Supplemental Nights to The Book of the Thousand and One Nights | Page 8

soon as
thou comest to the house, begin by searching the terrace-roofs; then
rummage the closets and cabinets; and if thou find naught, humble
thyself before the Kazi and be abject and feign thyself subjected, and
after stand at the door and look as if thou soughtest a place wherein to
make water,[FN#35] because there is a dark corner there. Then come
forward, with heart harder than syenite-stone, and lay hold upon a jar of
the jars and raise it from its place. Thou wilt find there under it a
mantilla-skirt; bring it out publicly and call the Wali in a loud voice,
before those who are present. Then open it and thou wilt find it full of
blood, exceeding for freshness, and therein a woman's walking-boots
and a pair of petticoat-trousers and somewhat of linen." When I heard
from her these words, I rose to go out 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,[FN#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[FN#37]
are not equal, and I, I have no helper;[FN#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;[FN#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[FN#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[FN#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 knew the
suspicion had reverted upon him, wherefore his colour yellowed and
his limbs smote together; and he paid of his own money, after the
measure of that he had lost, so we would quench that fire for
him.[FN#42] Then we departed from him in peace, whilst I said within
myself, "Indeed, the woman falsed me not." After that I tarried till three
days had passed, when I went to the Hammam and changing my
clothes, betook myself to her home, but found the door shut and
covered with dust. So