Then he took the rest of the booty and went up therewith to the Sultan, who, seeing him, recognised him and he was magnified in the royal eyes and the king commanded that naught should be taken from him. After this, when he went down, the Sultan’s attention was diverted from him, little by little, till the case was forgotten, and so he saved the booty for himself. Those present marvelled at this and the fifteenth constable came forward and said, “Know that among those who make a trade of trickery are those whom Allah Almighty taketh on their own testimony against themselves.” It was asked him, “How so?” and he began to relate THE FIFTEENTH CONSTABLE’S HISTORY.[125] It is told of a thieving person, one of the braves, that he used to rob and cut the way by himself upon caravans, and whenever the Chief of Police and the Governors sought him, he would flee from them and fortify himself in the mountains. Now it came to pass that a certain man journeyed along the road wherein was that robber, and this man was single-handed and knew not the sore perils besetting his way. So the highwayman came out upon him and said to him, “Bring out that which is with thee, for I mean to kill thee and no mistake.” Quoth the traveller, “Kill me not, but annex these saddle-bags and divide that which is in them and take to thee the fourth part.” And the thief answered, “I will not take aught but the whole.”[126] Rejoined the traveller, “Take half, and let me go;” but the robber replied, “I will have naught but the whole, and eke I will kill thee.” So the wayfarer said, “Take it.” Accordingly the highwayman took the saddle-bags and offered to slay the traveller, who said, “What is this? Thou hast against me no blood-feud that should make my slaughter incumbent.” Quoth the other, “Needs must I kill thee;” whereupon the traveller dismounted from his horse and grovelled before him, beseeching the thief and bespeaking him fair. The man hearkened not to his prayers, but cast him to the ground; whereupon the traveller raised his eyes and seeing a francolin flying over him, said, in his agony, “O Francolin,[127] bear testimony that this man slayeth me unjustly and wickedly; for indeed I have given him all that was with me and entreated him to let me go, for my children’s sake; yet would he not consent. But be thou witness against him, for Allah is not unmindful of deeds which the oppressors do.” The highwayman paid no heed to what he heard, but smote him and cut off his head. After this, the rulers compounded with the highwayman for his submission, and when he came before them, they enriched him and he became in such favour with the lieutenant of the Sultan that he used to eat and drink with him and there befel between them familiar converse which lasted a long while till in fine there chanced a curious chance. The lieutenant of the Sultan one day of the days made a banquet, and therein was a roasted