“But, father,” replied I (for to tell your highness the truth, notwithstanding the old man’s assertions, as to their austerities of life, I very much doubted the fact), “I am prepared for all this, if necessary, and even more.  I have brought my little wealth to add to the store, and contribute to the welfare of your holy band; and I must not be denied.”  I perceived that the old man’s eyes twinkled at the bare mention of gold, and I drew from my sash five-and-twenty sequins, which I had separated from my hoard, with the intention of offering it.  “See, holy father,” continued I, “the offering which I would make.”

“Barik Allah—­praise be to God,” exclaimed the dervish, “that he has sent us a true believer.  Thy offering is accepted, but thou must not expect yet to enter into the austerities of our holy order.  I have many disciples here, who wear the dress, and yet they are not as regular as good dervishes should be; but there is a time for all things, and when their appetite to do wrong fails them, they will (Inshallah, please God), in all probability, become more holy and devout men.  You are accepted.”  And the old man held out his hand for the money, which he clutched with eagerness, and hid away under his garment.  “Ali,” said he to one of the dervishes who had stood at some distance during my audience, “this young man—­what is your name—­Hudusi—­is admitted into our fraternity.  Take him with thee, give him a dress of the order, and let him be initiated into our mysteries, first demanding from him the oath of secrecy.  Murakhas, good Hudusi, you are dismissed.”

I followed the dervish through a narrow passage, until we arrived at a door, at which he knocked; it was opened, and I passed through a courtyard, where I perceived several of the dervishes stretched on the ground in various postures, breathing heavily and insensible.

“These,” said my conductor, “are holy men who are favoured by Allah.  They are in a trance, and during that state are visited by the Prophet, and are permitted to enter the eighth heaven, and see the glories prepared for true believers.”  I made no reply to his assertion, but as it was evident that they were all in a state of beastly intoxication, I very much doubted the fact.

I received my dress, took an oath of secrecy, and was introduced to my companions, whom I soon found to be a set of dissolute fellows, indulging in every vice, and laughing at every virtue; living in idleness, and by the contributions made to them by the people, who firmly believed in their pretended sanctity.  The old man, with the white beard, who was their chief, was the only one who did not indulge in debauchery.  He had outlived his appetite for the vices of youth, and fallen into the vice of age—­a love for money, which was insatiable.  I must acknowledge that the company and mode of living were more to my satisfaction than the vigils, hard fare, and constant prayer, with which the old man had threatened me, when I proposed to enter the community, and I soon became an adept in dissimulation and hypocrisy, and a great favourite with my brethren.