Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/172

152 the lock and cried out and shrieked and called [on God for help,] till the folk assembled about him and all who were in the city were present, whereupon he cried out to them, saying even as the prefect had bidden him; and this was bruited abroad. Then he made for the prefecture and presenting himself before the chief of the police, cried out and complained and made a show of distraction.

After three days, the old woman came to him and bringing him the [thousand dinars, the] price of the stuffs, demanded the casket. When he saw her, he laid hold of her and carried her to the prefect of the city; and when she came before the Cadi, he said to her, “O Sataness, did not thy first deed suffice thee, but thou must come a second time?” Quoth she, “I am of those who seek their salvation in the cities, and we foregather every month; and yesterday we foregathered.” “Canst thou [bring me to] lay hold of them?” asked the prefect; and she answered, “Yes; but, if thou wait till to-morrow, they will have dispersed. So I will deliver them to thee to-night.” Quoth he to her, “Go;” and she said, “Send with me one who shall go with me to them and obey me in that which I shall say to him, and all that I bid him he shall give ear unto and obey me therein.” So he gave her a company of men and she took them and bringing them to a certain door, said to them, “Stand at this door, and whoso cometh