as I saw him, I entreated him to alight, and asked him if he would not take his money?  It is no matter for that, said he, with a pleasant easy air, I know it is in good hands; I will come and take it when all my other money is gone:  adieu, continued he, I will come again towards the latter end of the week.  He then clapped spurs to his ass, and away he went.  Well, thought I to myself, he says he will see me towards the latter end of the week, but it is likely I may not see him for a great while; will go and make the most of his money, and get a good penny by it.

As it happened, I was not out of my conjecture, for it was a full year before I saw my young merchant again.  Then he appeared indeed with richer apparel than before, but very thoughtful.  I asked him to do me the honour to walk into my house:  for this time, replied he, I will go in; but upon this condition, that you shall put yourself to no extraordinary charge upon my account.  That shall be as you please, said I; only do me the favour to alight and walk in.  He accordingly complied, and I gave orders for some sort of entertainment; and, while that was getting ready we fell into discourse together.  When the victuals were got ready, we sat down at table.  When he ate the first mouthful, I observed he fed himself with the left hand, and not with the right; I could not tell what to think of it; I thought within myself, ever since I knew this young man, he always appeared very polite:  is it possible he can do this out of contempt?  What can the matter be that he does not make use of his right hand?  After we had done eating, and every thing was taken away, we sat down upon a sofa, when I presented him with a lozenge that was excellent for giving a sweet breath, but he still took it with his left hand.  Then I accosted him in this manner:  Sir, pray pardon the liberty I take in asking you what reason you have for not making use of your right hand; it is likely you have some disorder in that hand.  Instead of answering, he fetched a deep sigh, and pulling out his right arm, which he had hitherto kept under his garment, showed me, to my great astonishment, that his hand had been cut off.  Doubtless you were alarmed, said he, to see me feed myself with the left hand; but I leave you to judge whether it was in my power to do otherwise.  May one ask you; said I, by what mischance it was that you lost your right hand?  Upon that he fell into tears, and, after wiping his eyes, gave me the following relation.

You must know, said he, that I am a native of Bagdad, the son of a rich father, the most noted man in that city both for quality and riches.  I had scarcely launched into the world, when falling into the company of travellers, and hearing wonders told of Egypt, especially of Grand Cairo, I was moved by their discourse, and took a longing desire to travel thither; but my father was then alive, and had not given me leave.  In fine, he died, and thereupon, being my own master, I resolved to take a journey to Cairo.  I laid out a large sum of money upon several sorts of fine stuffs of Bagdad and Moussol, and then undertook my journey.