²⁴; and that he might do so the more firmly, conscientiously²⁵ determined²⁶ to avail himself as moderately as possible of the attentions and luxuries thus liberally heaped upon him. Still, however, he felt his head oppressed and sleepy; and aware, too, that his undress was not fit for appearing abroad, he reclined upon the couch, and was again locked in the arms of slumber²⁷.

But this time his rest was not unbroken, for he was awakened²⁸ by the voice of the physician at the door of the tent, inquiring after his health, and whether he had rested sufficiently²⁹. “May I enter your tent?” he concluded, “for the curtain is drawn³⁰ before the entrance.”

“The master,” replied Sir Kenneth, determined to show that he was not surprised into forgetfulness of his own condition, “need demand no permission to enter the tent of the slave.”

“But if I come not as a master?” said El Hakim, still without entering.

“The physician,” answered the knight, “hath free access to the bedside of his patient.”

“Neither come I now as a physician,” replied El Hakim; “and therefore I still request permission, ere I come under the covering of thy tent.”

“Whoever comes as a friend,” said Sir Kenneth, “and such thou hast hitherto shown thyself to me, the habitation of the friend is ever open to him.”

“Yet once again,” said the Eastern sage³¹, after the periphrastical manner of his countrymen, “supposing that I come not as a friend?”

“Come as thou wilt³²,” said the Scottish knight, somewhat impatient of this

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