impossible that he should not conceive a great
affection for me."

Now it happened, that whilst he was thus
speaking to himself, Abu Munchar was looking
at him from his window, and saying:
"This is one of the idiots who brought upon
me the visit of the head of the police. He
has a villanous face, with but one eye, and is
evidently a conceited person. It would
be a pleasant thing to play some good trick
upon him, that he might learn not to meddle
with things that concern him not, and to have
a less opinion of his own merit."

A little while afterwards, having matured
his plan, he went to the shop of the barber,
and expressed his wish to be shaved. At
the same time, a messenger came from the
bath requesting his services. "Tell the
Maallim," quoth the poor fellow, "that I am
shaving the head of an emir, and cannot
come." So the messenger went away, another
barber was called, and Ali lost his connection
with the bath.

Abu Munchar took off his turban, and
placed himself on the bench with exceeding
gravity, that he might be shaved. Ali began
at once to sharpen his razor, to prepare the
lather, and to talk, as barbers ever do; for
Allah has given them a tongue a span
in length. He vaunted both his own cleverness
and the respect he entertained for his
customer, endeavouring to insinuate himself
into his good graces. Unfortunate man! his
advances were only too well received; and
ere the last polish was given to that round
head, Abu Munchar had confessed that he
felt wonderfully inclined to do good to the
barber. Ali was delighted, and said that
if that were the case, he would speak out.
So he related his surmises on the subject of
his patient's way of life, and begged to be
told whether or not he possessed the secret of
happiness.

"Thy penetration is marvellous, thy capacity
is unexampled, O Ali!" was the reply.
"The source of my felicity is indeed not
ordinary. I was born poor, and lived, until of
late, poor, as thou hast surmised; but I
chanced to obtain admission into the Company
of the Wise and Happy; so that now my lot
is to be envied."

"And what is that company?" inquired the
barber.

"It consists of a variety of individuals of all
ranks and conditions, who have the power of
obtaining whatsoever they may wish, when
united in the ordained place of meeting. We
meet together at stated intervals. One wishes
for a purse of gold, another for a beautiful
maiden, another for a handsome garment; and
no one ever fails to obtain what he may desire."

"O Allah! Allah! why may I not become
a member of this worshipful company?"

"That is impossible," replied the wag, in a
grave voice. "I have gratified thy curiosity;
but, do not let thy hopes go astray in quest of
what is forbidden."

The barber was afraid for the time to press
the matter further, although he did not
despair of ultimately succeeding in his wishes.
When the shave was over, he refused to
accept payment for his trouble; declaring with
many oaths that he esteemed it an honour to
handle the head of his respected neighbour.
Abu Munchar did not much insist, but went
away and related to his intimates how he had
got a barber at his service for nothing.

Some time afterwards, it was agreed between
the merry man and one of his friends,
named Maza, that the joke should be carried
out to its extremity. Every preparation having
been made, Maza went, dressed as a poor man;
and, feigning sickness, fell down upon the
threshold of the barber's shop. The luckless
rogue, who, since he had lost his connection
with the bath, had gained scarcely sufficient
to buy him a loaf for dinner, was sitting
sharpening his razor for the hundredth time
that day. On hearing a noise, he started as
if from slumber, cried "hader" (ready), and
began to make a lather, without looking at
his customer. On turning round at length,
however, he saw as it were a corpse in the
doorway, and felt terribly alarmed; but he
recovered soon, and, humanity prompting
him, drew Maza into the shop, tweaked
his nose, slapped his hands, and succeeded
in making him open his eyes and pretend to
recover.

"Where am I?" said he, in a faint voice.

"In the shop of Ali, the cleverest and the
poorest barber in Cairo. A miserable wretch,
who has scarcely a glass of water to offer
thee; but who is ready to shave thy head for
the honour of the Prophet."

"I demand not to be shaved, but to be
taken to the house of Abu Munchar, if he be
known in this quarter."

"Known!" exclaimed Ali. "Why, he is my
most intimate friend, and scarcely ever passes
a day without stepping in to hear me discourse
wisely of all things; for he has seen
that I am a man of sagacity, who knows
sentences, and can expound history and doctrine.
He has seen that I am capable of enlightening
the imbecility of his mind, and enlarging the
bounds of his knowledge, and showing him
the right path, and giving him rules of conduct,
and directions in the search of wealth,
and means to avoid the rod of government,
and advice and assistance of all valuable
kinds; besides . . . ."

"This is enough," replied Maza, "to persuade
me that thou knowest the man. Show
me his dwelling, and thou shalt be rewarded
—by my thanks."

"Nay," quoth Ali, "it seemeth to me that
thou art sick and unable to walk. Remain in
my shop, and I will call upon my neighbour,
and mention thy name and describe thy
qualities, and bring him to thee."

"Be it so," said Maza; and Ali, who was
delighted at the opportunity of entering his
neighbour's house, crossed the street, and