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at all sorts of incurable diseases find an easy prey。 I sent for my cook and gave orders for a rich； sumptuous moghlai dinner； redolent of spices and ghi。
Next morning the whole affair appeared a queer fantasy。 With a light heart I put on a sola hat like the sahebs； and drove out to my work。 I was to have written my quarterly report that day； and expected to return late； but before it was dark I was strangely drawn to my houseby what I could not sayI felt they were all waiting； and that I should delay no longer。 Leaving my report unfinished I rose； put on my sola hat； and startling the dark； shady； desolate path with the rattle of my carriage； I reached the vast silent palace standing on the gloomy skirts of the hills。
On the first floor the stairs led to a very spacious hall； its roof stretching wide over ornamental arches resting on three rows of massive pillars； and groaning day and night under the weight of its own intense solitude。 The day had just closed； and the lamps had not yet been lighted。 As I pushed the door open a great bustle seemed to follow within； as if a throng of people had broken up in confusion； and rushed out through the doors and windows and corridors and verandas and rooms； to make its hurried escape。
As I saw no one I stood bewildered； my hair on end in a kind of ecstatic delight； and a faint scent of attar and unguents almost effected by age lingered in my nostrils。 Standing in the darkness of that vast desolate hall between the rows of those ancient pillars； I could hear the gurgle of fountains plashing on the marble floor； a strange tune on the guitar； the jingle of ornaments and the tinkle of anklets； the clang of bells tolling the hours； the distant note of nahabat； the din of the crystal pendants of chandeliers shaken by the breeze； the song of bulbuls from the cages in the corridors； the cackle of storks in the gardens； all creating round me a strange unearthly music。
Then I came under such a spell that this intangible； inaccessible； unearthly vision appeared to be the only reality in the worldand all else a mere dream。 That I； that is to say； Srijut So…and…so； the eldest son of So…and…so of blessed memory； should be drawing a monthly salary of Rs。 450 by the discharge of my duties as collector of cotton duties； and driving in my dog…cart to my office every day in a short coat and soia hat； appeared to me to be such an astonishingly ludicrous illusion that I burst into a horse…laugh； as I stood in the gloom of that vast silent hall。
At that moment my servant entered with a lighted kerosene lamp in his hand。 I do not know whether he thought me mad； but it came back to me at once that I was in very deed Srijut So…and…so； son of So…and…so of blessed memory； and that； while our poets； great and small； alone could say whether inside of or outside the earth there was a region where unseen fountains perpetually played and fairy guitars； struck by invisible fingers； sent forth an eternal harmony； this at any rate was certain； that I collected duties at the cotton market at Banch； and earned thereby Rs。 450 per mensem as my salary。 I laughed in great glee at my curious illusion； as I sat over the newspaper at my camp…table； lighted by the kerosene lamp。
After I had finished my paper and eaten my moghlai dinner； I put out the lamp； and lay down on my bed in a small side…room。 Through the open window a radiant star； high above the Avalli hills skirted by the darkness of their woods； was gazing intently from millions and millions of miles away in the sky at Mr。 Collector lying on a humble camp… bedstead。 I wondered and felt amused at the idea； and do not knew when I fell asleep or how long I slept； but I suddenly awoke with a start； though I heard no sound and saw no intruderonly the steady bright star on the hilltop had set； and the dim light of the new moon was stealthily entering the room through the open window； as if ashamed of its intrusion。
I saw nobody； but felt as if some one was gently pushing me。 As I awoke she said not a word； but beckoned me with her five fingers bedecked with rings to follow her cautiously。 I got up noiselessly； and； though not a soul save myself was there in the countless apartments of that deserted palace with its slumbering sounds and waiting echoes； I feared at every step lest any one should wake up。 Most of the rooms of the palace were always kept closed； and I had never entered them。
I followed breathless and with silent steps my invisible guideI cannot now say where。 What endless dark and narrow passages； what long corridors； what silent and solemn audience…chambers and close secret cells I crossed！
Though I could not see my fair guide； her form was not invisible to my mind's eye； an Arab girl； her arms； hard and smooth as marble； visible through her loose sleeves； a thin veil falling on her face from the fringe of her cap； and a curved dagger at her waist！ Methought that one of the thousand and one Arabian Nights had been wafted to me from the world of romance； and that at the dead of night I was wending my way through the dark narrow alleys of slumbering Bagdad to a trysting…place fraught with peril。
At last my fair guide stopped abruptly before a deep blue screen； and seemed to point to something below。 There was nothing there； but a sudden dread froze the blood in my heart…methought I saw there on the floor at the foot of the screen a terrible negro eunuch dressed in rich brocade； sitting and dozing with outstretched legs； with a naked sword on his lap。 My fair guide lightly tripped over his legs and held up a fringe of the screen。 I could catch a glimpse of a part of the room spread with a Persian carpetsome one was sitting inside on a bedI could not see her； but only caught a glimpse of two exquisite feet in gold…embroidered slippers； hanging out from loose saffron…coloured paijamas and placed idly on the orange…coloured velvet carpet。 On one side there was a bluish crystal tray on which a few apples； pears； oranges； and bunches of grapes in plenty； two small cups and a gold… tinted decanter were evidently waiting the guest。 A fragrant intoxicating vapour； issuing from a strange sort of incense that burned within； almost overpowered my senses。
As with trembling heart I made an attempt to step across the outstretched legs of the eunuch； he woke up suddenly with a start； and the sword fell from his lap with a sharp clang on the marble floor。 A terrific scream made me jump； and I saw I was sitting on that camp… bedstead of mine sweating heavily； and the crescent moon looked pale in the morning light like a weary sleepless patient at dawn； and our crazy Meher Ali was crying out； as is his daily custom； 〃Stand back！ Stand back！！〃 while he went along the lonely road。
Such was the abrupt close of one of my Arabian Nights； but there were yet a thousand nights left。
Then followed a great discord between my days and nights。 During the day I would go to my work worn and tired； cursing the bewitching night and her empty dreams； but as night came my daily life with its bonds and shackles of work would appear a petty； false； ludicrous vanity。
After nightfall I was caught and overwhelmed in the snare of a strange intoxication； I would then be transformed into some unknown personage of a bygone age； playing my part in unwritten history； and my short English coat and tight breeches did not suit me in the least。 With a red velvet cap on my head； loose paijamas； an embroidered vest； a long flowing silk gown； and coloured handkerchiefs scented with attar； I would complete my elaborate toilet； sit on a high…cushioned chair； and replace my cigarette with a many…coiled narghileh filled with rose…water； as if in eager expectation of a strange meeting with the beloved one。
I have no power to describe the marvellous incidents that unfolded themselves； as the gloom of the night deepened。 I felt as if in the curious apartments of that vast edifice the fragments of a beautiful story； which I could follow for some distance； but of which I could never see the end； flew about in a sudden gust of the vernal breeze。 And all the same I would wander from room to room in pursuit of them the whole night long。
Amid the eddy of these