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handled knife； and wine in a silver flask； with cups of the same
metal。 ' I hope you like my fare；' said he； after we had both
eaten and drunk。
'I like your bread；' said I； 'for it is stale； I like not your
wine； it is sweet； and I hate sweet wine。'
'It is wine of Cyprus；' said my entertainer； and； when I found that
it was wine of Cyprus； I tasted it again； and the second taste
pleased me much better than the first； notwithstanding that I still
thought it somewhat sweet。 'So；' said I； after a pause； looking at
my companion； 'you are an Armenian。'
'Yes；' said he； 'an Armenian born in London； but not less an
Armenian on that account。 My father was a native of Ispahan； one
of the celebrated Armenian colony which was established there
shortly after the time of the dreadful hunger； which drove the
children of Haik in swarms from their original country； and
scattered them over most parts of the eastern and western world。
In Ispahan he passed the greater portion of his life； following
mercantile pursuits with considerable success。 Certain enemies；
however； having accused him to the despot of the place； of using
seditious language； he was compelled to flee； leaving most of his
property behind。 Travelling in the direction of the west； he came
at last to London； where he established himself； and where he
eventually died； leaving behind a large property and myself； his
only child； the fruit of a marriage with an Armenian Englishwoman；
who did not survive my birth more than three months。'
The Armenian then proceeded to tell me that he had carried on the
business of his father； which seemed to embrace most matters； from
buying silks of Lascars； to speculating in the funds； and that he
had considerably increased the property which his father had left
him。 He candidly confessed that he was wonderfully fond of gold；
and said there was nothing like it for giving a person
respectability and consideration in the world： to which assertion
I made no answer； being not exactly prepared to contradict it。
And； when he had related to me his history； he expressed a desire
to know something more of myself； whereupon I gave him the outline
of my history； concluding with saying； 'I am now a poor author； or
rather philologist； upon the streets of London； possessed of many
tongues； which I find of no use in the world。'
'Learning without money is anything but desirable；' said the
Armenian； 'as it unfits a man for humble occupations。 It is true
that it may occasionally beget him friends； I confess to you that
your understanding something of my language weighs more with me
than the service you rendered me in rescuing my pocket…book the
other day from the claws of that scoundrel whom I yet hope to see
hanged； if not crucified； notwithstanding there were in that
pocket…book papers and documents of considerable value。 Yes； that
circumstance makes my heart warm towards you； for I am proud of my
language … as I indeed well may be … what a language； noble and
energetic！ quite original； differing from all others both in words
and structure。'
'You are mistaken；' said I； 'many languages resemble the Armenian
both in structure and words。'
'For example？' said the Armenian。
'For example；' said I； 'the English。'
'The English！' said the Armenian； 'show me one word in which the
English resembles the Armenian。'
'You walk on London Bridge；' said I。
'Yes；' said the Armenian。
'I saw you look over the balustrade the other morning。'
'True；' said the Armenian。
'Well； what did you see rushing up through the arches with noise
and foam？'
'What was it？' said the Armenian。 'What was it？ … you don't mean
the TIDE？'
'Do I not？' said I。
'Well； what has the tide to do with the matter？'
'Much；' said I； 'what is the tide？'
'The ebb and flow of the sea；' said the Armenian。
'The sea itself； what is the Haik word for sea？'
The Armenian gave a strong gasp； then； nodding his head thrice；
'You are right；' said he； 'the English word tide is the Armenian
for sea； and now I begin to perceive that there are many English
words which are Armenian； there is … and …； and there again in
French； there is … and … derived from the Armenian。 How strange；
how singular … I thank you。 It is a proud thing to see that the
language of my race has had so much influence over the languages of
the world。'
I saw that all that related to his race was the weak point of the
Armenian。 I did not flatter the Armenian with respect to his race
or language。 'An inconsiderable people；' said I； 'shrewd and
industrious； but still an inconsiderable people。 A language bold
and expressive； and of some antiquity； derived； though perhaps not
immediately； from some much older tongue。 I do not think that the
Armenian has had any influence over the formation of the languages
of the world； I am not much indebted to the Armenian for the
solution of any doubts； whereas to the language of Mr。 Petulengro …
'
'I have heard you mention that name before；' said the Armenian；
'who is Mr。 Petulengro？'
And then I told the Armenian who Mr。 Petulengro was。 The Armenian
spoke contemptuously of Mr。 Petulengro and his race。 'Don't speak
contemptuously of Mr。 Petulengro；' said I； 'nor of anything
belonging to him。 He is a dark mysterious personage； all connected
with him is a mystery； especially his language； but I believe that
his language is doomed to solve a great philological problem … Mr。
Petulengo … '
'You appear agitated；' said the Armenian； 'take another glass of
wine； you possess a great deal of philological knowledge； but it
appears to me that the language of this Petulengro is your foible：
but let us change the subject； I feel much interested in you； and
would fain be of service to you。 Can you cast accounts？'
I shook my head。
'Keep books？'
'I have an idea that I could write books；' said I； 'but； as to
keeping them … ' and here again I shook my head。
The Armenian was silent some time； all at once； glancing at one of
the wire cases； with which； as I have already said； the walls of
the room were hung； he asked me if I was well acquainted with the
learning of the Haiks。 'The books in these cases；' said he；
'contain the masterpieces of Haik learning。'
'No；' said I； 'all I know of the learning of the Haiks is their
translation of the Bible。'
'You have never read Z…？'
'No；' said I； 'I have never read Z…。'
'I have a plan；' said the Armenian； 'I think I can employ you
agreeably and profitably； I should like to see Z… in an English
dress； you shall translate Z… If you can read the Scriptures in
Armenian； you can translate Z…。 He is our Esop； the most acute and
clever of all our moral writers … his philosophy … '
'I will have nothing to do with him；' said I。
'