The next spring I was busy pumping off wine from one cask into the other , according to our custom , when a Turkish officer came in . He was a great wine-drinker , and one of our best customers , and it was his habit to come himself to the store and choose a cask . This was carried away by eight strong slaves . My master showed him the casks of wine prepared for that year's market . The casks were arranged in rows , and I need hardly say that the one containing the Abyssinian was not in the front row . After tasting one or two which did not seem to please him , the officer said , Friend Issacher , I have an idea that there is better wine in the second row than in the one you have suggested .