The sentence was punctually executed; and I am told that Ismael turned out an excellent jeweller.

Bebut-kazi, on his side, took possession of his place.  He was quite determined to limit his ambition to becoming the husband of Tamira, and living holily.  He immediately asked her in marriage, and was immediately accepted.  Bebut thought himself at the summit of his wishes.  He was forming the most delightful projects, when again the kalantar of Ispahan appeared at his door.  Still, full of the fright into which this worthy person’s first visit had thrown him, he received him with more flurry than politeness.  He inquired, confusedly, to what he was indebted for the honour of this second visit.  The kalantar replied, “When I went to the house of your patron to transmit to you the mandate of the magnanimous Abbas, I saw there the beautiful Tamira with the gazelle eyes, the rose of Ispahan, brilliant as the azure campac which only grows in Paradise.  Her glance produced on me the magical effect of the seal of Solomon, and I resolved to take her for my wife.  I went this very morning to her father, but his word was given to you; and Bebut-kazi is the only obstacle to my happiness.  Listen!  I possess great riches, and have powerful friends; give up to me your claim on Tamira, and, ere long, I will get you appointed divan-beghi; you shall be the chief sovereign of justice in the first city in the universe; I will give you my own sister for a wife, she who was formerly the nightingale of Iran, the dove of Babylon.  I leave you to reflect on my offer; to-morrow I return for the answer.”

The new kazi was thunderstruck.  “What! yield my Tamira to him for his sister!  Why, she may be old and ugly; ’tis like exchanging a pearl of Bahrein for one of Mascata; but he is powerful.  If I do not consent, he will deprive me of my place; and I like my place; and yet I would freely sacrifice it for Tamira.  But were I no longer kazi, would her father keep his promise?  Doubtful.  I love Tamira more than all the world; but we must not be selfish; we must forget our own interest, when it injures those we love.  To deprive Tamira of a chance of being the wife of a kalantar would be doing her an injury.  How could I have the heart to force her to forego such a glory, merely for the sake of the poor insignificant kazi that I am!  I should never get over it; ’tis done!  I will immolate my happiness to hers!  I shall be very wretched; but—­but—­I shall be divan-beghi.”

If Bebut the Honest, misled by dawning avarice, fancied he committed his first fault for the sake of love, and not of ambition, he must have been undeceived when these two rival passions came into competition, and he could only banish the first.  If his eyes were not opened, those of the world began to be; for, from that moment, he lost (when he had more need of them than ever) the esteem and confidence he had hitherto inspired, and became known by the name of Bebut the Ambitious.