Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/166

 THE SIXTH OFFICER’S STORY.

A certain assessor was one day taken with a woman and much people assembled before his house and the lieutenant of police and his men came to him and knocked at the door. The assessor looked out of window and seeing the folk, said, “What aileth you?” Quoth they, “[Come,] speak with the lieutenant of police such an one.” So he came down and they said to him, “Bring forth the woman that is with thee.” Quoth he, “Are ye not ashamed? How shall I bring forth my wife?” And they said, “Is she thy wife by contract or without contract?” [“By contract,”] answered he, “according to the Book of God and the Institutes of His Apostle.” “Where is the contract?” asked they; and he replied, “Her contract is in her mother’s house.” Quoth they, “Arise and come down and show us the contract.” And he said to them, “Go from her way, so she may come forth.”