" This,” said the Jewish physician, “is the story I heard from the young man of Moussol.  I continued at Damascus as long as the governor lived; after his death, being still in the vigour of my age, I had the curiosity to travel.  Accordingly I went through Persia to the Indies, and came at last to settle in this your capital, where I have practised physic with reputation.”

The sultan of Casgar was well pleased with this story.  “I must confess,” said he to the Jew, “the story you have told me is very singular; but I declare freely, that of the little hump-back is:  yet more extraordinary, and much more diverting; so you are not to expect that I will give you your life, any more than the rest.  I will have you all four executed.”  “Pray, sir, stay a minute,” said the tailor, advancing, and prostrating himself at the sultan’s feet.  “Since your majesty loves pleasant stories, I have one to tell you that will not displease you.”  “Well, I will hear thee too,” said the sultan; “but do not flatter thyself that I will suffer thee to live, unless thou tellest me some adventure that is yet more diverting than that of my hump-backed jester.”  Upon this the tailor, as if he had been sure of success, spoke boldly to the following purpose.

The Story told by the Tailor.

A citizen of this city did me the honour two days ago to invite me to an entertainment, which he was to give to his friends yesterday morning.  Accordingly I went early, and found there about twenty persons.

The master of the house was gone out upon some business, but in a short time returned, and brought with him a young man, a stranger, very well dressed, and handsome, but lame.  When he entered, we all rose, and out of respect to the master of the house, invited the young man to sit down with us upon the estrade.  He was going to comply; but suddenly perceiving a barber in our company, flew backwards, and made towards the door.  The master of the house, surprised at his behaviour, stopped him.  “Where are you going?” demanded he.  “I bring you along with me to do me the honour of being my guest among the rest of my friends, and you are no sooner got into my house, than you are for running away.”  “Sir,” replied the young man, “for God’s sake do not stop me, let me go, I cannot without horror look upon that abominable barber, who, though he was born in a country where all the natives are white, resembles an Ethiopian; and his soul is yet blacker and more horrible than his face.”

We were all surprised to hear the young man speak in this manner, and began to have a very bad opinion of the barber, without knowing what ground the young man had for what he said.  Nay, we protested we would not suffer any one to remain in our company, who bore so horrid a character.  The master of the house intreated the stranger to tell us what reason he had for hating the barber.  “Gentlemen,” resumed the young man, “you must know this cursed barber is the cause of my being lame, and having fallen