Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 7.djvu/321

293 Then said the Khalif, ‘O Jaafer, I mean to summon the fisherman and bid him take one of these papers, whose contents none knoweth save thou and I; and I swear, by my holy forefathers and by my kinship to Hemzeh and Akil, that whatsoever is written in the paper he shall choose, I will give it to him; though it be the Khalifate, I will divest myself thereof and invest him therewith and grudge it not to him; and on the other hand, if there be written therein hanging or mutilation or death, I will execute it upon him. Now go and fetch him to me.’ When Jaafer heard this, he said in himself, ‘There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High, the Supreme! It may be somewhat will fall to this poor wretch’s lot that will bring about his destruction, and I shall be the cause. But the Khalif hath sworn; so there is nothing for it but to bring him in, and nought will happen save what God willeth.’ So he went out to Khelifeh and laid hold of his hand, to carry him in to the Khalif, whereupon his reason fled and he said in himself, ‘What a fool I was to come after yonder ill-omened slave, Rosy-cheeks, whereby he hath brought me in company with Bran-belly!’

Jaafer fared on with him, with guards before and behind him, whilst he said, ‘Doth not arrest suffice, but these fellows must go before and behind me, to prevent my making off?’ till they had traversed seven vestibules, when the vizier said to him, ‘Harkye, fisherman! Thou standest before the Commander of the Faithful and Defender of the Faith!’ Then he raised the great curtain and Khelifeh’s eyes fell on the Khalif, who was seated on his couch, with the grandees of the realm standing in attendance upon him. As soon as he knew him, he went up to him and said, ‘Welcome to thee, O piper! It was not well done of thee to make thyself a