Brother, if you could behold the
sloughs, deeper and darker than any prison-cell, into which _you_ have
thrown me. Yes, _you_--and another. O, I hate you both. I hate my
best lovers. I hate You--no--no, no, no.' And he falls on me, embraces
me, and bathes my cheeks with his tears. After which he falters out
beseechingly, 'Promise, promise that you will not give me any more
money, and though starving and in rags you find me crouching at your
door, promise.' And of a truth, I acquiesced in all he said, seeing
how shaken in body and mind he was. But not until I had made a promise
under oath would he be tranquillised. And so, after our farewell
embrace, he asked me to come again the following day and bring him
some books to read. This I did, fetching with me Rousseau's _Emile_
and Carlyle's _Hero-Worship_, the only two books he had in the cellar.
And when he saw them, he exclaimed with joy, 'The very books I want! I
read them twice already, and I shall read them again. O, let me kiss
you for the thought.' And in an ecstasy he overwhelms me again with
suffusing sobs and embraces.

"What a difference, I thought, between Khalid of yesterday and Khalid
of to-day. What a transformation! Even I who know the turn and temper
of his nature had much this time to fear. Surely, an alienist would
have made a case of him. But I began to get an inkling into his cue of
passion, when he told me that he was going to start a little business
again, if I lend him the necessary capital. But I reminded him that we
shall soon be returning home. 'No, not I,' he swore; 'not until I can
pay my own passage, at least. I told you yesterday I'll accept no more
money from you, except, of course, the sum I need to start the little
business I am contemplating.' 'And suppose you lose this money,' I
asked.--'Why, then _you_ lose _me_. But no, you shall not. For I know,
I believe, I am sure, I swear that my scheme this time will not be a
failure in any sense of the word. I have heavenly testimony on
that.'--'And what was the matter with you yesterday? Why were you so
queer?' 'O, I had nightmares and visions the night before, and you
came too early in the morning. See this.' And he holds down his head
to show me the back of his neck. 'Is there no swelling here? I feel
it. Oh, it pains me yet. But I shall tell you about it and about the
vision when I am out.'--And at this, the gaoler comes to inform us
that Khalid's minutes are spent and he must return to his c