She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Kazi condemned the care-taker to make good the purse and bound over sundry of her debtors to answer for her.  So she went forth, confounded and knowing not her way out of difficulty.  Presently she met a five-year-old boy who, seeing her troubled, said to her, “What ails thee, O my mother?” But she gave him no answer, contemning him because of his tender age, and he repeated his question a second time and a third time till, at last, she told him all that had passed,[FN#254] not forgetting the condition that she was to keep the purse until all four had demanded it of her.  Said the boy, “Give me a dirham to buy sweetmeats withal and I will tell the how thou mayst acquit thyself.”  So she gave him a silver and said to him, “What hast thou to say?” Quoth he, “Return to the Kazi, and say to him, It was agreed between myself and them that I should not give them the purse, except all four of them were present.  Let them all four come and I will give them the purse, as was agreed.”  So she went back to the Kazi and said to him as the boy had counselled; and he asked the merchants, “Was it thus agreed between you and this woman?”; and they answered, “Yes.”  Quoth the Kazi, “Then bring me your comrade and take the purse.”  So they went in quest of their fellow, whilst the keeper came off scot-free and went her way without let or hindrance.  And Allah is Omniscient![FN#255] When the King and his Wazir and those present in the assembly heard the Prince’s words they said to his father, “O our lord the King, in very sooth thy son is the most accomplished man of his time;” and they called down blessings upon the King and the Prince.  Then the King strained his son to his bosom and kissed him between the eyes and questioned him of what had passed between the favourite and himself; and the Prince sware to him, by Almighty Allah and by His Holy Prophet that it was she who had required him of love which he refused, adding, “Moreover, she promised me that she would give thee poison to drink and kill the, so should the kingship be mine; whereupon I waxed wroth and signed to her, ’O accursed one, whenas I can speak I will requite thee!’ So she feared me and did what she did.”  The King believed his words and sending for the favourite said to those present, “How shall we put this damsel to death?” Some counselled him to cut out her tongue and other some to burn it with fire; but, when she came before the King, she said to him, “My case with thee is like unto naught save the tale of the fox and the folk.”  “How so?” asked he; and she said, “I have heard, O King, tell a

Story of the Fox and the Folk.[FN#256]