Part 10 (1/2)

”Oh, they're nothing, thanks,” said Horace, feeling decidedly embarra.s.sed. ”I got stuck over my work for the moment, and it worried me a little--that's all.”

”Then thou hast not yet received the gifts which I commanded should be delivered at thy dwelling-place?”

”Oh, indeed I have!” replied Horace; ”and--and I really don't know how to thank you for them.”

”A few trifling presents,” answered the Jinnee, ”and by no means suited to thy dignity--yet the best in my power to bestow upon thee for the time being.”

”My dear sir, they simply overwhelm me with their magnificence! They're beyond all price, and--and I've no idea what to do with such a superabundance.”

”A superfluity of good things is good,” was the Jinnee's sententious reply.

”Not in my particular case. I--I quite feel your goodness and generosity; but, indeed, as I told you before, it's really impossible for me to accept any such reward.”

Fakrash's brows contracted slightly. ”How sayest thou that it is impossible--seeing that these things are already in thy possession?”

”I know,” said Horace; ”but--you won't be offended if I speak quite plainly?”

”Art thou not even as a son to me, and can I be angered at any words of thine?”

”Well,” said Horace, with sudden hope, ”honestly, then, I would very much rather--if you're sure you don't mind--that you would take them all back again.”

”What? Dost thou demand that I, Fakrash-el-Aamash, should consent to receive back the gifts I have bestowed? Are they, then, of so little value in thy sight?”

”They're of too much value. If I took such a reward for--for a very ordinary service, I should never be able to respect myself again.”

”This is not the reasoning of an intelligent person,” said the Jinnee, coldly.

”If you think me a fool, I can't help it. I'm not an ungrateful fool, at all events. But I feel very strongly that I can't keep these gifts of yours.”

”So thou wouldst have me break the oath which I swore to reward thee fitly for thy kind action?”

”But you _have_ rewarded me already,” said Horace, ”by contriving that a wealthy merchant should engage me to build him a residence. And--forgive my plain speaking--if you truly desire my happiness (as I am sure you do) you will relieve me of all these precious gems and merchandise, because, to be frank, they will _not_ make me happy. On the contrary, they are making me extremely uncomfortable.”

”In the days of old,” said Fakrash, ”all men pursued wealth; nor could any ama.s.s enough to satisfy his desires. Have riches, then, become so contemptible in mortal eyes that thou findest them but an enc.u.mbrance?

Explain the matter.”

Horace felt a natural delicacy in giving his real reasons. ”I can't answer for other men,” he said. ”All I know is that I've never been accustomed to being rich, and I'd rather get used to it gradually, and be able to feel that I owed it, as far as possible, to my own exertions.

For, as I needn't tell _you_, Mr. Fakrash, riches alone don't make any fellow happy. You must have observed that they're apt to--well, to land him in all kinds of messes and worries.... I'm talking like a confounded copybook,” he thought, ”but I don't care how priggish I am if I can only get my way!”

Fakrash was deeply impressed. ”O young man of marvellous moderation!” he cried. ”Thy sentiments are not inferior to those of the Great Suleyman himself (on whom be peace!). Yet even he doth not utterly despise them, for he hath gold and ivory and precious stones in abundance. Nor hitherto have I ever met a human being capable of rejecting them when offered. But, since thou seemest sincere in holding that my poor and paltry gifts will not advance thy welfare, and since I would do thee good and not evil--be it even as thou wouldst. For excellently was it said: 'The worth of a present depends not on itself, nor on the giver, but on the receiver alone.'”

Horace could hardly believe that he had really prevailed. ”It's extremely good of you, sir,” he said, ”to take it so well. And if you _could_ let that caravan call for them as soon as possible, it would be a great convenience to me. I mean--er--the fact is, I'm expecting a few friends to dine with me to-morrow, and, as my rooms are rather small at the best of times, I don't quite know how I can manage to entertain them at all unless something is done.”

”It will be the easiest of actions,” replied Fakrash; ”therefore, have no fear that, when the time cometh, thou wilt not be able to entertain thy friends in a fitting manner. And for the caravan, it shall set out without delay.”

”By Jove, though, I'd forgotten one thing,” said Horace: ”I've locked up the room where your presents are--they won't be able to get in without the key.”

”Against the servants of the Jinn neither bolts nor bars can prevail.

They shall enter therein and remove all that they brought thee, since it is thy desire.”