Hunchback

( The ). Master Walter, “the hunchback,” was the guardian of Julia, and brought her up in the country, training her most strictly in knowledge and goodne . When grown to womanhood, she was introduced to Sir Thomas Clifford, and they plighted their troth to each other. Then came a change. Clifford lost his title and estates, while Julia went to London, became a votary of fashion and pleasure, abandoned Clifford, and promised marriage to Wilford, earl of Rochdale. The day of espousals came. The love of Julia for Clifford revived, and she implored her guardian to break off the obnoxious marriage. Master Walter now showed himself to be the earl of Rochdale, and the father of Julia; the marriage with Wilford fell through, and Julia became the wife of Sir Thomas Clifford.——S. Knowles, (1831). ⁂ Similarly, Maria, “the maid of the Oaks,” was brought up by Old worth as his ward, but was in reality his motherle child.—J. Burgoyne, The Maid of the Oaks . Hunchback ( The Little ), the buffoon of the sultan of Casgar. Supping with a tailor, the little fellow was killed by a bone sticking in his throat. The tailor, out of fear, carried the body to the house of a physician, and the physician, stumbling against it, knocked it downstairs. Thinking he had killed the man, he let the body down a chimney into the store-room of his neighbor, who was a purveyor. The purveyor, supposing it to be a thief, belabored it soundly; and then, thinking he had killed the little humpback, carried the body into the street, and set it against a wall. A Christian merchant, reeling home, stumbled against the body, and gave it a blow with his fist. Just then the patrol came up, and arrested the merchant for murder. He was condemned to death; but the purveyor came forward and accused himself of being the real offender. The merchant was accordingly released, and the purveyor condemned to death; but then the physician appeared, and said he had killed the man by accident, having knocked him downstairs. When the purveyor was released, and the physician led away to execution, the tailor stepped up, and told his tale. All were then taken before the sultan, and acquitted; and the sultan ordered the case to be enrolled in the archives of his kingdom amongst the causes célèbres .— Arabian Nights (“The Little Hunchback”).