Quoth Sahim, “Thou art in the presence of King Gharib, son-in-law of the King of the Persians. What is thy name and whither goest thou?” When Rustam heard Gharib’s name, he bethought himself and said in his mind, “Am I asleep or awake?” Whereupon Sahim dealt him a buffet, saying, “Why dost thou not answer?” And he raised his head and asked, “Who brought me from my tent out of the midst of my men?” Gharib answered, “These two Marids brought thee.” So he looked at Kaylajan and Kurajan and skited in his bag-trousers. Then the Marids fell upon him, baring their tusks and brandishing their blades, and said to him, “Wilt thou not rise and kiss ground before King Gharib?” And he trembled at them and was assured that he was not asleep; so he stood up and kissed the ground between the hands of Gharib, saying, “The blessing of the Fire be on thee, and long life be thy life, O King!” Gharib cried, “O dog of the Persians, fire is not worshipful, for that it is harmful and profiteth not save in cooking food.” Asked Rustam, “Who then is worshipful?”; and Gharib answered, “Alone worship-worth is God, who formed thee and fashioned thee and created the heavens and the earth.” Quoth the Ajami, “What shall I say that I may become of the party of this Lord and enter thy Faith?”; and quoth Gharib, “Say:—There is no god but _the_ God, and Abraham is the Friend of God.” So Rustam pronounced the profession of the Faith and was enrolled among the people of felicity. Then said he to Gharib, “Know, O my lord, that thy father-in-law, King Sabur, seeketh to slay thee; and indeed he hath sent me with an hundred thousand men, charging me to spare none of you.” Gharib rejoined, “Is this my reward for having delivered his daughter from death and dishonour? Allah will requite him his ill intent. But what is thy name?” The Persian answered, “My name is Rustam, general of Sabur;” and Gharib, “Thou shalt have the like rank in my army,” adding, “But tell me, O Rustam, how is it with the Princess Fakhr Taj?” “May thy head live, O King of the age!” “What was the cause of her death?” Rustam replied, “O my lord, no sooner hadst thou left us than one of the Princess’s women went in to King Sabur and said to him,:—O my master, didst thou give Gharib leave to lie with the Princess my mistress? whereto he answered,:—No, by the virtue of the fire! and drawing his sword, went in to his daughter and said to her,:—O foul baggage, why didst thou suffer yonder Badawi to sleep with thee, without dower or even wedding? She replied,:—O my papa, ’twas thou gavest him leave to sleep with me. Then he asked,:—Did the fellow have thee? but she was silent and hung down her head. Hereupon he cried out to the midwives and slave-girls, saying,:—Pinion me this harlot’s elbows behind her and look at her privy parts. So they did as he bade them and after inspecting her slit said to him,:—O King, she hath lost her maidenhead. Whereupon he ran at her and would have slain