Part 25 (1/2)

The Dey nodded, as though he thought that not a bad beginning.

”Once upon a time,” continued Baba, and then, checking himself--”Your highness wishes a _very_ marvellous story, I believe?”

”Yes, _very_ marvellous,” said the Dey, not quite pleased with the interruption.

”Your highness shall have it--a very marvellous story, and, what is more, it shall be a true story.”

Hadji Baba said this with so much energy and fire that the Dey again nodded his approval, and sent two thin clouds of tobacco-smoke through his nostrils, as he patted the gazelle which crouched at his feet, resting its head on his knee, and gazing affectionately at the tyrant with its magnificent eyes.

”Once upon a time,” resumed the story-teller with sustained vigour and fluency, as he glanced at the clock, ”there was a poor shoemaker who dwelt in a certain town, and was noted among his friends for his powers of song. One day the Sultan of the country chanced to hear of this man's talent, and sent for him to the palace. He was so pleased with him that he made him his chief musician. This shoemaker possessed magical gifts.”

”Villain!” exclaimed the Dey, ”didst thou not say that the story should be a true one? How can that be, when thou speakest of gifts which do not and never did exist?”

”Your highness's slave,” replied Baba, ”refers to those powers of _legerdemain_, or pretended magic, with which some men are gifted.”

”Go on,” returned the Dey.

”Well, one day the shoemaker offered to amuse the Sultan by mesmerising his guards.”

”Mesmerising!” interrupted the Dey, ”what is that?”

”Throwing them into a sleep, your highness, against their will.”

”Well?”

”Well, the Sultan did not believe him, so he said, `If thou shalt put these guards into sleep against their wills, I will give thee my daughter in marriage.' The shoemaker was well pleased to hear this, for the Sultan's daughter was virtuous and very beautiful. So he begged the Sultan to order in his guards, which he did. Drawing them up in a line, the man began at the first, and made the pa.s.ses or signs which are necessary to throw men into the mesmeric state. The first man winked very much, and smiled a little, but did not fall asleep.

”`Ha!' cried the Sultan, on seeing this, `thou art deceiving me, it seems!'

”`Not so, your highness,' replied the shoemaker; `it is not every man who can be thus subdued. Permit me to go on, and I will find one who is susceptible.'

”So the shoemaker went on and made the pa.s.ses and signs which were necessary, until at last he found one who at once fell asleep, and then, one after another, they all fell asleep, and no one could awake them except the shoemaker! I could not have believed this, your highness,”

said Hadji Baba, ”if I had not been told it by the shoemaker himself, who also taught me the mysterious power of thus throwing men in to sleep, which in some languages is signified by the term `throwing dust into their eyes.'”

”How!” exclaimed the Dey, ”dost mean to tell me that thou couldst really do as that shoemaker did, and put my guards to sleep before mine eyes?”

”Your highness's slave presumes to answer emphatically--yes.”

”By the beard of the Prophet, thou shalt prove it,” said the Dey, whose curiosity was aroused.--”Ho, there! order the guard into my presence.”

”Hold!” exclaimed Hadji Baba; ”they must appear absolutely unarmed. In order that men should be brought under the influence of this power, it is necessary that they should divest themselves not only of all ordinary weapons, but also of the defensive armour of common-sense. That is the reason why the exercise of the power is so difficult. But, once accomplished, the effect is unquestionable and very amazing.”

”Let them leave their arms behind them, then,” said the Dey; ”only see that two are left to keep the gates.”

”Would it not be well,” suggested Baba humbly, ”that, considering the recent riots, more than two should be left to guard the palace gates?

It is true, the more men that are brought under my influence the more likely is my influence to be effectual, but these chaouses might for a few minutes supply their place.”

”Be it so!--Thou hearest?” said the Dey, turning to his executioners.