Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/249

217 What‘What [sic] a calamity is this manman. [sic] He came to me, fleeing from his wife, and he was a poor man. Whence then should he get a baggage-train? But belike this is a device that the king’s daughter hath contrived him, for fear of disgrace, and kings can do anything. May God the Most High screen him and not expose him!’ And all the merchants rejoiced and were glad for that they would get their money. Then the king assembled his troops and rode forth, whilst Aboussaadat returned to Marouf and acquainted him with the accomplishment of his errand. Quoth Marouf, ‘Bind on the loads.’ So they bound them on and he mounted the litter and donning the treasure-suit, became a thousand times greater and more majestic than the king.

Then he set forward; but, when he had gone half-way, the king met him with the troops, and seeing him riding in the litter and clad in the dress aforesaid, threw himself upon him and saluted him and greeted him with the greeting of peace. Moreover, all the grandees of the realm saluted him and it was made manifest that he had spoken the truth and that there was no falsehood in him. Then he entered the city in such state as would have caused the gall-bladder of the lion to burst and the merchants pressed up to him and kissed his hands, whilst Ali said to him, ‘Thou hast played off this trick and it has prospered to thy hand, O Sheikh of impostors! But thou deservest it, and may God the Most High increase thee of His bounty!’

Marouf laughed and entering the palace, sat down on the throne and said, ‘Carry the loads of gold into the treasury of my uncle the king and bring me the bales of stuffs.’ So they brought him the bales and opened them