The Arabian Nights Entertainments, vol 2 | Page 5

a
third, who gives himself out for the real author of the murder."
Upon this intelligence the sultan of Casgar sent an officer to the place
of execution. "Go," said he, "with all expedition, and tell the judge to
bring the accused persons before me immediately and bring also the
corpse of poor hunch-back, that I may see him once more."
Accordingly the officer went, and happened to arrive at the place of
execution at the very time that the executioner had laid his hands upon
the tailor. He called aloud to him to suspend the execution. The
executioner knowing the officer, did not dare to proceed, but released
the tailor; and then the officer acquainted the judge with the sultan's
pleasure. The judge obeyed, and went directly to the palace
accompanied by the tailor, the Jewish doctor, and the Christian
merchant; and made four of his men carry the hunch-backed corpse
along with him.
When they appeared in the sultan's presence, the judge threw himself at
the prince's feet and after recovering himself, gave him a faithful
relation of what he knew of the story of the hunch-backed man. The
story appeared so extraordinary to the sultan, that he ordered his own
historian to write it down with all its circumstances. Then addressing
himself to the audience; "Did you ever hear," said he, "such a
surprising event as has happened on the account of my little crooked
buffoon?" The Christian merchant, after falling down, and touching the
earth with his forehead, spoke as follows: "Most puissant monarch, I
know a story yet more astonishing than this; if your majesty will give
me leave, I will relate it. The circumstances are such, that no one can
hear them without emotion." "Well," said the sultan, "you have my
permission:" and the merchant went on as follows:

The Story told by the Christian Merchant.

Sir, before I commence the recital of the story you have permitted me
to relate, I beg leave to acquaint you, that I have not the honour to be
born in any part of your majesty's empire. I am a stranger, born at Cairo
in Egypt, a Copt by nation, and by religion a Christian. My father was a

broker, and realized considerable property, which he left me at his
death. I followed his example, and pursued the same employment.
While I was standing in the public inn frequented by the corn
merchants, there came up to me a handsome young man, well dressed,
and mounted on an ass. He saluted me, and pulling out a handkerchief,
in which he had a sample of sesame or Turkey corn, asked me how
much a bushel of such sesame would fetch.
I examined the corn the young man shewed me, and told him it was
worth a hundred dirhems of silver per bushel. "Pray," said he, "look out
for some merchant to take it at that price, and come to me at the
Victory gate, where you will see a khan at a distance from the houses."
So saying, he left me the sample, and I shewed it to several merchants,
who told me, that they would take as much as I could spare at a
hundred and ten dirhems per bushel, so that I reckoned on getting ten
dirhems per bushel for my commission. Full of the expectation of this
profit, I went to the Victory gate, where I found the young merchant
expecting me, and he took me into his granary, which was full of
sesame. He had then a hundred and fifty bushels, which I measured out,
and having carried them off upon asses, sold them for five thousand
dirhems of silver. "Out of this sum," said the young man, "there are five
hundred dirhems coming to you, at the rate of ten dirhems per bushel.
This I give you; and as for the rest which pertains to me, take it out of
the merchants' hands, and keep it till I call or send for it, for I have no
occasion for it at present." I answered, it should be ready for him
whenever he pleased to demand it; and so, kissing his hand, took leave
of him, with a grateful sense of his generosity.
A month passed before he came near me: then he asked for the sum he
had committed to my trust. I told him it was ready, and should be
counted to him immediately. He was mounted on his ass, and I desired
him to alight, and do me the honour to eat a mouthful with me before
he received his money. "No," said he, "I cannot alight at present, I have
urgent business that obliges me to be at a place just by; but I will return
this way, and then