI.

Most sublime pacha, allow me first to observe, that, although I have
latterly adhered to my own opinions, I am not so intolerant as not to
permit the same licence to others: I do not mean to say that there are
not such things as facts in this world, nor to find fault with those who
believe in them. I am told that there are also such things as flying
dragons, griffins, and other wondrous animals, but surely it is quite
sufficient for me, or any one else, to believe that these animals
exist, when it may have been our fortune to see them; in the same
manner, I am willing to believe in a fact, when it is cleared from the
mists of doubt; but up to the present, I can safely say, that I seldom
have fal