the key with him? If he has, then indeed I shall begin to fear that my day is over, and that the sun has set upon us for ever. »

As soon as he had uttered these words, Gulchin arose from her seat, and with great animation said,

My soul, Khodadad, let us go see; there is nothing to prevent us; the Shah is absent, and the closet open. »

« Let us go," said her husband; there can be no danger; if the key is gone, it is well I should know it; if not, we will straightway return whence we came. »

Accordingly, taking each other by the hand, they proceeded from their own apartment into that of the King. All the attendants of the palace looking upon Khodadad in the same light as the King himself, every door was open to him. When, accompanied by Gulchin, he entered the closet, Khodadad cast his eyes immediately towards the very spot where he knew the key had been secreted.

D

"Nothing has been touched here, said he. The very box in which it was kept then met his eye he approached and straightway opened it-there was the key untouched his body was seized with a tremor when he surveyed it, whilst his countenance underwent a sudden change.

My soul, Khodadad, what is the matter?» said Gulchin; « wherefore are you so alarmed? Here is nothing but a common rusty key-what is this? »

"

Touch it not, Gulchin!» exclaimed her husband. are ignorant of its power. »

Touch it not!» repcated his wife, in surprise; how very weak you must be to be thus alarmed! Let me take it up. » Upon which, seizing it, and keeping hold of it for some time, her face too changed colour, and her heart began to beat violently.

By your soul, Khodadad," she said, this is odd! how very marvellous! it quite presses my hand. »

Give it to me in the name of Allah!" said her husband, fearful lest its impulse might assume too powerful an influence over his wife, and accordingly he took it into his own hand. Give it to me, he repeated, and he stood grasping

it, his hand extended like one impelled by the magic of some mighty temptation. His wife now became frightened at his looks; they bespoke a wildness and an agitation which predicted some strange event.

་

« Wonderful! wonderful!« exclaimed Khodadad, advancing a few steps towards the door.

Stop,

prophet. »

"

» said Gulchin throw it down in the name of the

; "

I am without help-my power is gone,» said Khodadad, panting from excess of excitement; «I can no more. » Upon saying which he moved, or rather ran off with increasing speed, whilst his wife, almost fainting with fright, summoned strength, and sprung forward to seize his robe, which, falling from his shoulders as he darted away, remained in her hand, whilst her eyes glared upon him in wonder, until she saw him fairly disappear through a distant gate-way. Her faintness then increased, and, tottering back to her own apartment, she gave way to the most desponding apprehension, running to and fro in every direction, devising a thousand bewildering schemes for overtaking him, and then abandoning them in despair as fast as they were devised. She then opened every casement, ran to the terrace top, in the hope of catching some glimpse of him, and finished by despatching servants into every avenue of the palace, to ascertain whether or not he had been seen to pass. At length, exhausted and worn out by anxiety, she lay down in despair, when the following extraordinary words which he had once uttered, I shall come back a king, struck her recollection, and she started from her couch like one demented. Her quick imagination rang the changes upon those words in endless variety. She wondered what they could really portend-how such a thing could be-who was to place him on the throne-what was to become of Azbeaz-what would become of her; there was no end to the tortures of doubt and uncertainty by which she became afflicted, and in that state we must leave her for the present, to see what the other personages of our tale are undergoing.

Azbeaz had issued forth from his palace at the earliest call

of the morning, escorted by the youngest old man as his guide, and by all the state and circumstance attendant upon a royal hunting expedition. He bestrode a steady mule, and was seated upon an easy cushion, for no horseman was he, and no saddle had his knees ever clasped. Having purposely ordered his huntsmen and attendants to disperse in search of game, in order to cloak his purpose, and taking only a few followers with him, he pursued his way, until they reached an obscure village high up in the mountainous range that skirted the plain. He alighted at the door of a hovel, into which his guide entered first, in order to prepare the invalid for the arrival of the King. Azbeaz having followed, he perceived, lying on the ground, on a decayed carpet, the old negress, apparently in the last stage of decrepitude. She was still enough alive to be able to understand who was her visitor, and, having been raised up a little, she proceeded in a sufficiently audible voice to stammer out the following words:

