proof of my affection?"

Schah-riar having agreed to it, they sent for Dinar-zade, who came
directly. The sultan passed the night with Schehera-zade on an
elevated couch, as was the custom among the eastern monarchs, and
Dinar-zade slept at the foot of it on a mattress prepared for the
purpose.

Dinar-zade, having awakened about an hour before day, did what her
sister had ordered her. "My dear sister," she said, "if you are not
asleep, I entreat you, as it will soon be light, to relate to me one
of those delightful tales you know. It will, alas, be the last time I
shall receive that pleasure."

Instead of returning any answer to her sister, Schehera-zade addressed
these words to the sultan: "Will your majesty permit me to indulge my
sister in her request?"

"Freely," replied he.

Schehera-zade then desired her sister to attend, and, addressing
herself to the sultan, began as follows:

[Illustration]

THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE

There was formerly, sire, a merchant, who was possessed of great
wealth, in land, merchandise, and ready money. Having one day an
affair of great importance to settle at a considerable distance from
home, he mounted his horse, and with only a sort of cloak-bag behind
him, in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, he began his
journey. He arrived without any accident at the place of his
destination; and having finished his business, set out on his return.

On the fourth day of his journey he felt himself so incommoded by the
heat of the sun that he turned out of his road, in order to rest under
some trees by which there was a fountain. He alighted, and tying his
horse to a branch of the tree, sat down on its bank to eat some
biscuits and dates from his little store. When he had satisfied his
hunger he amused himself with throwing about the stones of the fruit
with considerable velocity. When he had finished his frugal repast he
washed his hands, his face, and his feet, and repeated a prayer, like
a good Mussulman.[3]

He was still on his knees, when he saw a genie,[4] white with age and
of an enormous stature, advancing toward him, with a scimitar in his
hand. As soon as he was close to him he said in a most terrible tone:
"Get up, that I may kill thee with this scimitar, as thou hast caused
the death of my son." He accompanied these words with a dreadful yell.

[Footnote 3: Mussulman signifies resigned, or "conformed to the divine
will." The Arabic word is