be possessed of, would spare no pains to deprive him of it. He first procured a strong iron chest, in the inside of which he caused an iron staple to be fixed; to this he chained the important box containing the book, and for additional security fastened the larger iron chest by the same method to the wall at the head of his couch, carrying about his person all the keys, which he guarded with a most scrupulous vigilance.

CHAPTER IX.

THE COPPERSMITH'S STORY (continued).

ALNUSUR Successfully visited the cavern of wealth, scrupulously attending to the rules and precepts of the Book of Knowledge. Being possessed of immense wealth, he ventured to solicit the hand of his beloved Zaide, who was still unmarried. For this purpose, therefore, did he visit Cambay, and desired an interview with Harak, whose pride had now somewhat subsided, having lost his Deewanship, by having offended the Nuwab. The exDeewan, hearing of the sum Alnusur proposed to give him to purchase his consent, at once acceded to the proposal, and Zaide, the lovely Zaide, became Alnusur's bride. The happy pair returned to Bombay, where Alnusur had purchased a sumptuous residence, fit for the reception of his beauteous wife, who expressed her high satisfaction in the most endearing terms.

The happy Alnusur neglected not the rules in the Book of Knowledge; nay, he became the more scrupulously attentive to them, and endeavoured to impress the necessity of observing them on his beloved partner. The beggar was never turned from his gate, the widow never appealed in vain, and the distressed were confident there to receive comfort and assistance. Zaide

was to Alnusur as the sun to the earth; his love for her daily increased, and he felt that without her life would be a burthen to him, even though master of immense treasure. Zaide loved Alnusur with equal ardour, and happiness reigned throughout their dwelling.

Donga Sette Brahmin, although deprived of the means of doing as much good as his benevolent disposition dictated, nevertheless continued to bestow his mite on the distressed, to comfort the afflicted, and educate the little children in his neighbourhood. His wife would, however, continue to sigh after the Book of Knowledge, through which, she had been informed by her spouse, riches could be attained, although the exact method had been withheld from her knowledge; she knew also that Alnusur was in possession of the volume, and frequently threw out hints to the worthy Brahmin of the possibility of his being able to purloin it from him. Donga Sette spurned the idea. No!' he would say, 'were I to succeed by artifice or violence success would not attend me. Should it be the pleasure of the mighty Brahma to possess me of the book, cheerfully will I receive it, and become his humble instrument for disseminating knowledge and relieving the destitute.'

His wife, perceiving the Brahmin immovable, discontinued urging him on the subject.

As wealth is often the parent of pride, it will not be wondered at that Zaide, intoxicated with the homage she received, assumed so haughty a deportment as to disgust all her own and her husband's friends. Confident in her Alnusur's riches, she grew tired of adhering so closely to the rules of morality preached to

her by her anxious husband, and by degrees neglected them one by one. Her example, unfortunately, was followed by Alnusur, who, perceiving his success at the cavern continued, attached daily less importance to the golden rules in his Book of Knowledge. The inconsiderate couple, it is true, coldly doled out their charity to those who petitioned for it, but sought not out, as at first, the destitute and afflicted, and even at length were wearied by the sight of the beggar at their door.

Feasting and dancing, music and mirth, occupied their attention. Zaide's ambition was display; to exhibit her jewels and diamonds, and outvie other women, and throw open her splendidly illuminated apartments night after night, was now her study-on this did her happiness depend. The least failure or trifling disappointments irritated and vexed her so that she became, from loss of temper, absolutely insufferable. Alnusur, loving Zaide as he did, caught the infection; he became haughty and tyrannical, improvident and intemperate; even the laws of the holy Prophet were expunged from his memory, and he indulged so freely in wine, that for days he would wallow in a state of beastly intoxication. The Gosayn and the Fakir were now unceremoniously driven from their gates, and Zaide, in her rage, absolutely abused them.

A great festival was at hand. Zaide, from ostentatious motives, demanded ten thousand rupees to fling into the streets from her splendid litter as she proceeded to the Ead-gar; Alnusur, scarcely recovered from the effects of a recent debauch, bluntly refused her request, and darted from the presence

1 Mausoleum where the Kutba is read.

and

of his enraged wife. From this moment a want of confidence in man and wife arose, and happiness, even in their construction of the word, fled from Alnusur's mansion. Still he loved Zaide, and she had not the smallest reason to doubt the fact. To her he was constant: no strange beauty bewildered his senses, and he felt without Zaide life would be far from desirable.

One day, returning from his ride, Alnusur, as he passed the outer wall of his house, which, as he sat on his horse, afforded him a commanding view of his courtyard, to his surprise perceived his wife holding converse with a Fakir, or religious mendicant. He fancied she smiled. Burning with jealous fury, he alighted, rushed to the entrance-gate, and drawing his dagger, speedily approached the beggar with an uplifted arm. Zaide screamed aloud, but the Fakir stood immovable, watching the motions of the infuriated Alnusur with a collected firmness which saved his life; for when his assailant thought the deadly instrument would penetrate the Fakir's heart, to his surprise, owing to the beggar's slipping on one side, the dagger, aimed with a hellish fury, struck against the wall of the house and was shivered to atoms.

'Oh, Alnusur, what wouldst thou have done?' cried the alarmed Zaide. 'A holy man to be thus assailed! Thou art surely mad.'

Alnusur, indeed, rejoiced at the poor man's escape; and turning to command the Fakir's departure, to his astonishment perceived he had fled.

'Zaide,' he cried, 'till now I thought you faithful.'

'And what,' she cried, 'has caused you now to think otherwise?'