"Ah! just in time, I see," said the little fellow, when he had quite appeared. "I did so hope that I should be able to be visible again before you left Baghdad. Well, how did you get on? You've got out of prison, I'm glad to see." I told him about the crystal, and how I discovered that it was Mustapha who stole the diamond. "Phew!" he whistled when he heard this. "I felt sure someone had stolen it, but I didn't think of Mustapha. I never liked the man, though, personally, and I'm glad he's found out at last. He has done a lot of harm to many people in Baghdad, and he will be rightly punished. What is to be done with _my_ diamond?" he inquired anxiously. "Oh, you're to have it back whenever you like to go for it, and you'll receive an apology at the same time," said I. "Very well, then, I'm off to get it first thing in the morning," said the little fellow gleefully. "I prize that stone far above its intrinsic value, for it was given to me by my beautiful Princess, you know, and I would not lose it for anything. But, I say! what's that curious-looking old lamp in your hand? May I look at it?" I handed it over to him. "It's just a little thing which took my fancy at Mustapha's sale, and which I picked up for a trifle," said I. "It's very dirty--wants cleaning badly," declared Shin Shira. "Why, I believe it's solid brass, though it looks like rusty iron in its present neglected state," and he seized a duster which was lying handy and gave the lamp several smart rubs. "Just as I thought," said he, going on vigorously with the polishing. "Why, it's splendid--" "Oh!" I exclaimed, sinking into a chair. "See! see what you've done!" An enormous form was rising from the floor, and presently stood before us making a deep salaam. "W-who are you?" I stammered. "The Slave of the Lamp, Master," said he. "Good gracious!" I exclaimed, "you don't mean to say that this is--" "Aladdin's lamp," burst in Shin Shira. "I thought somehow that it looked familiar. I knew Aladdin well, and I've often handled this lamp before." "Impossible!" I exclaimed, gazing at the big black giant who stood, with his arms folded, in dignified silence before us. "Nothing is impossible in the East," said Shin Shira, "as you'll quickly find out if you remain here long. And now--now that you are the possessor of Aladdin's lamp--what are you going to do with it?" "I--I don't know," I stammered. "I must have time to think." "I should have diamonds," advised Shin Shira: "they're so easy to carry and can always be converted into money. Command him to bring you a bag full of diamonds of all sizes." "But, but," I said hesitatingly, as visions of untold wealth floated before my eyes, "will he really do it?" "Try him and see," said Shin Shira. So I took the lamp in my hand, and rather nervously commanded the Slave to bring me a bag of diamonds. [Illustration] The Slave fell to the ground and touched his head to the floor, paying me the deepest mark of respect.