Cheetoo came, and riding into the chouke, surrounded by a crowd of wild-looking figures, the effect of whose appearance was materially increased by the dusk of the evening, his titles were screamed out by a dozen mouths, each vying with the other in exaggeration of his powers. The group of sahoukars, headed by me, advanced towards him; and the head merchant, rubbing his forehead on the chief's stirrup, implored him to alight and refresh himself, adding that a zeafut had been prepared, and all were desirous of presenting their nuzzurs. I seconded the request, and he exclaimed, "Surely I know that voice; whose, in the name of Shitan, is it?" "That of your slave Ameer Ali," said I. "Oh, then all is right," he cried; "and thou too hast turned sahoukar. How is this, Meer Sahib?" "May I be your sacrifice, Nuwab!" said I; "I have but mingled with these worthy persons, because they declared they should be annihilated at the sight of the splendour of your appearance. I did but console them and keep up their spirits till my lord arrived." "Thou hast done well," said Cheetoo. "Is everything prepared?" "All," cried the sahoukars; "if the noble Cheetoo will but alight, we are prepared to do him honour." He alighted, and led by the hand by the chief merchant, he was conducted into an adjoining house, which belonged to one of the merchants, and where a clean white floor-cloth had been spread, and a musnud placed. The room too was well lighted. Cheetoo took his seat, and looked around him with evident gratification; savage as his countenance was, it now wore a smile of triumph, yet mixed with an expression of extreme pleasure. "These are civilised people," said he to Rajun, his favourite, who was close to him. "I little expected this; did you?" "Indeed no," said he; "I thought we should have had to cut our way into the town. Depend on it, this is some of Ameer Ali's doing." "Likely enough," said Cheetoo; "he is a gentleman, and knows how a gentleman ought to be received. But for him, it is most probable these swine would have shut themselves up in their houses, and given us the trouble of pulling them out. But see,--what are they about?" I was nudged by the Sahoukar, who, whispering, implored me to ask Cheetoo to accept their nuzzur. "Five hundred rupees for you if he takes it," again he whispered as I pretended to hesitate. "Agreed," said I; "I will revenge myself if it is not paid." "By Gunga! by my Junwa!" again said he most earnestly; "nay, I will double it. Speak for us, good Meer Sahib, are you not our friend and our brother?" "What are those sons of asses talking to you about?" cried Cheetoo. "Why don't they speak out?"