Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/241

212 nothing except that in the middle of the night, before I was aware, a man was knocking at the door, who did so-and-so." And he related the tale from beginning to end. "Didst thou recognize the man?" asked Sulaimân. "I did not, O Commander of the Faithful!" replied Khuzaimah, "and that because he was muffled up, and I only heard his voice while he said 'I am Jâbir-ʾAtharât-el-Kirâm.'"

The narrator proceeds: Then the heart of Sulaimân-ibn-ʾAbd-el-Málik burnt within him, and he lamented this want of knowledge of him, and said, "Did we but know him, verily we would recompense him his benevolence." Presently he said, "Bring me the Wand of Office." And when it had been brought, he invested the afore-named Khuzaimah-ibn-Bishr with the governorship of Mesopotamia in the room of ʾIkrimah-el-Fayyâdh.

So Khuzaimah set out for Mesopotamia. And when he drew near, ʾIkrimah and the townsfolk came forth to meet him. And they saluted one another, and journeyed together until they entered the town. And Khuzaimah dismounted at the governor's house, and commanded that the surety for ʾIkrimah should be brought, and that the accounts should be