Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/163

143 taken all that was with us and made off with it; wherefore we knew that she was a thief and had practised [on us] a device, such as was never before practised; and we repented, whenas repentance advantaged us not.’

When the company heard this story, they marvelled thereat with the utmost wonderment. Then the fifth officer, who was the lieutenant of the bench, came forward and said, ‘[This is] no wonder and there befell me that which is rarer and more extraordinary than this.