Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/316

288 his face was overcast and asked him what had vexed him. Quoth he, ‘God hath afflicted me this day with a sharking fellow, who hath made seven attempts to get the purse, but without avail.’ And she said, ‘Give it to me, that I may lay it up against the boy’s festival-day.’ So he gave her the purse and changed his clothes, saying, ‘Keep the purse safely, O Umm Abdallah, for I am going to the wedding.’ But she said, ‘Sleep awhile.’ So he lay down and fell asleep. Presently, Ali rose and going on tiptoe to the purse, took it and went to the house of the wedding and stood there, looking on.

Meanwhile, Zureic dreamt that he saw a bird fly away with the purse and awaking in affright, said to his wife, ‘Rise; look for the purse.’ So she looked and finding it gone, buffeted her face and said, ‘Alas, the blackness of thy fortune, O Umm Abdallah! A thief hath taken the purse.’ ‘By Allah,’ quoth Zureic, ‘it can be none other than the rascal [who has plagued me all day!] He has followed me home and taken the purse; and needs must I go and get it back.’ ‘Except thou bring it,’ answered his wife, ‘I will lock the door on thee and leave thee to pass the night in the street.’ So he went up to the house of the wedding, and seeing Ali looking on, said to himself, ‘This is he who took the purse; but he lodges with Ahmed ed Denef.’ So he ran on before him to the barrack and climbing up at the back, made his way into the saloon, where he found every one asleep. Presently there came a knock at the door and Zureic said, ‘Who is there?’ ‘Ali of Cairo,’ answered the knocker; and Zureic said, ‘Hast thou brought the purse?’ Ali thought it was Hassan Shouman and answered, ‘Yes; open the door.’ Quoth Zureic, ‘I cannot open to thee till I see the purse; for the chief and I have laid a wager about it.’ ‘Put out thy hand,’ said Ali. So he put out his hand through the hole of the door and Ali laid the purse in it; whereupon Zureic