sity, which is a sin that so magnanimous a king
as your Majesty will be able to pardon in a woman."

Haroun, who thought that Zobeideh was now telling the truth, and who
was in truth by no means displeased to find his suspicions concerning
her conduct to be unfounded, asked with great calmness--

"What said you is the name of this man?"

"His name," said Zobeideh, "is Hunoman."

"And where is he to be found? for I must see him."

"He is staying at present with his mother, Siveree, my nurse, to whom I
have given a small house near the river side."

The Caliph clapped his hands, and to the officer who entered he said--

"Go at once and bring Siveree, a woman belonging to the household of
the Lady Zobeideh, and her son, who is called Hunoman, and who is at
present staying with her."

The officer saluted and went out, saying to himself as he went, "The
Lady Zobeideh he terms her. Her affairs go well. She is a clever
woman and knows how to humour the Caliph. Soon she will be again the
prime favourite, and more powerful than ever."

When the officer returned with Hunoman and his mother, the latter was
conducted to an apartment in that part of the palace which was set
apart for the women, while Hunoman himself was at once brought into the
presence of the Caliph.

Haroun, looking sternly at Hunoman, who was a stout man of middle
height, and not unprepossessing appearance, said--

"I have been informed of your temerity in entering a certain garden,
into which you must have known very well that it was fatal to you to
enter. But, before passing such a sentence upon you as you must feel
that you deserve, I desire to hear the particulars of your career, and
what you may have to urge in your defence."

Hunoman prostrated himself before the Commander of the Faithful and
replied as follows:

THE STORY OF HUNOMAN.

"Oh, Prince of the Faithful, whose life may Allah prolong, the story of
the life of your slave, who is incapable of even thinking of aught that
should touch the honour of your Majesty, is very full of dangers and
escapes.

"At the age of seven years I was taken by my uncle, Amanoolla, to the
country of the Emperor of the Indies, from which I have but just
returned.

"My uncle was a worker in gold and silver, and so expert at his craft
that he never lacked work, and was enabled, not only to support his
family with ease, but to save money. He had a son named Omeda, and as
we grew up, Amanoolla taught