82 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
which was to be served up, and to place the dishes 
so that the portions containing the garlic should be 
nearest to his guest. The unsuspecting kalundur 
partook heartily of the savoury viands, and, when 
the meal was finished, complimented the vizier upon 
the skill of his cook. 
“ Truly,” replied the wily vizier, “ he has done 
his w’ork most cleverly to-day ; but it just occurs 
to me, that we have been indiscreet in indulging 
our appetites, to the prejudice of our duty towards 
the khalif. You perhaps were not aware, and I 
myself had until this moment forgotten, that he 
has a peculiar aversion to the scent of garlic ; 
I fear, indeed, that he will scarcely tolerate our 
presence.” 
“ Indeed, is it so ? ” said the kalundur, “ how 
very untoward a circumstance is this ! for the khalif 
informed me, after the durbar , that he should not be 
able to dispense with our attendance this evening, in 
consequence of some momentous affairs in which he 
required our united advice. However, with sound 
consciences, and a devout confidence in Alla and the 
prophet, we shall, doubtless, be relieved from all 
difficulties.” 
When the host and his guest had parted, the vizier 
went directly to the palace, and privately informed 
the khalif that the ungrateful kalundur had been 
guilty of treason, in disrespectfully circulating a 
report, that he, the commander of the faithful, had 
