in presently." Accordingly he went out, and returned
leading his ass after him by the halter. "This is my companion," said
he, "and you must shave him." "Shave him!" exclaimed the barber, in the
greatest surprise; "it is enough that I have consented to demean myself
by touching you, and do you insult me by asking me to do as much to your
ass? Away with you, or I'll send you both to _Jehanum_;" and forthwith
drove them out of his shop.

'The wood-cutter immediately went to the caliph, was admitted to his
presence, and related his case. "'Tis well," said the commander of
the faithful: "bring Ali Sakal and his razors to me this instant," he
exclaimed to one of his officers; and in the course of ten minutes
the barber stood before him. "Why do you refuse to shave this
man's companion?" said the caliph to the barber: "Was not that your
agreement?" Ali, kissing the ground, answered: "'Tis true, O caliph,
that such was our agreement; but who ever made a companion of an ass
before? or who ever before thought of treating it like a true believer?"
"You may say right," said the caliph: "but, at the same time, who ever
thought of insisting upon a pack-saddle being included in a load of
wood? No, no, it is the wood-cutter's turn now. To the ass immediately,
or you know the consequences." The barber was then obliged to prepare
a great quantity of soap, to lather the beast from head to foot, and to
shave him in the presence of the caliph and of the whole court,
whilst he was jeered and mocked by the taunts and laughing of all the
bystanders. The poor wood-cutter was then dismissed with an appropriate
present of money, and all Bagdad resounded with the story, and
celebrated the justice of the commander of the faithful.'

CHAPTER XIV

Of the man he meets, and the consequences of the encounter.

I left Semnan with a light heart--my sprain was cured--I was young and
handsome--twenty tomauns, my savings at Meshed, clinked in my purse--I
had acquired some experience in the world; and I determined, as soon as
I reached Tehran, to quit the garb of a dervish, to dress myself well
from head to foot, and to endeavour to push my fortunes in some higher
walk in life.

About a day's journey from Tehran, as I was walking onward, chanting,
with all my throat, a song on the loves of _Leilah_ and _Majnoun_, I
was overtaken by a courier, who entered into conversation with me, and
invited me to partake of some victuals which he had brought wi