Thousand & One Nights:194th Night: The Wealthy Man & The Slave Girl -24

The following night Shahrazad said to Dinarzad: I will tell you what happened to the jeweler when he came to his house and his people in his own words:

The Jeweler's Version:

When they questioned me about Ali ibn-Bakkar, I said, "O people, do not press me, for his story cannot be told in public."  While I was imploring them, and trying to pacify them, Ali ibn Bakkar moved in his bed.  The assembled people rejoiced, and some of them departed, while others stayed.  But they did not allow me go home and requested my presence.  They sprinkled rose water scented with powdered musk on his face.  When he came to himself, they began to question him, but he was too weak to answer and motioned them to let me go home.

I went out hardly believing my escape, and came home supported by two men.  When my people saw me, they cried and beat their faces, but I motioned to them to stop.  I sent the two men away, and went to sleep.  I slept the whole night.  When I awoke, I saw my family and children and friends standing around me.  They asked, "What has happened to you?" I called for water and washed my face and hands; then I called for wine, and drank it, then changed my clothes, and after thanking my visitors, said, "Wine overcame me, and made me feel sick.  When the people left, I apologized to my family, and promised to replace what they had lost.  They told me that some of the goods had been returned already, that some had thrown them into the hallway, and disappeared in a hurry. For two days, I lay quietly in the hallway, and disappeared in a hurry.  For two days I lay quietly in my room and was unable to do much.

When I began to regain my strength, I went to the bath, still very much worried about the young man and the young lady.  I did not dare to go near his house or visit any place, for fear of meeting him, for I had reprnted to God of my former conduct, given alms in gratitude for my safety, and reconciled myself to my loss.

Then I thought of going to far away to divert my attention. I went out remonstrating myself, and came to cloth market, and sat there for a while with a friend of mine. There I happened to see the maid of Shams al-Nahar, at a distance.  I hurried away, but she was close behind me. "My lord, stop and listen to me," she said, her hurried steps after me.  I was seized with fear.  She went in after me, expressing her sorrow for me, asked me about my condition. I told her all, about myself and Ali ibn Bakkar.  I asked her, "What happened to you and your lady after she left us?"

She replied, still walking behind me, "When I saw the men, I thought that they were Caliph's men.  They came to seize my mistress and me and take us to our end. The two maids and I fled to the rooftops, from one house to the other, and in this plight we were scattered. Finally, alone, I took refuge with some people, who took pity on me.  They helped me to reach our place by early morning.  But I waited anxiously for the night to fall.  When the night fell, I walked, and reached the river gate, and waited there.  At midnight I saw a boat approaching.  When the boat touched the jetty, I was surprised to see that it was my lady and her maids.

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.