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be troubled with so great a responsibility.” On hearing this emphatic refusal the young man became more importunate. “My father told me on his dying bed,” said he, “not to trust any one who showed an eagerness to accept the offer of having the money given into his charge, but, on the other hand, to leave it with full confidence in the hands of any one who showed a dislike of the responsibility.

As you are such a person, I beseech you to take it from me.” “No! no! no!” repeated Iweyz, with yet greater vehemence, “do what you like with your money, bury it, throw it in a well, but do not leave it in my keeping.” “I shall leave it here,” said the youth, producing a bag of money. And though ’Iweyz yelled at him to take it away, he placed the bag on the diwan, without having taken receipt or summoned witness. When the young man was gone, ’Iweyz took the bag, locked it up safely, and felt very happy. An hour later, Karakoz came in, and, struck, with his friend’s unusual gaiety, enquired its cause. “I have secured uncontrolled possession of a thousand dinars,” said ’Iweyz, and related what had happened. “That is very fine,” remarked Karakoz, “but you cannot ‘eat up’ the money, even though it has been placed in your hands without either receipt or witnesses, for you may be forced to take your oath concerning it at the ‘mazâr’ or shrine of some saint, who will torment you in case you swear falsely. What will you give me if I show you a way out of the difficulty?”

“My dear friend,” answered ’Iweyz with some