第108章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(30)

So he rose and as the slave went on before himhe drew the sword from under his clothes and smiting him with itmade his head fly from his body；after which he dragged the corpse by the feet to the vault and cried out'Where is the salt-wench？'Up came the girl with the dish of saltand seeing my brother sword in hand，turned to fly；but he followed her and smote her and struck off her head. Then he called out'Where is the cellaress？'And in came the old womanto whom said he'Dost thou know meO pestilent old woman？'Nomy lord，'replied she；and he said'I am he of the five hundred dinarsto whose house thou camest to make the ablution and prayand whom thou didst after lure hither.'Fear God and spare me！'exclaimed she. But he paid no heed to her and striking her with the swordcut her in four.

Then he went in search of the young lady；and when she saw him，her reason fled and she called out for mercy. So he spared her and said to her'How camest thou to consort with this black？'

Quoth she'I was slave to a certain merchant and the old woman used to visit metill I became familiar with her. One day she said to me'We have to-day a wedding at our housethe like of which was never beheldand I wish thee to see it.'I hear and obey，'answered Iand risingdonned my handsomest clothes and jewellery and took with me a purse containing a hundred dinars.

Then she brought me hitherand hardly had I entered the house，when the black seized on meand I have remained in this case these three yearsthrough the perfidy of the accursed old woman.'Then said my brother'Is there aught of his in the house？'He had great store of wealth，'replied she： 'and if thou canst carry it awaydo soand may God prosper it to thee！'Then she opened to him several chests full of pursesat which he was confoundedand said to him'Go now and leave me here and fetch men to carry off the money.'So he went out and hired ten men，butwhen he returnedhe found the door open and the damsel goneand nothing left but a little of the money and the household stuff. By thishe knew that she had cheated him；so he opened the closets and took what was in themtogether with the rest of the moneyleaving nothing in the houseand passed the night in all content. When he arose in the morninghe found at the door a score of trooperswho seized himsaying'The chief of the police seeks for thee.'My brother implored them to let him return to his housebut they would grant him no delay，though he offered them a large sum of moneyand binding him fast with cordscarried him off. On the waythere met them a friend of my brotherwho clung to his skirts and implored him to stop and help to deliver him from their hands. So he stopped and enquired what was the matter；to which they replied'The chief of the police has ordered us to bring this man before himand we are doing so.'The man interceded with them and offered them five hundred dinars to let my brother gosaying'Tell the magistrate that ye could not find him.'But they refused and dragged him before the prefectwho said to him'Whence hadst thou these stuffs and money？'Quoth my brother'Grant me indemnity.'So the magistrate gave him the handkerchief of pardonand he told him all that had befallen himfrom first to lastincluding the flight of the damseladding'Take what thou wiltso thou leave me enough to live on.'But the prefect took the whole of the stuff and money for himself and fearing lest the affair should reach the Sultan's earssaid to my brother'Depart from this cityor I will hang thee.'I hear and obey，'replied my brotherand set out for another town. On the way thieves fell on him and stripped him and beat him and cut off his ears. But I heard of his misfortunes and went out after himtaking him clothesand brought him back privily to the citywhere I made him an allowance for meat and drink.

Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother My sixth brotherhe of the cropt lipsO Commander of the Faithfulwas once richbut after became poor. One day he went out to seek somewhat to keep life in him and came presently to a handsome housewith a wide and lofty portico and servants and others at the doorordering and forbidding. My brother enquired of one of those standing there and he told him that the house belonged to one of the Barmecide family. So he accosted the door-keepers and begged an alms of them. 'Enter，'said they'and thou shalt get what thou seekest of our master.'Accordinglyhe entered and passing through the vestibulefound himself in a mansion of the utmost beauty and elegancepaved with marble and hung with curtains and having in the midst a garden whose like he had never seen. He stood awhile perplexedknowing not whither to direct his steps： then seeing the door of a sitting-chamber，he entered and saw at the upper end a man of comely presence and goodly beard. When the latter saw my brotherhe rose and welcomed him and enquired how he did；to which he replied that he was in need of charity. Whereupon the other showed great concern and putting his hand to his clothesrent themexclaiming'Art thou hungry in a city of which I am an inhabitant？ I cannot endure this！'and promised him all manner of good. Then said he，'Thou must eat with me.'O my lord，'replied my brother'I can wait no longer；for I am sore an hungred.'Sothe Barmecide cried out'Hoboy！bring the ewer and the basin！'and said to my brother'O my guestcome forward and wash thy hands.'My brother rose to do sobut saw neither ewer nor basin. However，the host made as if he were washing his hands and cried out，'Bring the table.'But my brother saw nothing. Then said the Barmecide'Honour me by eating of this food and be not ashamed.'

And he made as if he atesaying the while'Thou eatest but little： do not stint thyselffor I know thou art famished.'