When I found myself alone in Baghdad after my extraordinary adventure
with the Magic Crystal, my first intention was to return at once to
England.
I found, however, that it would be impossible for me to do so for at
least four days; so I prepared to make the best of matters by doing a
little sight-seeing while I was still confined to the ancient and
interesting city.
There were two additional reasons which made the delay less disagreeable
to me.
The first one was that I might possibly happen to meet Shin Shira again
before I departed; and the other was that, on the second day of my stay,
I saw a printed notice to the effect that, according to the ancient
usage of the country relating to condemned prisoners, all of Mustapha's
goods were to be immediately sold by public auction, and the money
realised was to be confiscated by the Crown.
I had noticed a number of very quaint and curious articles in the shop,
and thought that it would be an excellent opportunity for me to purchase
some souvenirs of my visit, to take back with me to England.
The sale took place the next day, and I was able to secure several
interesting pieces, which have a place in my study to this day. In fact,
I was tempted to buy so many things that I began to fear that I should
soon not have enough money left to take me back again to London; and I
was just about to leave the auction, in order to be out of the way of
temptation, when I caught sight of the quaintest, most uncanny-looking
brass lamp being offered for sale that you could possibly imagine.
It was slightly damaged too, and looked very old, so I hoped that it
might be going very cheap.
I was right, and to my great delight it was knocked down to me for a
mere trifle.
Clutching my treasures about me, I hurried back to my hotel, and spent
the whole of the rest of the day examining and admiring my purchases.
The lamp, though, pleased me most of all, although it was so old and
battered. It was so very quaint and uncommon, and so typically Oriental
in design--in fact, I felt sure there was not another like it in the
world.
The time came, however, for packing up, and I had to get everything
ready for the morning, so that I might be in time for the early train.
I had carefully wrapped up the other things, and was just taking a last
look at the lamp before putting it into the bag, when, turning around
for no apparent reason, I caught sight of a yellow turban on the floor.
"Dear me!" I thought, "I suppose I must have brought this away from the
Bazaar, with my other things, by mistake. What a nuisance! Now I shall
have to take it back again, I suppose, or--No! it's Shin Shira's. And
here comes the rest of him!" for I could see a little hazy yellow figure
gradually growing out of nothing.
"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?"