His greatest happiness consisted in doing good to others, especially in killing them.

The blessing of death, being the greatest of all blessings, was the one which he loved best to bestow upon others; and the more he loved his fellow-creatures the more he wished to give them this blessing.

"You," said he, "are particularly dear to me, and I should rather give to you the blessing of death than to any other human being.

I love you, Atam-or, and I long to kill you at this moment." "You had better not try it," said I, grimly.
He shook his head despondingly.
"Oh no," said he; "it is against the law.

I must not do it till the time comes." "Do you kill many ?" I asked.
"It is my pleasing and glorious office," he replied, "to kill more than any other; for, you must know, I am the Sar Tabakin" (chief of the executioners).
The Chief Pauper's love of death had grown to be an all-absorbing passion.