r might in
future occur, would be the means of removing, I commenced the history of
my life in the following words...

"Commenced the history of your life?" interrupted the pacha. "Does the
slave laugh at our beards? What then is all this you have been telling
us?"

"The truth, your highness," replied the Spaniard.

"What I am about to tell, is the history of my life, which I invented to
deceive the old lady Donna Celia, and which is all false."

"I understand, Mustapha, this kafir is a regular kessehgou [Eastern
story-teller], he makes one story breed another; but it is late; see
that he attends to-morrow afternoon, Bero! Go, infidel, the muezzin
calls to prayers."

The Spaniard quitted the sublime presence, and in obedience to the call
of the muezzin, the pacha and Mustapha paid their customary evening
devotions--to the bottle.

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER FOUR.

The next day the Spanish slave was summoned to continue his narrative.

"Your sublime highness of course recollects where I left off yesterday
evening," commenced the slave.

"Perfectly well," replied the pacha, "you left off at the beginning of
your story; but I hope you will finish it this evening, as I have
already forgotten a great deal of what you said."

"Your highness may recollect that I was seated--"

"Yes, in our presence," interrupted the pacha; "such was our
condescension to a Giaour. Now go on with your story."

"With due submission to your highness, I was seated on a sofa, between
my mother Donna Celia and my mistress Donna Clara."

"Very true; I recollect now that you were."

"A hand clasped in the hand of each."

"Exactly," replied the pacha, impatiently.

"And was about to tell a story of my own invention, to deceive the old
lady my mother."

"Anna senna! curses on your mother!" cried the pacha, in an angry tone.
"Sit down and continue your story. Is a pacha nothing? Is the lion to
be chafed by a jackal? Wallah el Nebi! By God and the Prophet! do you
laugh at our beard? The story!"

"The story requested by your highness," replied the slave, with great
coolness, "was commenced in the following words."

STORY OF THE MONK.

What occurred during my infancy, my dearest mother, I do not recollect;
but I can retrace to the age of seven years, when I found myself in
company with a number of others, from the squalling infant of a few days
old, up to about my own age. I also recollect that our fare was
indifferent, and