s:--this is the noted Sheikh Taleb of Damascus, whom
Mrs. Gotfry once met at Ebbas Effendy's in Akka, and whom she was
desirous of meeting again. When we first went to visit him, this
charming lady and Khalid and I, we had to knock at the door until his
neighbour peered from one of the windows above and told us that the
Sheikh is asleep, and that if we would see him, we must come in the
evening. I learned afterwards that he, reversing the habitual practice
of mankind, works at night and sleeps during the day.

"We return in the evening. And the Sheikh, with a lamp in his hand,
peers through a small square opening in the door to see who is
knocking. He knew neither Khalid nor myself; but Mrs. Gotfry--'Eigh!'
he mused. And as he beheld her face in the lamplight he exclaimed
'Marhaba (welcome)! Marhaba!' and hastened to unbolt the door. We are
shown through a dark, narrow hall, into a small court, up to his
study. Which is a three-walled room--a sort of stage--opening on the
court, and innocent of a divan or a settle or a chair. While he and
Mrs. Gotfry were exchanging greetings in Persian, I was wondering why
in Damascus, the city of seven rivers and of poetry and song, should
there be a court guilty like this one of a dry and dilapidated
fountain. I learned afterwards, however, that the Sheikh can not
tolerate the noise of the water; and so, suffering from thirst and
neglect, the fountain goes to ruin.

"On the stage, which is the study, is a clutter of old books and
pamphlets; in the corner is the usual straw mat, a cushion, and a sort
of stool on which are ink and paper. This he clears, places the
cushion upon it, and offers to Mrs. Gotfry; he himself sits down on
the mat; and we are invited to arrange for ourselves some books.
Indeed, the Sheikh is right; most of these tomes are good for nothing
else.

"Mrs. Gotfry introduces us.

"'Ah, but thou art young and short of stature,' said he to Khalid;
'that is ominous. Verily, there is danger in thy path.'

"'But he will embrace Buhaism,' put in Mrs. Gotfry.

"'That might save him. Buhaism is the old torch, relighted after many
centuries, by Allah.'

"Meanwhile Khalid was thinking of second-hand Jerry of the second-hand
book-shop of New York. The Sheikh reminded him of his old friend.

"And I was holding in my hand a book on which I chanced while
arranging my seat. It was Debrett's Baronetage, Knightage, and
Companionage. How did such a book find its way into the