Noureddin Ali continued giving this kind of advice to his son, till the last moments of his life; and when he died, he was interred with all the honours due to his rank and dignity. Bedreddin Hassan, of Balsora, for thus he was named, from his being born in that town, was inconsolable at the death of his father. Instead of one month, as is the custom, he passed two in his retreat, to give way to his sorrow; during which time, he would not see any one, nor even go out to pay his respects to the sultan, who being displeased with this neglect, which he considered as a mark of contempt towards him and his court, suffered his anger to rise to a great height. He summoned the new grand vizier, whom he had elected to supply the place of Noureddin Ali, and ordered him to go to the house of the deceased, and to confiscate it, together with all his other houses, grounds, and effects, without leaving any thing for Bedreddin Hassan, whose person also he desired to be seized. The grand vizier, accompanied by a number of the officers of the palace, immediately set out to execute his commission. One of the slaves of Bedreddin Hassan, who had by chance joined the crowd, no sooner learnt the intention of the grand vizier, than he hastened to warn his master of the danger. He found him seated in the vestibule of his house, in as deep affliction as if his father was but just dead. He threw himself at his feet quite out of breath, and after having kissed the bottom of his robe, “Fly, my lord,” cried he, “fly quickly!”--“What is the matter?” inquired Bedreddin, raising his head, “what news hast thou?”--“My lord,” replied the slave, “you have not a moment to lose. The sultan is enraged against you, and they are now coming, by his order, to confiscate all your possessions, and even to seize your person.” This intelligence of his faithful and affectionate slave occasioned Bedreddin some perplexity. “But,” said he, “cannot I return and take at least some money and jewels?”--“My dear lord,” replied the slave, “the grand vizier will be here in a moment. Depart instantly, and make your escape.” Bedreddin Hassan immediately got up from the sofa on which he was sitting, and put on his slippers; then covering his head with one corner of his robe, to conceal his face, he fled without knowing where to turn his steps, to avoid the danger which threatened him. The first thought that occurred, was to reach the nearest gate of the city. He ran without stopping, till he came to the public cemetery, and, as night was approaching, determined to pass it near his father’s tomb. This was a large edifice of a magnificent appearance, built in the shape of a dome, which Noureddin Ali had erected during his lifetime; but Bedreddin in his way met with a Jew, who was very rich, and a banker and merchant by profession. He was returning to the city from a place where he had been on business.