The Thousand and One Days

then the bonds of their attachment. Besides the happiness they enjoyed in their mutual affection, their friendship tended also to el

ection; they were cited as models in their native city; people smiled with pleasure on seeing them pass, always t

engaged during the day being separated from each other; evening, it is true, reunited them in the same dwelling, but that was not enough for them. When they married even, they contrived that it should be to

hey would repeat with the reiteration usual to those to

is henceforth secure from all changes; old age will only serve to render us dearer to each other, and we shall leav

earth, will reunite us eternally in the paradise of true believers, beneath fresh sh

s, both would smile in anticipation, and such expressions

gave them the opportunity of accomplishing the dearest wish of their h

he other he displayed his merchandise; essences, amber, pastilles, necklaces and bracelets for the rich Moors, small looking-glasses, and beads of co

ithout at the same time desiring the death of the old Jew. They were incapable of a wicked action; but the Jew being dead, as they could

eally a good or an evil? who can

e pieces of metal. His first impulse was to call, "Yousouf! Yousouf! there is gold or silver in our wall;" but the next moment he thought, "I will first assure mysel

two to give him the opportunity of exploring further into his wall, but it

en said to

during the night. I shall sleep there to-night, in

night," replied Yousouf, "but shall sle

alone in the evening, and for several days following, Yousouf seeing that he appeared pensive

thou what has been taken from thy shop? Compensate thyself for th

Yousouf, and repl

ief." He dared not add, "I ha

aching from the partition wall first one stone, then two or three more, he discovered a hundred Spanish doubloons, and eight four-dollar pieces. This wa

ives and our children will disport themselves in our sight. My son Ali, that beautiful child whom I so tenderly love, will

sions, and already beholding himself in imagination enjoying the pleasures of a delightful habitation by the sea-shore, with his beautiful Ali, that dear child whom he so ten

a son nearer and dearer than all the friends in the world? Yes; but then the gold and silver which I have discovered belo

of carefully concealing it in the chamber in which he slept, and of waiting until the agitation caused in his mind by

the first impulse of his heart and remaining faithful to that devotion of friendship which had hithert

e side of his merchandise, and with closed eyes feigning to sleep, while in reali

o guard his slumbers from interruption, thinking as he gently fanned his fevered brow of n

heir labours, an old hump-backed Jew with a sallow co

n Cohen, the son of David,

. "My friend is asleep, and I would not

le counter, and repeated his inquiry, at the same ti

n Cohen, the son of David, d

e and flexible nostrils, "I was sure of

st well to talk of smelling gold or silver either. Thy olfactory nerves are of the strongest no doubt, nevert

heard here either, for the earth conceals them both from sight and sound. But remove them fr

ou art the bearer of good news. How m

discovered in thy house by means of the marvellous sense of sm

I were fortunate enough to discover a treasure, it is w

th him if I do not disclose to thee the

prevents me from turning my whole shop topsy-turvy, digging

and the shelves, as they were severally named

and labour, thou hadst far better give me at least one-third of what I shall discover in thy dwelling. The ot

to money a fool! But in spite of all thy arguments I shall never chan

s to be seen if Mohammed

ightest doubt of i

ered a supp

the lustre of this metal which charms the eyes and wins the heart of man. Once let him see gold before him, and know that he has the power to possess himself of it, and adieu to every other thought. Gold! why it

iety, friendship, or even a good appetite or sound sleep. Leave me then in peace with thy discoveries, and if thou ar

ve me the third of what I know to

lous pretensions; moreover, I do not know thee, and have never s

m. When I quitted this city, thou wert but sixteen years of age; my friend Nathan C

nt," said Yousouf gaily; "and seest thou not then that there is some power

"So long as our friends are alive they may be useful, though that is a thing that very

h so much discussion, sa

will, I am sure, awaken my friend, and prevent him from s

nd there beneath thy feet. I will hope that a feeling of gratitude may i

usouf. The latter regarded the old man-his prodigious nose inflated by the hope of gain-with a smile of derision. But in a short space

t this gold and

nly become the possessor of five hundred Spanish doubloons, an

to thee, or deceived myself? Come, let us see now w

ouf, "and he and I will certainly g

e awakening thy friend. Would it not be better to keep this treasure for thyself and

also. We loved each other before they were born, and we kn

n asleep, started as if he had been stung by a thousand mosquitoes at once, and rose with a sud

ll. Yes, every thing, and thy sincere friendship, tried by

sends. He it was who first inspired us with the wish for these two little shops, and who has bestowed them upon us. It is he who has conducted hither this J

a preoccupied air. "Thou art just and righteous,

ed to this friendly eulo

be the sole arbiter in the

which thou repliest to my question. Come, then, answer me truly, hast thou really, thanks to the singular form of

e thee a farther proof of it, I declare that I can again scent in this spot in t

at these words. "In

hole with this gimlet here, and

"we have no right to prevent thee after

s now his turn to be astonished, for the wall, hollo

at the disconcerted and stu

ohen thou knewest where he had hidden his treasure, in return for thy confidence I should have given thee a quarter of what thou hast found; but since thou hast persisted

, take pity on my poverty; it impelled me to deal falsely with thee; I confess it now; and spite of its singular form, my nose h

Mohammed again,

pious; act accordin

urth part of what he had just found, thus rend

end, he began to divide into two equal p

uf!" exclaimed Mohammed, "I am no

uf, "art thou mad?

e gold and silver which the Jew thought to find there; but instead of saying as thou hast done, 'I will share it with my friend,'

s brow grew clear, and a pleasing smile diffused itsel

owing me to be poor, and to sit at a feast whilst I lived upon black bread. Thou didst not thoroughly understand the wants and feelings of thy heart: that is all. Thou didst not at once perceive wherein lies true happiness, for which reason thou hast caused thyself much unea

m the sea, on the coast of Punta Pescada. There they lived happily for many long years, always admired and esteemed for their mutual affection, and for the goodness of their hearts; f