I Was once an overseer in the household of the Emir Jamál al-Din al-Atwash al-Mujhidi, who was made governor of the two provinces, Sharkíyah and Gharbíyah, and I was dear to his heart and he hid from me nothing of whatever he desired to do; and he was eke master of his reason. It came to pass one day of the days that it was reported to him how the daughter of Such an one had a mint of monies and raiment and ornaments and at that present she loved a Jewish man, whom every day she invited to be private with her, and they passed the light hours eating and drinking in company and he lay the night with her. The Wali feigned not to believe a word of this story, but he summoned the watchmen of the quarter one night and questioned them of this tittle tattle. one of them said, "As for me, O my lord, I saw none save a Jew enter the street in question one night; but I have not made certain to whom he went in;" and the Chief said, "Keep yours eye on him from this time forward and note what place he enters."

So the watchman went out and kept his eye on the Judæan. One day as the Prefect sat in his house, the watchman came in to him and said, "O my lord, in very truth the Jew goes to the house of Such an one." Whereupon Al-Atwash sprang to his feet and went forth alone, taking with him none save myself." As he went along, he said to me, "Indeed, this girl is a fat piece of meat." And we gave not over going till we came to the door of the house and stood there until a hand maid came out, as if to buy them something wanted. We waited till she opened the door, whereupon, without question or answer, we forced our way into the house and rushed in upon the girl, whom we found seated with the Jew in a saloon with four daises, and cooking pots and candles within it. When her eyes fell on the Wali, she knew him and rising to her feet said, "Well come and welcome and fair cheer! By God, great honour has happened me by my lord's visit and indeed you dignifiest my dwelling." at this she carried him up to the dais and seating him on the couch, brought him meat and wine and gave him to drink; after which she put off all that was upon her of raiment and ornaments and tying them up in a kerchief, said to him, "O my lord, this is your portion, all of it."

Then she turned to the Jew and said to him, "Rise, you also, and do even as I;" so he arose in haste and went out very hardly crediting his deliverance. When the girl was assured of his escape, she put out her hand to her clothes and jewels and taking them, said to the Chief, "O Emir, is the requital of kindness other than kindness? You have deigned to visit me and eat of my bread and salt; so now arise and depart from us without ill doing; or I will give a single outcry and all who are in the street will come forth." So the Emir went out from her, without having gotten a single dirham; and in this way she delivered the Jew by the seemliness of her stratagem. The company admired this tale, and as for the Wali and Al-Malik al-Zahir, they said, "Ever devised any the like of this device?" and they marvelled with the utterest of marvel. Then arose a third constable and said, "Hear what happened me, for it is yet stranger and rarer."