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Explain to us thy words !" "O King of the age," said the Barber,

"I swear by thy beneficence that there is still life in this

Gobbo Golightly!" Thereupon he pulled out of his waist belt a

barber's budget, whence he took a pot of ointment and anointed

therewith the neck of the Hunchback and its arteries. Then he

took a pair of iron tweezers and, inserting them into the

Hunchback's throat, drew out the fid of fish with its bone; and,

when it came to sight, behold, it was soaked in blood. Thereupon

the Hunchback sneezed a hearty sneeze and jumped up as if nothing

had happened and passing his hand over his face said, "I testify

that there is no god, but the God, and I testify that Mohammed is

the Apostle of God." At this sight all present wondered; the King

of China laughed till he fainted and in like manner did the

others. Then said the Sultan, "By Allah, of a truth this is the

most marvellous thing I ever saw!