第93章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(15)

I abode with them a yearenjoying the pleasures of the city and the Nile and squandering the rest of my money in feasting and drinkingtill the time drew near for my uncles'departure when I hid myself from them and they sought for mebut could hear no news of me and said'He must have gone back to Damascus.'So they departedand I came out from my hiding and sojourned in Cairo three yearssending year by year the rent of the house at Damascus to its owneruntil at last I had nothing left but one year's rent. At this my breast was straitened and I set out and journeyed till I reached Damascuswhere my landlord received me with joy. I alighted at the house and found everything locked up as I had left it： so I opened the closets and took out what was in them and found under the bedwhere I had lain with the murdered girla necklet of gold set with jewels. I took it up and cleansing it of her bloodexamined it and wept awhile. Then I abode in the house two days and on the third dayI went to the bath and changed my clothes. I had now no money left and the devil prompted me to sell the neckletthat destiny might be accomplished；so I took it to the market and handed it to a brokerwho made me sit down in the shop of my landlord and waited till the market was fullwhen he took the necklet and offered it for sale privily without my knowledge. The price bidden for it was two thousand dinars；but the broker returned and said to me'This necklet is a brass counterfeit of Frank manufactureand a thousand dirhems have been bidden for it.'Yes，'answered I；'I knew it to be brassfor we had it made for such an onethat we might mock her： and now my wife has inherited it and we wish to sell it；so go and take the thousand dirhems.'When the broker heard thishis suspicions were roused；

so he carried the necklet to the chief of the marketwho took it to the prefect of police and said to him'This necklet was stolen from meand we have found the thief in the habit of a merchant.'So the officers fell on me unawares and brought me to the prefectwho questioned me and I told him what I had told the broker： but he laughed and said'This is not the truth.'Then，before I knew what was towardhis people stripped me and beat me with rods on my sidestill for the smart of the blows I said'I did steal it，'bethinking me that it was better to confess that I stole it than let them know that she who owned it had been murdered in my houselest they should put me to death for her.

So they wrote down that I had stolen it and cut off my hand. The stump they seared with boiling oil and I swooned away： but they gave me wine to drinkand I revived and taking up my handwas returning to my lodgingwhen the landlord said to me'After what has passedthou must leave my house and look for another lodgingsince thou art convicted of theft.'O my lord，'said I，'have patience with me two or three daystill I look me out a new lodging.'So be it，'he answered and I returned to the housewhere I sat weeping and saying'How shall I return to my people with my hand cut off and they know not that I am innocent？'Then I abode in sore trouble and perplexity for two daysand on the third day the landlord came in to meand with him some officers of police and the chief of the marketwho had accused me of stealing the necklace. I went out to them and enquired what was the matterbut they seized on mewithout further parleyand tied my hands behind me and put a chain about my necksaying'The necklet that was with thee has been shown to the Governor of Damascusand he recognizes it as one that belonged to his daughterwho has been missing these three years.'When I heard thismy heart sank within meand I said to myself'I am lost without resource；but I must needs tell the governor my story；and if he willlet him kill meand if he willlet him pardon me.'So they carried me to the governor's house and made me stand before him. When he saw mehe looked at me out of the corner of his eye and said to those present'Why did ye cut off his hand？ This man is unfortunate and hath committed no offense；and indeed ye wronged him in cutting off his hand.'When I heard thisI took heart and said to him'By AllahO my lordI am no thief！But they accused me of this grave offence and beat me with rods in the midst of the market，bidding me confesstill for the pain of the beatingI lied against myself and confessed to the theftalthough I am innocent.'Fear not，'said the governor；'no harm shall come to thee.'Then he laid the chief of the market under arrestsaying to him'Give this man the price of his handor I will hang thee and seize on all thy goods.'And he cried out to the officers，who took him and dragged him awayleaving me with the governor，who made his people unbind me and take the chain off my neck.

Then he looked at me and said'O my sonspeak the truth and tell me how thou camest by the necklet.'And he repeated the following verse：

To tell the whole truth is thy dutyalthough It bring thee to burn on the brasier of woe！

'By AllahO my lord，'answered I'such is my intent！'And I told him all that had passed between me and the first lady and how she had brought the second one to me and had slain her out of jealousy. When he heard my storyhe shook his head and beat hand upon hand；then putting his handkerchief to his eyeswept awhile and repeated the following verses：

I see that Fortune's maladies are many upon meForevery dweller in the worldsick unto death is he.

To every gathering of friends there comes a parting day： And few indeed on earth are those that are from parting free？