Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/296

268 not to come to me from the folk, till, one day, reckoning up the profit I had made of them, I found it a thousand dinars and said in myself, “The best thing I can do is to return to Egypt.” So I went to Ahmed’s house and kissed his hand, and he said, “What seekest thou?” Quoth I, “I have a mind to depart;” and I repeated the following verses:

“The caravan is about to start for Cairo,” added I, “and I wish to return to my people.” So he gave me a mule and a hundred dinars and said to me, “I desire to send somewhat by thee. Dost thou know the people of Cairo?” “Yes,” answered I; and he said, “Take this letter and carry it to Quicksilver Ali of Cairo and say to him, ‘Thy captain salutes thee and he is now with the Khalif.’” So I took the letter and jouneyedjourneyed [sic] back to Cairo, where I paid my debts and plied my trade of a water-carrier; but I have not delivered the letter, because I know not the abode of Quicksilver Ali.’ Quoth Ali, ‘O elder, be of good cheer: I am that Ali, the first of the lads of Captain Ahmed: give me the letter.’ So he gave him the letter and he opened it and read as follows:

From Captain Ahmed ed Denef to the eldest of his sons, Quicksilver Ali of Cairo, greeting. Thou knowest that I tormented Selaheddin the Cairene and befooled him till I buried him alive and reduced his lads to obey me, and amongst them Ali Kitf el Jemel; and I am now become town-captain of Baghdad and overseer of the suburbs. If thou be still mindful of our love, come to me; haply thou