Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/140

116 and receivedst back thy money, but didst not keep it.’ So the trooper went away, having lost his money, whilst the folk were delivered from his hands and those of the chief of the police; and all this was of the favour of God the Most High. EL MELIK EN NASIR AND THE THREE MASTERS OF POLICE.

El Melik en Nasir once sent for the chiefs of the police of New Cairo, Boulac and Old Cairo and said to them, ‘I wish each of you to tell me the most remarkable thing that hath befallen him during his term of office.’ ‘We hear and obey,’ answered they. Then said the chief of the police of New Cairo, ‘O our lord the Sultan, the most remarkable thing that befell me, during my term of office, was on this wise: STORY OF THE CHIEF OF THE POLICE OF NEW CAIRO.

There were once, in this city, two men apt to bear witness in matters of blood and wounds; but they were both given to wine and women and debauchery; nor, do what I would, could I succeed in bringing them to account. So I charged the vintners and confectioners and fruiterers and chandlers and bagnio-keepers to acquaint me of these two, when ever they should anywhere be engaged in drinking or debauchery, whether together or apart, and that, if they or either of them bought of them aught for the purpose of carousal, they should not conceal it from me. And they replied, “We hear and obey.”