some sure guarantee of thy
friendship--though I doubt it not."

"Be it so," said Hassan, as he rose, and, following the conspirator into
the street, hurried up to the citadel.

When Hamet Dey issued the order to have Sidi Hassan arrested, as already
related, Hadji Baba, having returned to his wonted place in the lobby of
the palace, heard the order, and, being a bold man, ventured into the
audience-chamber after the Dey had left it. There he found the pieces
of the torn commission. Picking them hastily up, he retired to his own
apartment, put them together, and very soon guessed the nature of the
quarrel between his new master and Sidi Hassan. Rightly concluding,
from the insolent violence of Hassan's exit and the extremity of the
Dey's rage, that the breach was irreparable, and knowing that Hassan was
a man of some weight with the army, he resolved to ascertain the views
of that worthy, and, in the event of his designing mischief, to aid him.

With this end in view he hastened out to search for Hassan, but, like
the officers of justice, failed for some time to find him. He met,
however, with two of the searchers in the persons of the chaouses who
had so recently administered the bastinado in a mild manner to himself.

"Well met, comrades," he said, with a nod; "we have no chance of finding
Sidi Hassan, I fear, for when fools are abroad, wise men stop at home."

"Thou hadst better get thee home, then," retorted the executioner
gruffly.

"Not badly thrust," said the jester, laughing; "but have patience with
me, comrade. I am no fool to-day. For once in a way I mean to act the
wiseacre. You see,"--here he became confidential--"what the household
of the palace may expect from our new master."

"I see nothing," replied the man testily, "except that whatever master
rules there is always plenty of work for me and my chum here to do; and
let me tell you, Master Baba, that I am no revolutionist--I mind my own
business."

"Very good, comrade," returned Baba lightly; "thou wilt play the fool
to-day and change places with me. But bear in remembrance that a
chaouse may have to be beaten as well as a jester, and that it would not
be difficult to find others to take thy place. I might even be tempted
to do so myself in case of necessity. It would be a rare jest to have a
chaouse beaten by a jester, would it not?"

"If it ever comes to that, I hope you will prove grateful and lay on
lightly," returned the man, wit