Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
General
Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand and One Nights — Volume 2 (of 6)
Fairy tales; Tales -- Arab countries
and she said to me, “Take these hundred sequins, so they may succour
thee; and such is my guest-gift to thee.” Accordingly I took them and
leaving her door ajar returned to my lodging. Next morning, up came the
Judge, with his face like the ox-eye,[36] and asked, “In the name of
Allah, where is my debtor and where is my property?” Then he wept and
cried out and said to the Wali, “Where is that ill-omened fellow, who
aboundeth in robbery and villainy?” Thereupon the Chief turned to me and
said, “Why dost thou not answer the Kazi;” and I replied, “O Emir, the
two heads[37] are not equal, and I, I have no helper;[38] but, an the
right be on my side ’twill appear.” At this the Judge grew hotter of
temper and cried out, “Woe to thee, O ill-omened wight! How wilt thou
make manifest that the right is on thy side?” I replied “O our lord the
Kazi, I deposited with thee and in thy charge a woman whom we found at
thy door, and on her raiment and ornaments of price. Now she is gone,
even as yesterday is gone;[39] and after this thou turnest upon us and
suest me for six thousand gold pieces. By Allah, this is none other than
a mighty great wrong, and assuredly some foe[40] of hers in thy
household hath transgressed against her!” With this the Judge’s wrath
redoubled and he swore by the most solemn of oaths that I should go with
him and search his house. I replied, “By Allah I will not go, unless the
Wali go with us; for, an he be present, he and the officers, thou wilt
not dare to work thy wicked will upon me.” So the Kazi rose and swore an
oath, saying, “By the truth of Him who created mankind, we will not go
but with the Emir!” Accordingly we repaired to the Judge’s house,
accompanied by the Chief, and going up, searched it through, but found
naught; whereat fear fell upon me and the Wali turned to me and said,
“Fie upon thee, O ill-omened fellow! thou hast put us to shame before
the men.” All this, and I wept and went round about right and left, with
the tears running down my face, till we were about to go forth and drew
near the door of the house. I looked at the place which the woman had
mentioned and asked, “What is yonder dark place I see?” Then said I to
the men, “Pull up[41] this jar with me.” They did my bidding and I saw
somewhat appearing under the jar and said, “Rummage and look at what is
under it.” So they searched, and behold, they came upon a woman’s
mantilla and petticoat-trousers full of blood, which when I espied, I
fell down in a fainting-fit. Now when the Wali saw this, he said, “By
Allah, the Captain is excused!” Then my comrades came round about me and
sprinkled water on my face till I recovered, when I arose and accosting
the Kazi (who was covered with confusion), said to him, “Thou seest that
suspicion is fallen on thee, and indeed this affair is no light matter,
because this woman’s family will assuredly not sit down quietly under
her loss.” Therewith the Kazi’s heart quaked and fluttered for that he
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