what afterwhile, if not presently, they would follow such a salutation
of thy pupil, if coupled with a sufficient explanation; but his
interests are paramount; at the same time it becomes me to be allegiant
to the divinatory stars. What rivalries the story might awaken! It is
not uncommon in history, as thou mayst know, that sons of promise have
been cut off by jealous fathers. I am not accusing the great Amurath;
nevertheless precautions are always proper."

The speaker then became dramatic.

"Nay, brave Emir, the will to help thee has been already seconded by the
deed. I spoke but now of lines of correspondence between the shining
lights that are the life of the sky at night. Let me illustrate my
meaning. Observe the lamps about us. The five on the uprights. Between
them, in the air, two stars of interwoven form are drawn. Take the lamps
as determining points, and use thy fancy a moment."

The Emir turned to the lamps; and the host, swift to understand the
impulse, gave him time to gratify it; then he resumed:

"So the fields of Heaven between the stars, where the vulgar see only
darkness, are filled with traceries infinite in form yet separable as
the letters of the alphabet. They are the ciphers in which Allah writes
his reasons for every creation, and his will concerning it. There the
sands are numbered, and the plants and trees, and their leaves, and the
birds, and everything animate; there is thy history, and mine, and all
of little and great and good and bad that shall befall us in this life.
Death does not blot out the records. Everlastingly writ, they shall be
everlastingly read--for the shame of some, for the delight of others."