I don't want to be ungracious, but I must decline to be under any obligation whatever to a--well, to a perfect stranger like yourself. FAKRASH. Hast thou not placed me under the heaviest of obligations by delivering me from a bottle of brass? To escape out of a bottle is pleasant! HORACE. So I should imagine. But, you see, I'd no notion what I was _doing_ or--well, it's done _now_, and if you really wish to show your gratitude for a very trifling service, I'll tell you how you can do it. [_In a tone of earnest entreaty._] Take back all these gifts of yours, and let me alone! FAKRASH. [_Beaming._] Truly I am amazed by thy modesty and magnanimity! HORACE. I'm _not_ magnanimous--I'm devilish annoyed! [_Exasperated._] Hang it all! _Can't_ you understand that all these things are no earthly use to _me_? You might just as well have sent me so many white elephants! FAKRASH. As thou pleasest! To send thee elephants--yea, even in abundance--will be no difficult undertaking. [_He makes a movement as though about to summon them._ HORACE. [_Aghast._] Good Lord! Don't you go wasting white elephants on _me_! You take everything so literally! All _I_ meant was that if these things _were_ white elephants, instead of what they are, I couldn't be more embarrassed! _Now_ do you see? FAKRASH. [_Coming down to right._] Thou seemest to me to be despising riches beyond all price. HORACE. Exactly! Because they _are_ beyond all price! _Look_ at those sacks--bulging, simply _bulging_ with diamonds and rubies and emeralds as big as ostrich eggs! Well, I can't _wear_ 'em. They'd be too dressy! I can't _sell_ 'em--no one could afford to buy a single one of 'em! And how am I to account for having them at all? FAKRASH. Thou canst surely say that they are presents to thee from Fakrash-el-Aamash, a Jinnee of the Green Jinn, in return for thy kindness in releasing him from a bottle of brass. HORACE. Oh, _can_ I? I fancy I see myself giving that explanation! [_More mildly._] No, Fakrash,--you meant well--but the kindest thing _you_ can do is to remove all this at once---- FAKRASH. This is a thing that cannot be. For to bestow gifts and receive them back disgraceth the giver. HORACE. Not when the gifts are only in the way. [_He nearly trips over a sack._] Just _look_ at this room! FAKRASH. Verily it is but a miserable apartment for a person of thy distinction! HORACE. It's quite good enough for me when it isn't lumbered up like this. I'm expecting friends to dinner this evening, and how the deuce am I to entertain them comfortably unless you make it possible for me? FAKRASH. [_Benevolently._] Have no uneasiness. I will see that thou art enabled to entertain thy guests as is fitting. HORACE. Good! [_At window._] Then you'll send for that caravan of yours? FAKRASH. I hear and obey.