A cursed cook-boy nearly beat a sacred kitten to death before my very eyes.

Then an ointment-mixer, who had heard that I was your servant, made that godless Bubares ask me whether I could cure diseases of the eye too.

I said yes, because you know in sixty years it's rather hard if one can't pick up something from one's master.

Bubares was interpreter between us, and the shameful fellow told him to say that he was very much disturbed about a dreadful disease in his eyes.

I asked what it was, and received for answer that he could not tell one thing from another in the dark!" "You should have told him that the best remedy for that was to light a candle." "Oh, I hate the rascals! Another hour among them will be the death of me!" "I am sure you behaved oddly enough among these foreigners," said Nebenchiari smiling, "you must have made them laugh at you, for the Persians are generally very polite, well-behaved people.