Volka kept on frowning. This did not stop the old man, and he began hurriedly:

“Be it known to you, O most wonderful of all secondary school pupils, that once upon a time in Baghdad there lived a skilled barber named Selim who had three roosters and a lame son named Tub. It so happened that Caliph Harun al Rashid once passed his shop. But, O most attentive of all youths, I suggest we sit down on this bench in order that your young legs don’t tire during this long and most educational story.”

Volka agreed. They sat down in the shade of an old linden tree.

For three long hours Hottabych went on and on with the truly interesting story. He finally ended it with these crafty words:

“But more marvellous still is the story of the copper camel with a silver hump,” and immediately proceeded with it. When he came to the part: “Then the stranger took a piece of coal from the brazier and drew the outline of a camel on the wall. The camel waved its tail, nodded its head, walked off the wall and onto the cobblestones…” — he stopped to enjoy the impression his story of a drawing coming to life had made on his young listener.

But Hottabych was in for some disappointment, because Volka had seen enough cartoons in his life. However, the old man’s words gave him an idea.

“You know what? Let’s go to the movies. You can finish the story after.”

“Your every word is my command, O Volka ibn Alyosha,” the old man replied obediently. “But do me a favour and tell me what you mean by ‘the movies’? Is it a bath-house? Or, perhaps, that’s what you call the market-place, where one can stroll and chat with friends and acquaintances?”

“Well! Any child can tell you what a movie is. It’s a…” At this, Volka waved his hands around vaguely and added, “Well, anyway, you’ll see when we get there.”