The eunuch carelessly seated himself on a richly-carved tomb, and
crossing his legs with an air of pleasant superiority, adjusted a fine
emerald that sparkled on his finger, and bade the Hakim address him
without hesitation.
"I am a physician," said the Armenian.
The eunuch nodded.
"And I heard your lordship in the coffee-house mention that the Sultan,
our sublime Master, had offered a rich reward to any one who could
effect the cure of a favourite captive."
"No less a reward than one hundred purses of gold," remarked the
eunuch. "The reward is proportioned to the exigency of the cue.
Believe me, worthy sir, it is desperate."
"With mortal means," replied the Armenian; "but I possess a talisman of
magical influence, which no disorder can resist. I would fain try its
efficacy."
"This is not the first talisman that has been offered us, worthy
doctor," said the eunuch, smiling incredulously.
"But the first that has been offered on these terms," said the
Armenian. "Let me cure the captive, and of the one hundred purses, a
moiety shall belong to yourself.
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