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It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that there dwelt during

times of yore, and years and ages long gone before, in a certain

city of China,[FN#496] a Tailor who was an open handed man that

loved pleasuring and merry making; and who was wont, he and his

wife, to solace themselves from time to time with public

diversions and amusements. One day they went out with the first

of the light and were returning in the evening when they fell in

with a Hunchback, whose semblance would draw a laugh from care

and dispel the horrors of despair. So they went up to enjoy

looking at him and invited him to go home with them and converse

and carouse with them that night. He consented and accompanied

them afoot to their home; whereupon the Tailor fared forth to the

bazar (night having just set in) and bought a fried fish and

bread and lemons and dry sweetmeats for dessert; and set the

victuals before the Hunchback and they ate.