Page:Sinbad the sailor & other stories from the Arabian nights.djvu/314

 Meanwhile, Abu-I-Hasan, seated at the window in his house, beheld the executioner come running in haste, and said to his wife, "Methinks the Khalifeh hath announced thy death to Zubeydeh and she hath contradicted him, saying it is Abu-I-Hasan that is dead. And then, one word giving another, each hath become more obstinate, until the Khalifeh hath proposed a wager and hath now sent his executioner running hither to learn which is dead. I think, therefore, to preserve my honour in the Khalifeh's eyes, it is well that thou be the corpse so that Mesrur may see thee and return and inform the Khalifeh, who will then at once believe my assertion and win his wager."

Swiftly Nuzhat-el-Fuad obeyed, and, by the time Mesrur reached the house, she was extended ready for burial, while Abu-I-Hasan sat at her head weeping and beating his breast. And Mesrur advanced and uncovered her face, crying "There is no god but Allah! Alas! Our sister Nuzhat-el-Fuad is taken away!" He hastened back to the Palace and told the Khalifeh and Zubeydeh that Abu-I-Hasan was alive and well, and that Nuzhat-el-Fuad was dead. At this the Khalifeh laughed heartily, saying "Now have I won thy Hall of Statues!" Then he bade Mesrur tell the story again, omitting no smallest point; for he said Zubeydeh was lacking in sense and dull of comprehension. This enraged Zubeydeh and she retorted that it was the one who believed the word of a slave like Mesrur who was lacking in sense. But the more angry she became the more the Khalifeh laughed, until she calmed herself and said, "O Prince of the Faithful! this slave here is lying in order to please thee. Now I will send my messenger, and then the truth of the matter will be clear." The Khalifeh, still laughing, readily 218