"This is a great undertaking indeed," remarked the Jinnee, after he had asked various by no means unintelligent questions and received the answers. "But be persuaded that it shall all turn out most fortunately and thou shalt obtain great renown. And now," he concluded, "I am compelled to take leave of thee, for I am still without any certain tidings of Suleyman." "You mustn't let me keep you," said Horace, who had been on thorns for some minutes lest Beevor should return and find him with his mysterious visitor. "You see," he added instructively, "so long as you _will_ neglect your own much more important affairs to look after mine, you can hardly expect to make _much_ progress, can you?" "How excellent is the saying," replied the Jinnee: "'The time which is spent in doing kindnesses, call it not wasted.'" "Yes, that's very good," said Horace, feeling driven to silence this maxim, if possible, with one of his own invention. "But _we_ have a saying too--how does it go? Ah, I remember. 'It is possible for a kindness to be more inconvenient than an injury.'" "Marvellously gifted was he who discovered such a saying!" cried Fakrash. "I imagine," said Horace, "he learnt it from his own experience. By the way, what place were you thinking of drawing--I mean trying--next for Suleyman?" "I purpose to repair to Nineveh, and inquire there." "Capital," said Ventimore, with hearty approval, for he hoped that this would take the Jinnee some little time. "Wonderful city, Nineveh, from all I've heard--though not quite what it used to be, perhaps. Then there's Babylon--you might go on there. And if you shouldn't hear of him there, why not strike down into Central Africa, and do that thoroughly? Or South America; it's a pity to lose any chance--you've never been to South America yet?" "I have not so much as heard of such a country, and how should Suleyman be there?" "Pardon me, I didn't say he _was_ there. All I meant to convey was, that he's quite as likely to be there as anywhere else. But if you're going to Nineveh first, you'd better lose no more time, for I've always understood that it's rather an awkward place to get at--though probably _you_ won't find it very difficult." "I care not," said Fakrash, "though the search be long, for in travel there are five advantages----" "I know," interrupted Horace, "so don't stop to describe them now. I should like to see you fairly started, and you really mustn't think it necessary to break off your search again on my account, because, thanks to you, I shall get on splendidly alone for the future--if you'll kindly see that that merchandise is removed." "Thine abode shall not be encumbered with it for another hour," said the Jinnee. "O thou judicious one, in whose estimation wealth is of no value, know that I have never encountered a mortal who pleased me as thou hast; and moreover, be assured that such magnanimity as thine shall not go without a recompense!"