him for the night out of
kindness. For this he thanked me sincerely, allowed me to bleed him
for the good of his health, and to wash and shave him, and paying me
handsomely for all I had done for him, departed with much satisfaction.

"'This morning, therefore, when I happened to give utterance to that
rash boast of being able to shave successfully any living thing--a
boast you so cleverly turned against me--I determined to make good my
words by virtue of the camel's-hair brush.'"

"And what," asked Haroun of Sidi ibn Thalabi, "what has become of the
brush? did you not buy it of the barber?"

"I endeavoured to do so," answered he, "but the barber declared that
unless the Caliph himself seated upon his throne should demand it, he
would never part with it on any terms to any man."

"I think, friend Sidi ibn Thalabi," said Haroun, "that the barber is
right. But now that I have heard the story of the barber, which is a
very strange story, and has interested me greatly, I must for the
present leave you, and return to my house where my people will be
anxiously awaiting me. I hope, however, to have the pleasure very
shortly of receiving you in my own house, and till then I bid you
farewell."

[1] The Caliph was commonly so designated by the vulgar.

[2] A common Arab practice.

The Caliph and Sidi ibn Thalabi

THE BANQUET.

On the next morning after Haroun Alraschid had given the customary
audiences to his Viziers and the great officers of his kingdom, he
ordered Mesrur to send and fetch Kaseem, the barber whose story Sidi
ibn Thalabi had related to him.

Kaseem, on being introduced into the audience-chamber, and seeing the
Caliph in his royal robes seated upon the throne, made no doubt but
that he was in truth the same man as that Sidi ibn Thalabi who had
rescued him from the mob, and to whom he had spoken on board the boat.

When, therefore, Haroun said to him, "Kaseem, I have been told that you
have a certain small brush of potent virtue. Give it to me."

Kaseem answered, smiling, "Your Majesty is, I know, very well informed
indeed as to all the circumstances concerning that brush, and I am very
happy, not only from loyalty, but also from gratitude to one Sidi ibn
Thalabi, whom may Allah bless and reward, to be able to present to your
Majesty a thing which you desire to possess."

Saying this, he offered the little brush, which Haroun took with his
own hands.

Then the Caliph, turning to the