Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/194

Rh watching him all that night. And at day-break they sent him to the insane-doctor, who began treating him, and injected medicine through his nose, and otherwise prescribed for him. And the young man reiterated, "By Allâh! there is nothing the matter with me, only I was taken before el-Hajjâj and so-and-so occurred." But when he saw that his mention of el-Hajjâj did but increase his miseries, he left off speaking of him or of his recollection of him. So then when the doctor asked him, "What hast thou to say about el-Hajjâj?" he replied, "I never saw him." Then the doctor went out, and said to the young man's friends, "Verily the malady has departed from him. Nevertheless, be not hasty in removing his chains." So he was kept fettered, and with his hand chained to his neck.

And after some days el-Hajjâj remembered him, and said, "O Khâlid! what has become of that young man?"

"God save the Amîr!" replied Khâlid, "I have not seen him since he left the Amîr's presence."

"Then send some one to him," said el-Hajjâj.

So Khâlid despatched a soldier of the guard, who went to the young man's uncle, and asked him,