Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/346

312 “What ails it, O my lady?” asked he, and she said, “The [top] compartment is too strait.” “Not so,” answered he; and she, “Go in thyself and see; it is not wide enough for thee.” Quoth he, “It is wide enough for four,” and entered the fifth compartment, whereupon she locked the door on him. Then she took the letter of the chief of the police and carried it to the treasurer, who kissed it and delivered her lover to her. She told him all that had passed and he said, “And how shall we do now?” Quoth she, “We will remove hence to another city, for there is no tarrying for us here after this.” So they packed up their goods and loading them on camels, set out forthright for another city.

Meanwhile, the five abode in the cabinet three whole days, without eating or drinking, until at last the carpenter could retain his water no longer; so he made water on the King’s head, and the King made water on the Vizier’s head, and the Vizier on the Chief of the Police, who did the like with the Cadi; whereupon the latter cried out and said, “What filth is this? Doth not this strait that we are in suffice us, but you must make water upon us?” The Chief of the Police recognized the Cadi’s voice and answered, saying, “God increase thy reward, O Cadi!” And when the Cadi heard him, he knew him for the Chief of the Police. Then the latter lifted up his voice and said, “What means this nastiness?” and the Vizier answered, saying, “God increase thy reward, O Chief of the Police!” whereupon he knew him to be the Vizier. Then the Vizier lifted up his voice and said, “What means this nastiness?” But when the King heard his Vizier’s voice, he held his peace and concealed his affair. Then said the Vizier, “May God curse the woman for her dealing with us! She hath brought hither all the chiefs of the state, except the King.” Quoth the King, “Hold thy peace, for I was the first to fall into the toils of this lewd baggage.” “And I,”