第85章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(7)

Then I left the Khan and walked along Bein el Kesrein till I came to the Zuweyleh Gatewhere I found the folk crowded together and the gate blocked up for the much people. As Fate would have itI saw there a trooperagainst whom I pressedwithout meaning it，so that my hand came on his pocket and I felt a purse inside. I looked and seeing a string of green silk hanging from the pocket，knew that it belonged to the purse. The crowd increased every moment and just thena camel bearing a load of wood jostled the trooper on the other side and he turned to ward it off from him，lest it should tear his clothes. When I saw thisSatan tempted me；so I pulledthe string and drew out a little purse of blue silkfull of something that chinked like money. Hardly had I done sowhen the soldier turned and feeling his pocket lightenedput his hand to it and found it empty；whereupon he turned to me and raising his macesmote me on the head I fell to the groundwhilst the people came round us and seizing the soldier's horse by the bridlesaid to him'Is it because he pushed against thee in the throngthat thou smitest this young man such a blow？'But he cried out at them and said'This fellow is an accursed thief！'With this I came to myself and stood up，and the folk looked at me and said'This is a comely youth and would not steal aught.'Some took part for me and others against me and there was a great clamourand the people pulled at me and would have rescued me from the trooper；but as Fate would have itthe chief of the police and the captain and officers of the watch entered by the gate at this moment；and the prefectseeing the crowd about the soldier and myselfenquired what was the matter. 'O my lord，'replied the soldier'this fellow is a thief. I had a blue purse in my pocketcontaining twenty dinars，and he took itwhilst I was in the crush.'Was any one else by thee？'asked the magistrateand the trooper answered'No.'Then the prefect cried out to the officers of the watchwho seized me and stripping me by his orderfound the purse in my clothes. He took it and found in it twenty dinarsas the soldier had said，whereat he was wroth and calling to the officers to bring me before himsaid to me'O young man tell me the truth. Didst thou steal this purse？'At this I hung down my head and said to myself'It is useless for me to say I did not steal the purse，for they found it in my clothes： and if I confess to the theftI fall into trouble.'So I raised my head and said'Yes： I took it.'When the prefect heard what I saidhe wondered and called for witnesseswho came forward and attested by confession. Then he bade the hangman cut off my right handand he did so；after which he would have cut off my left foot also；but the trooper took pity on me and interceded for me with the prefectwho left me and went away；whilst the folk remained round me and gave me a cup of wine to drink. As for the trooperhe gave me the purse，saying'Thou art a comely youthand it befits not that thou be a thief.'And I repeated the following verses：

By Allahtrusty brother mineI am indeed no thiefNorO most bountiful of mena highwayman am I.

But the vicissitudes of fate overthrew me suddenlyAnd care and stress and penury full sorely did me try.

It was not thoubut God who cast the fatal shaft at meThe shaft that made from off my head the crown of honour fly.

Then he left meand I went awayafter having wrapt my hand in a piece of rag and thrust it into my bosom. I betook me to my mistress's housefaint and ill at ease and pale by reason of what had befallen meand threw myself on the couch. She saw that my colour was changed and said to me'What ails thee and why do I see thee thus changed？'My head irks me，'answered I；'I am not well.'When she heard thisshe was vexed and concerned for me and said to me'Fret not my heartO my lord！Sit up and raise thy head and let me know what has happened to thee to-day，for thy face tells me a tale.'Spare me this talk，'replied I.

But she wept and said'Meseems thou art tired of mefor I see that thou art contrary to thy wont.'But I was silentand she continued to talk to methough I made her no answertill nightfallwhen she brought me food： but I refused itfearing to let her see me eat with my left handand said to her'I do not care to eat at present.'Quoth she 'Tell me what has befallen thee to-day and what ails theethat thou art troubled and broken in heart and spirit.'Presently，'replied I；'I will tell thee at my leisure.'Then she brought me winesaying'Take it for it will dispel thy care： thou must indeed drink and tell me what is thy matter with thee.'Must I tell thee？'said I；and she answered'Yes.'Then said I'If it must be sogive me to drink with thine own hand.'So she filled and drank then filled again and gave me the cup. I took it from her with my left hand and repeated the following verses with tears running from my eyes：

When God would execute His will in anything On one endowed with sighthearing and reasoning，He stops his ears and blinds his eyes and draws his wit From him，as one draws out the hairs to paste that cling；TillHis decrees fulfilledHe gives him back his witThat therewithal he may receive admonishing.

At this she gave a loud cry and said to me'What makes thee weep？ Thou settest my heart on fire. And what ails thee to take the cup with thy left hand？'I have a boil on my right hand，'answered I；and she said'Put it out and I will lance it for thee.'It is not ripe for lancing，'answered I；'so do not torment mefor I will not show it thee at present.'Then I drank off the cupand she plied me with wine till I became drowsy and fell asleep in my place；whereupon she looked at my right arm and saw that it was but a stump without a hand. So she searched me and found the purse of gold and my severed hand wrapt in a piece of rag. With thisthere overcame her such grief as none ever knewand she ceased not to lament for my sake till the morning.