"Forgive the weakness of a dying old woman, but the secret she has to divulge must be known, or she will die with the weight of committing an injustice on her head. Give ear; whatever I say is the truth. »

"Good! good!" said the King; « we can't have enough of

truth. »

It was thus she continued :

«The late King, every body knows, was a usurper; he put his predecessor to death by poison, slew all the children of that unfortunate man, and no heir was left. The chance of one, however, still existed, because one of the surviving wives proved to be pregnant. That wife happening to be very beautiful, the usurper did not kill her, but ordered that the moment her offspring saw the light, it should be thrown to the dogs. That poor creature (for she died shortly after) placed great confidence in me, and she made me promise to save her child. I did save it. She gave birth to a son, which I was the means of conveying to the house of this man's brother, (pointing to the youngest old man,) and he was brought up by him. I hear he is alive, and noticed by the present Shah. This is a proof of what I assert, and she held up

a jewel richly set in gold; this was round the child's neck when I brought it away from the dying mother. I have said it-now let me die in peace. »

Azbeaz opened well his ears to catch the words of the dying negress, and when she ceased speaking, without betraying any unpleasant emotion, but rather a feeling of joy, he exclaimed,

Then, as I live, Khodadad is the lawful King."

The words had scarcely left his mouth, before the sound, the awful sound, of the great gong on the turret, so well known to the ears of Azbeaz, was heard, which rung throughout the mountain with the same portentous reverberations as have been before described. Azbeaz, having listened with the greatest attention until the sound had entirely expired, exclaimed:

« There goes another King, as sure as fate; by my heart that key is at work again. If it be Khodadad, there is no harm done; but should it be Sakalchok, then we must put our trust in Allah, for there is none to be placed in him.»

He had scarcely made an end of these words, when, turning round, he perceived the old negress a corpse by his side, and the youngest old man shaking in his shoes from head to foot.

« Let us go, he exclaimed ; «<let us go see what destiny has prepared for us. It is plain that some change has occurred in the world, for if nothing else speaks truth, that gong with a burnt father does. »

Having ordered a proper burial to be provided for the deceased, and given some words of encouragement to his companion, he mounted his mule, and, making all haste across the plain, returned to the city. As he approached, he perceived an unusual stir about the gate, and crowds of people collected together in groups, all being armed, and apparently prepared to meet some great emergency. He roared out to the first man he saw, and inquired what news.

"

By your soul and by the King's beard, said the man, « what can your slave know but what he is told? We are informed that there is a new King."

What is his name? said Azbeaz, with great anxiety in

his accent.

"By the prophet, what do I know? said he.

Going further and advancing into the city, he again enquired of an assembly of well-dressed men.

What's the name of the new King? »

As soon as they recognized Azbeaz, they bowed themselves to the ground (for he was highly respected), and said:

«As we are your slaves, it is Khodadad Khan-curses be on his head-what more can we say?»

If it be Khodadad,» exclaimed Azbeaz, with his inevitable smile, then praise be to Allah, for he is our lawful King; lead me to him. »

"What manner of man is this?» said they, in utter astonishment; he is either the maddest or the wisest of men. Whether he be shoemaker or whether he be King, he always laughs and is always contented; see, he says shukier Allah, praise be to God, upon losing a throne-wonderful madman is he! »

Azbeaz made his way to the palace through crowded streets, astonishing every one by his determination, for who could conceive that his life was not in jeopardy, if submitted to the power of the new King. When he reached the court of the palace, in the recess of which the great throne is situated, he there found congregated the courtiers, the viziers, men of the pen, and men of the sword; but on looking towards the throne, upon which he expected to see Khodadad duly seated, he perceived it to be vacant. An avenue was made for him to pass through, and he was treated with every demonstration of respect, as if he were still the king. He had not proceeded many steps, ere he perceived Khodadad advancing in haste towards him, holding the key in his hand. He straightway threw himself at his feet, whilst at the same time presenting the mysterious instrument of his elevation, and depositing it before him, he exclaimed,

« Pardon! pardon! we have done wrong! Forgive my crime. The temptation was too great, and your slave could not resist; miserable that he is-oh forgive! forgive!

VOL. I.

53