Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 4.djvu/72

50 infidel at heart, though a Muslim in outward show, and called himself Reshideddin; and when Zumurrud mocked him and would not accept of him to her lord, he complained to his brother, the aforesaid Christian, Bersoum by name, who said to him, ‘Fret not thyself about this affair; for I will make shift to get her for thee, without paying a penny.’

Now he was a skilful sorcerer crafty and wicked; so he watched his time and played Ali Shar the trick aforesaid; then, taking the key, he went to his brother and told him what had passed, whereupon Reshideddin mounted his mule and repaired with his servants to Ali Shar’s house, taking with him a purse of a thousand dinars, wherewith to bribe the master of police, should he meet him. He unlocked the saloon door, and the men who were with him rushed in upon Zumurrud and seized her, threatening her with death if she spoke; but they left the house as it was and took nothing therefrom. Moreover, they laid the key by Ali’s side and leaving him lying in the vestibule, shut the door on him and went away. The Christian carried the girl to his own house and setting her amongst his women and concubines, said to her, ‘O strumpet, I am the old man, whom thou did reject and lampoon; but now I have thee, without paying a penny.’ ‘God requite thee, O wicked old man,’ replied she, with her eyes full of tears, ‘for sundering my lord and me!’ ‘Wanton doxy that thou art,’ rejoined he, ‘thou shalt see how I will punish thee! By the virtue of the Messiah and the Virgin, except thou obey me and embrace my faith, I will torture thee with all manner of torture!’ ‘By Allah,’ answered she, ‘though thou cut me in pieces, I will not forswear the faith of Islam! It may be God the Most High will bring me speedy relief, for He is all-powerful, and the wise say, “Better hurt in body than in religion.”’