Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/164

 THE FIFTH OFFICER’S STORY.

As I sat one day at the door of the prefecture, a woman entered and said to me privily, “O my lord, I am the wife of such an one the physician, and with him is a company of the notables of the city, drinking wine in such a place.” When I heard this, I misliked to make a scandal; so I rebuffed her and sent her away. Then I arose and went alone to the place in question and sat without till the door opened, when I rushed in and entering, found the company engaged as the woman had set out, and she herself with them. I saluted them and they returned my greeting and rising, entreated me with honour and seated me and brought me to eat. Then I informed them how one had denounced them to me, but I had driven him away and come to them by myself; wherefore they thanked me and praised me for my goodness. Then they brought out to me from among them two thousand dirhems and I took them and went away.

Two months after this occurrence, there came to me one of the Cadi’s officers, with a scroll, wherein was the magistrate’s writ, summoning me to him. So I