After mourning for her death as long as was decent, I took possession of all her property, a particular account of which she gave me before she died; and the corn you sold for me was part of it.

“What I have now told you,” said he, “will plead my excuse for eating with my left hand.  I am highly obliged to you for the trouble you have given yourself on my account.  I can never sufficiently recompense your fidelity.  Since I have still, thanks to God, a competent estate, notwithstanding I have spent a great deal, I beg you to accept of the sum now in your hand, as a present from me.  I have besides a proposal to make to you.  As I am obliged, on account of this fatal accident, to quit Cairo, I am resolved never to return to it again.  If you choose to accompany me, we will trade together as equal partners, and share the profits.”

I thanked the young man for the present he had made me, and I willingly embraced the proposal of travelling with him, assuring him, that his interest should always be as dear to me as my own.

We fixed a day for our departure, and accordingly entered upon our travels.  We passed through Syria and Mesopotamia, travelled over Persia, and after stopping at several cities, came at last, sir, to your capital.  Some time after our arrival here, the young man having formed a design of returning to Persia, and settling there, we balanced our accounts, and parted very good friends.  He went from hence, and I, sir, continue here in your majesty’s service.  This is the story I had to relate.  Does not your majesty find it more surprising than that of the hunch-back buffoon?

The sultan of Casgar fell into a passion against the Christian merchant.  “Thou art a presumptuous fellow,” said he, “to tell me a story so little worth hearing, and then to compare it to that of my jester.  Canst thou flatter thyself so far as to believe that the trifling adventures of a young debauchee are more interesting than those of my jester?  I will have you all four impaled, to revenge his death.

Hearing this, the purveyor prostrated himself at the sultan’s feet.  “Sir,” said he, “I humbly beseech your majesty to suspend your wrath, and hear my story; and if it appears to be more extraordinary than that of your jester, to pardon us.”  The sultan having granted his request, the purveyor began thus.

The Story told by the Sultan of Casgar’s Purveyor.

Sir, a person of quality invited me yesterday to his daughter’s wedding.  I went to his house in the evening at the hour appointed, and found there a large company of men of the law, ministers of justice, and others of the first rank in the city.  After the ceremony was over, we partook of a splendid feast.  Among other dishes set upon the table, there was one seasoned with garlic, which was very delicious, and generally relished.  We observed, however, that one of the guests did not touch it, though it stood just before him.  We invited him to taste it, but