Thousand & One Nights:186th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl -16

The following night Shahrazad said:

I heard, O happy King, that when the maid came in, she greeted Ali ibn Bakkar, came close to him, talked to him privately, while he swore and exclaimed from time to time that he had no knowledge of what she claimed.  Then she took her leave and went away, leaving him like a mad man.

What the jeweler related later:

As soon as I found the opportunity to speak, I said to Ali ibn Bakkar, "Doubtless some members of Caliph's household have some dealings with you or some claim upon you."

"How do you know," he asked.
I said, "I knew by this maid."

He asked, "To whom does she belongs to?"
"She belongs to Shams al-Nahar. No other girls is as lovely, lively and wise as she. A few days ago the same maid showed me a letter that she suspected to have been addressed to her lady by none of her lady's maids."

Then I repeated to him the contents of the letter, and he was so upset and worried that I feared that he was going to collapse.  But he recovered his composure and  said, "I conjure you by God to tell me truly how you know that girl."

I replied, "Do not press me."
He said, "I will not leave you until you tell me the truth."
"I will tell you all, so that I may not cross you or keep any secret from you, so that you may not entertain suspicion and wrong impressions of me, and so that you may not feel  diffidence, apprehensions or anxiety; moreover I swear to you by God that as long as I live, I will never reveal your secrets or betray your confidence, never mislead you or keep any advice from you."

He said, "Tell me what you know."
And I told him every thing from beginning to end, adding, "All this I did for no reason save my affection for you and my concern and compassion for your suffering.  It is my wish to place myself and my possessions at your service and to be your friend, in place of your other
friend, your ally against the rest of the world, and your confident and comforter.  So take heart and be cheerful." And I repeated the oath. 
 He responded by invoking blessings on me, and said, "l do not know what to say, save the trust in your generosity and to commend you to God."  Then he recited the following verses:
If I am patient since she went away
My tears and laments are a lie
Whether I mourn for a friend 
Or for my true love?

He remained silent for a while.  Then he asked me, "Do you know what the girl said?"
"No, I do not," I said.
"She said that I had been in collusion with Abu al-Hasan.  I instigated him to go to Basra.  She refused to heed my protestation and continued to accuse me.  I do not know what to do in Abu al-Hasan's absence.  She liked him, listened to him, and accepted his word."
I said, "If I understand the situation correctly, I will take care of the problem."

Ali ibn Bakkar said, "How can you, while she bolts away like a wild animal?"
I replied, "I will do my best to support you and help you and resolve the problem in every possible way, without exposing you, causing you any distress, or bringing you any harm. Don't worry, by the help of God I will do everything possible to help you fulfill your wish."

Then I asked leave to depart, and he said, "My lord, you have treated me with singular kindness, and you have offered me your help, freely and without hesitation.  You understand my situation.  I will rely on your honour to keep my secret and depend on your support to help me attain my wish!  Then he embraced me and I kissed him, as we bade each other farewell.

But morning overtook  Shahrazad and she lapsed into silence






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