ELICHPOOR AND MUNGROOL. 
83 
a breath so abominably impure and offensive, that 
it was past the endurance of all wholesome persons. 
Now, while the vizier was yet speaking, the kalun- 
dur entered the presence-chamber, and, having made 
his salaam, seated himself at a distance from the 
khalif, instead of at his usual post of distinction. 
This circumstance confirmed in the royal mind the 
truth of what the vizier had told him, but which he 
had hitherto regarded with suspicion. Hereupon 
the khalif commanded the kalundur to draw near. 
That faithful person immediately obeyed ; but as he 
approached the throne, he very considerately covered 
his mouth with the sleeve of his garment, lest the 
scent of garlic should annoy the monarch. This 
second action put to flight all doubts which might 
have remained in the mind of the khalif, touching 
the accusation made against the kalundur ; and the 
vizier, foreseeing, as he believed, a pending storm of 
rage and vengeance, silently withdrew, that he might 
appear to have taken no part in bringing about the 
downfal of the favourite. He was, however, but 
ill acquainted with the manners of his prince ; for 
the khalif, restraining all expressions of the indigna- 
tion which burnt within him, wrote on a slip of 
paper a few words to the governor of a distant for- 
tress, saying : — “ Let the bearer hereof be imme- 
diately put to such a death as may be a warning to all 
traitors.” Having sealed it, the khalif delivered it 
to the kalundur, telling him to convey it to the 
