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293 his salutation and entreated him with honour and seated him by his side. Then said Alaeddin to him, “I come to thee, a suitor, seeking thine alliance and desiring the hand of thy noble daughter.” “O my lord merchant,” answered the Cadi, “indeed my daughter beseemeth not the like of thee, neither sorteth she with the goodliness of thy youth and the pleasantness of thy composition and the sweetness of thy discourse;” but Alaeddin rejoined, saying, “This talk behoveth thee not, neither is it seemly in thee; if I be content with her, how should this irk thee?” So they came to an accord and concluded the treaty of marriage at a dower precedent of five purses paid down then and there and a dower contingent of fifteen purses, so it might be uneath unto him to put her away, forasmuch as her father had given him fair warning, but he would not be warned.

Then they drew up the contract of marriage and the merchant said, “I desire to go in to her this night.” So they carried her to him in procession that very night, and he prayed the prayer of eventide and entered the privy chamber prepared for him; but, when he lifted the veil from the face of the bride and looked, he saw