Pray give us the details." "So encouraged," said the traveller, good-humouredly, "I will not hesitate to communicate the little I know.

In Aleppo there had lived for some years a man who was held by the natives in great reverence.

He had the reputation of extraordinary wisdom, but was difficult of access; the lively imagination of the Orientals invested his character with the fascinations of fable,--in short, Haroun of Aleppo was popularly considered a magician.

Wild stories were told of his powers, of his preternatural age, of his hoarded treasures.

Apart from such disputable titles to homage, there seemed no question, from all I heard, that his learning was considerable, his charities extensive, his manner of life irreproachably ascetic.