Mirza. Towards dawn he went to sleep, and the Mirza, or some other rascal, walked off with his cap and shoes and the drugget and pillow; and he woke in the forenoon to find himself minus everything but what he had got on, and plastered from head to foot with muck from the Mosque floor.

The Mirza was not to be seen, the Mosque was weird and desolate, and there was no water. Ashamed to be seen, he waited for someone to turn up who might call the Mirza. In the afternoon a boy came playing about the steps, and Kulleem jumped up to hail him; but the boy thought it was a demon, and fled for his life. As soon as it was dusk he ventured out, and knocked at the Mirza's door, and was told he had gone off early to the Kootoob; but he had no sooner asked the loan of a cap and shoes than a voice called out:

"Where are the drugget and pillow? Zuburdust, catch the rascal!"

Kulleem took the hint and ran; but Zuburdust Khan soon seized his prey, and forthwith dragged him off to the Kotwali as a common thief. At first he declined to give his name and address; and when he did, the Kotwal flatly refused to believe him, for he was acquainted with Nussooh, and knew that he had a son of some repute in the city as a poet. Kulleem produced his recent compositions in the Mosque to prove he was a poet; but his appearance was so much against him that the Kotwal was still incredulous, and, by way of

settling the matter, ordered two policemen to take him there and then to his father's house for identification, and, if his father acknowledged him, to let him go.

Kulleem's feelings may be better imagined than described. As it happened, Nussooh was in the Mosque of the Quarter in which his house was situated, conversing with his friends; and the policemen, recognizing him as they passed by, dragged their captive into the courtyard, and presented him to his father.

Nussooh's emotion at the sight of his son in this pitiable guise was a sufficient recognition of his parentage, and the policemen left him and went their way.

It was with a strange revulsion of feeling that Kulleem now found himself, as it were, arraigned before the father he had slighted and disobeyed, and in the presence of the very men whom he had so lately sneered at and reviled; but, when at length his unhappy and indignant father found words to remonstrate with him and to entreat him to return to his duty and allegiance to the Divine commands, all he said was, "Be good enough to let me send for my things." His father again im

plored him, in pity to his heart-broken mother, to return home. It was of no avail. With downcast eyes and dogged resolution Kulleem declared that he had purposely avoided an open rupture with his father; but, now that circumstances had brought them face to face, he told him once for all that he was unable to comply

with his wishes. He would leave Dehli, and make a name, as they should all hear in time.

Nussooh then rose with the intention of going home; and Kulleem, supposing he would lay hands upon him and compel him to accompany him, took to his heels and was soon out of sight.

Meanwhile, the news of Kulleem's arrival had already reached the house. Fahmeedah, half distracted, regardless of purdah, rushed to meet her husband at the door, screaming "Where is my Kulleem?"

"Your Kulleem, indeed!" returned Nussooh. "If he had been your Kulleem, he would not have left his home and treated us all thus shamefully, notwithstanding our entreaties."

66

"For God's sake let me see my darling son! I heard he was bareheaded and barefooted! His tender feet will have been lacerated by the stones! Curse the police and the Kotwal! To think my boy capable of theft!"

"Go in and sit down," sternly replied her husband. "This senseless uncontrollable love of yours has caused all the mischief."

"Oh! tell me where he is gone," sobbed the wretched mother, as they led her into the house.

"How can I tell you?" said her husband. "He has gone without my leave, and has covered us with infamy. To think that I should see a son of mine, in such a guise, a prisoner in the hands of the police!"

66

Why did you not bring him home to his mother?" she moaned.

"Would you have had me fight and grapple with him in the public streets?" asked Nussooh.

CHAPTER XI.

COUSIN FITRUT.

ALONE in the streets with his humiliation, Kulleem's first thought was to take refuge at his aunt's, and it would have been well if he had done so; but, alas! in this crisis of his career an evil genius, in the person of his kinsman Fitrut, presented itself. This gentleman was connected with Nussooh; but a family quarrel had embittered their relations, and he had secretly heard and laughed over his cousin's proceedings since his illness. "Nussooh," said he, "may order lacs of piety, but how about Kulleem?" When, therefore, he came upon Kulleem, bareheaded and shoeless, in the bazar, he saw at a glance what had occurred, and was more pleased than surprised.

"Hallo!" he cried, with an amused glance at the young man's disreputable figure, "are you going on pilgrimage?"