but since death is presented to me on all sides, let me examine this fatal tooth: happen what may, at least I will not die without having extracted it." He resigned himself entirely to the will of heaven, recommended his soul to God; and said he was ready to do all they desired of him.

The emperor at this news felt a moment of momentary joy in the midst of his pain. He came to the dentist, and, placing himself properly, begged him to examine the seat of the evil. The emperor was of a figure capable of intimidating the boldest operator. His breath was infected, and his teeth were in a terrible state. Dr. C, after examining with the utmost attention the lower jaw, of which the emperor particularly complained, discovered a decayed tooth, and, unfortunately, a very large one, the removal of which would be extremely difficult and painful. He begged for a delay of two days before he extracted it, to recover a little courage, to make some experiments on animals, and to have an instrument made proper for the purpose.

The two days passed quickly, and the fatal hour at length arrived when the operation was to take place. The necessary preparations were made...the emperor presented himself, still suffering the most acute pain. The doctor had already got the dreaded instrument in his hand, when he thought fit to address a short discourse to the emperor by means of the interpreter. "August emperor," said he, "since you have permitted me to extract this tooth which gives you such cruel sufferings, I beg one thing of you, which is that you will order six of your slaves, under pain of death, to obey me during four minutes, in whatever I may command them with

regard to your person." The emperor consented. Dr. C― then ordered six strong negroes to seize the limbs of the emperor, and hold them so fast that he should not be able to make any resistance during the operation.

Dr.C, rousing all his courage, fastened the instrument on the suspected tooth; and when he was sure that he had got hold, he exerted all his strength. "I shall probably lose my life," said he to himself, "but the tooth shall come out: however fast it may be, I will not quit my hold." He pulled indeed; and notwithstanding the firmness of the tooth, notwithstanding the cries of the struggling emperor, he had the courage to drag him forcibly all round the hall; and he would have pulled longer, if the large tooth had not at length yielded, and being torn, with its monstrous roots, out of the bleeding jaw. "Here it is," cried he in a transport of joy. But the emperor was still furious, and almost frantic with pain. In his rage he gave orders for strangling the dentist, the slaves, the pashas, the masgarines, and all his court. Fortunately the pain soon became less violent, and then ceased entirely; so that the delighted emperor not only revoked the cruel orders he had given the moment after the operation, but sent for Dr. C and publicly testified his gratitude to him. He paid him a large sum, and made him - several presents of very great value. Dr. C―――― received the same day two fine horses, a camel, a cloak and turban of very rich stuff, a gold-hilted sabre, and a pair of horse pistols; besides which the emperor gave him apartments in his palace, and told him to ask that favour to which he attached the highest value. The generous doctor had no difficulty in deciding what favour this should be; he asked, and immediately ob

A

tained, the liberty of his companions in misfortune. pasha was quickly sent to inform us that we were free, and it is easy to imagine the delight with which we received the intelligence.

We passed some time at the emperor's palace, and were present at all the festivals given on the occasion of his recovery. The emperor was overwhelmed with the visit of courtiers, pashas, alcaides, envoys from neighbouring powers, consuls, and foreign merchants. All those who had favours to ask, and who during the emperor's illness had prudently deferred their solicitations, came in crowds to present their request. Never had a descendant of the great prophet been so generous or so compliant. Wishing to profit by this favourable circumstance, we resolved to present ourselves before the emperor, and inform him of our desire of leaving Morocco. Dr. C― was become all-powerful at court, therefore we obtained soon leave to undertake a journey in Africa. The doctor told us that the emperor wished to heap benefits upon us. Consider," added he, "how much I am to be pitied!

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Reflect on my situation. I am more a slave than when I was with the moor.

serve me.

The

negroes who surround me constrain me more than they Since I drew that tooth for the emperor, every body is coming to me to examine theirs. I have already been obliged to view the jaws of a hundred sheriffs and as many pashas. The ladies of the court send for me at all hours. I have not a moment's rest. I would most willingly dispense with all the honours I receive; for I forsee that they will chain me to a barbarous country, where I shall die of melancholy. And what troubles me the most is, the fear that all the teeth of the emperor should successively decay. I have suc

ceeded once; I may be less fortunate a second time, and in this case I am a ruined man.”

Our departure took place some days afterwards. Never was a train more brilliant than ours. Dr. Chad tears in his eyes at our parting, and this separation was to him a real calamity. He then saw himself left alone in a barbarous court, with no person to whom he might confide his thoughts. Struck with his mournful situation, he fell into so deep a melancholy, that his health would undoubtedly have suffered, had he not taken the courageous resolution of addressing himself directly to the emperor, to obtain his permission for trying a change of air.

One day, when the emperor was coming out of his council, Dr. C― threw himself at his feet, according to custom, and presented to him this request in a pathetic tone: "Great emperor! the care of my health requires that I should quit the court for some time, and go to breathe the air of the country. If your orders will not permit me to absent myself from time to time from your palace, I must soon sink under them.

The emperor in a fit of generosity raised his dentist, and immediately promised him an imperial farm in the neighbourhood of Morocco. "I will give you the pleasure," added he, "of going to take possession this very day." Orders were instantly given. A palanquin was brought superbly decorated: the doctor was placed in it on superb cushions; four negroes carried him on their shoulders, and two others mounted on camels, rode by his side, holding parasols, that the heat of the sun might not fatigue the doctor's eyes. This train, preceded by an alcaide, crossed the streets of Morocco, and all the

inhabitants were mounted on their roofs to see it pass. It arrived at length at the estate of Shambuck, which contained within itself meadows, woods, orchards, spacious gardens, fruits in abundance, a little stream shaded with orange and palm-trees, vines, and an elegant house. A fine menagerie was attached to this imperial farm, in which were assembled several curious animals, natives of Morocco and other parts of Africa. In a word, the farm granted to Dr. C. united every beauty and convenience. He made the tour of it three times in his palanquin, but the more delightful he found this estate, the more he regretted inhabiting it without his wife and children.

Dr. C. remained some months at the imperial farm, where he felt himself so dull that he could bear it no

longer. Neither his hills covered with evergreen olives, his valleys shaded with sycamores, nor his groves of palm-trees were able to divert his attention. The variety of gazells scattered through his woods could not make them agreeable to him. He returned to court, hoping that the bustle of the palace might divert his melancholy; but soon finding himself fatigued with his busy life at Morocco, he returned to his estate of Shambuck, and ventured, not without apprehension, to beg permission, through the medium of a pasha, to take a voyage to France; promising, if he obtained this favour, so necessary to the peace of his mind, to return to Morocco at the end of three months, or sooner, should his health permit.

Mohammed Ben-Abdallah, who was naturally passionate, gave way to all his ill-humour on hearing this proposal: "He wishes then to leave me!" cried he