The Winged Beetle

147 THE JEW OF FEZ THERE was a Jew—tradition says— Who loathed the colour of his fez. “ Black gives an air of gloom,” he said : “ I should look beautiful in red ! ” He told the Mullah of his plight The good man answered : “ Very right ! “ Islam is free to all mankind : You only need to be resigned.” The Jew agreed ; he learnt to pray Five several times each mortal day. Instead of Abraham, the Mullah Called him Habib Husain Abdullah. But (what indeed is hardly strange) His views on Art began to change. “ This red’s a shrieking tone, I swear ! O for the black I used to wear ! ”