[_Suddenly the room is in complete darkness; there is a loud report and a spurt of flame from the bottle. HORACE has fallen back on the floor, with the cap of the bottle in his hand. There is just light enough to see a tall weird figure standing with out-stretched arms behind the bottle._ HORACE. [_Sitting up and rubbing the back of his head; faintly._] Hullo! Is any one there? Who's that come in? THE STRANGER. [_In an attitude of supplication._] Towbah! Yah nebbi Ullah! Anna lah amill Kathahlik ibadan! Wullah-hi! HORACE. I daresay you're perfectly right, sir--but I've no idea what you're talking about. THE STRANGER. [_Repeating the Arabic sentence._] Towbah! (&c. &c.) Wullah-hi! HORACE. [_About to raise himself, sees the figure for the first time, and falls back astonished; then, recovering himself._] I suppose you've just taken the rooms on the ground-floor--so you _must_ be able to make yourself understood in English? THE STRANGER. [_The room has grown lighter, and he is seen to be in dull-green robes and a high-peaked turban. His long grey beard is divided into three thin strands; his eyes are slightly slanted, and his expression is a curious mixture of fatuous benignity, simplicity, and cunning._] Assuredly I can speak so as to be understood of all men. HORACE. Then it's as well to _do_ it. What was it you said just now? THE STRANGER. I said: "Repentance, O Prophet of Allah! I will not return to the like conduct ever!" HORACE. Oh, I beg your pardon. [_Sitting up again._] Thought you were speaking to _me_. But I say--[_looking up at him_]--how do you come to be here? THE STRANGER. Surely by thine own action! HORACE. I see. You ran up to see what was the matter. Fact is, my head's still rather buzzy. I fancy I must have hit it somehow when I was trying to open that jar. THE STRANGER. Then it _was_ thy hand and none other that removed the stopper? HORACE. I--I suppose so. All _I_ know is that _something_ went off with a bang. I can't imagine what could have been _inside_ the beastly thing! THE STRANGER. Who else but I myself? HORACE. [_Slowly rising to his feet._] You must have your little joke, eh? [_He reels against the table._] Or did I misunderstand you? My head's in such a muddle! THE STRANGER. I tell thee that I have been confined within that accursed vessel for centuries beyond all calculation. HORACE. You can't pull my leg like that, you know! Seriously, just tell me who you _are_. THE STRANGER. Know then that he who now addresseth thee is none other than Fakrash-el-Aamash, a Jinnee of the Green Jinn. HORACE. [_Half to himself._] Singular, "Jinnee"--plural, "Jinn." Where did I hear that? I--I shall remember presently. FAKRASH.