adventures as Sinbad, he had returned to spend the latter days of his life
in his native city. He built, accordingly, a magnificent dwelling, the
courts of which he adorned with marble fountains, and the chambers with
silk divans; and he was envied on account of his prosperity.

But, in the restlessness of his early years, he had omitted to marry, and
now found himself near the close of his career without an heir to inherit
his wealth and to perpetuate his name. This reflection often disturbed
him; yet he was unwilling to take a wife because he was old. Every now and
then, it is true, he saw men older than he, with fewer teeth and whiter
beards, taking to their bosoms maidens that bloomed like peaches just
beginning to ripen against a wall; and his friends, who knew he would give
a magnificent marriage-feast, urged him to do likewise. Once he looked
with pleasure on a young person of not too tender years, whose parents
purposely presented her to him; but having asked her in a whisper whether
she would like to marry a withered old gentleman like himself, she frankly
confessed a preference for his handsome young clerk, Harma, who earned a
hundred piastres a month. Fadlallah laughed philosophically, and took care
that the young couple should be married under happy auspices.

One day he was proceeding along the street gravely and slowly--surrounded
by a number of merchants proud to walk by his side, and followed by two or
three young men, who pressed near in order to be thought of the company,
and thus establish their credit--when an old woman espying him, began to
cry out, "Yeh! yeh! this is the man who has no wife and no child--this is
the man who is going to die and leave his fortune to be robbed by his
servants, or confiscated by the governor! And yet, he has a sagacious
nose"--(the Orientals have observed that there is wisdom in a nose)--"and a
beard as long as my back! Yeh! yeh! what a wonderful sight to see!"

Fadlallah Dahan stopped, and retorted, smiling, "Yeh! yeh! this is the
woman that blames an old man for not marrying a young wife. Yeh! yeh! what
a wonderful sight to see!"

Then the woman replied, "O, my lord, every pig's tail curls not in the
same direction, nor does every maiden admire the passing quality of youth.
If thou wilt, I will bestow on thee a wife, who will love thee as thou
lovest thyself, and serve thee as the angels serve Allah. She is more
beautiful than any of the daughters of Beyrout, and he