Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/63

45 happened [by the way] upon Ibrahim, as he sat upon the carpet of blood.

When the prefect saw the chamberlain, he alighted to him, and the latter said, ‘What young man is that and what is his case?’ The prefect told him how the matter stood and the chamberlain said (and indeed he knew him not for the son of the Sultan, for that his charms were wasted [and his favour changed] by reason of the much terror and affliction he had suffered), ‘Verily this young man hath no murderer’s face.’ And he bade loose him and bring him to him. So they loosed him and brought him to the chamberlain, who said to him, ‘O youth, tell me thy case and how comes this slain woman with thee.’ Ibrahim looked at him and knowing him, said to him, ‘Out on thee! Dost thou not know me? Am I not Ibrahim, son of thy lord? Belike thou art come in quest of me.’

With this the chamberlain considered him straitly and knowing him right well, threw himself at his feet; which when the prefect saw, his colour changed; and the chamberlain said to him, ‘Out on thee, O tyrant! Was it thine intent to kill the son of my master El Khesib, lord of Egypt?’ The prefect kissed his skirt, saying, ‘O my lord, how should I know him? We found him in this plight and saw the damsel lying slain by his side.’ ‘Out on thee!’ rejoined the chamberlain. ‘Thou art not fit for the prefectship. This is a lad of fifteen and he hath not killed a sparrow; so how should he be a murderer? Why didst thou not have patience with him and question him of his case?’

Then the chamberlain and the prefect commanded to make search for the young lady’s murderer. So they re-entered the bath and finding him, brought him to the prefect, who carried him to the Khalif and acquainted him with that which had happened. Er Reshid bade put