myself over the king this night, seeing that he deserveth this from me, for that which he hath done with me of kindly deeds;” and he arose forthright and baring his brand, stationed himself at the door of the king’s pavilion.  But one of the royal pages saw him standing there, with the drawn sword in his hand, and he was of those who envied him his favour with the king; therefore, he said to him.  “Why dost thou on this wise at this time and in the like of this place?” Said the youth, “I am keeping watch and ward over the king myself, in requital of his bounties to me.”  The page said no more to him; however, when it was morning, he acquainted a number of the king’s servants with the matter, and they said, “This is an opportunity for us.  Come, let us assemble together and acquaint the king therewith, so the young merchant may lose regard with him[FN#161] and he rid us of him and we be at rest from him.”  So they assembled together and going in to the king, said to him, “We have a warning wherewith we would warn thee.”  Quoth he, “And what is your warning?” and quoth they, “This youth, the trader, whom thou hast taken into favour and whose rank thou hast exalted above the chiefest of thy lords, we saw yesterday bare his brand and design to fall upon thee, to the end that he might slay thee.”  Now when the king heard this, his colour changed and he said to them, “Have ye proof of this?” They rejoined, “What proof wouldst thou have?  An thou desirest this, feign thyself drunken again this night and lie down as if asleep, and privily watch him and thou wilt see with thine eyes all that we have mentioned to thee.”  Then they went to the youth and said to him, “Know that the king thanketh thee for thy dealing yesternight and exceedeth in commendation of thy good deed;” and they prompted him again to do the like.  Accordingly, when the next night came, the king abode on wake, watching the youth; and as for the latter, he went to the door of the pavilion and unsheathing his scymitar, stood in the doorway.  When the king saw him do thus, he was sore disquieted and bade seize him and said to him, “Is this my reward from thee?  I showed thee favour more than any else and thou wouldst do with me this abominable deed.”  Then arose two of the king’s pages and said to him, “O our lord, an thou order it, we will smite his neck.”  But the king said, “Haste in killing is a vile thing, for ’tis a grave[FN#162] matter; the quick we can kill, but the killed we cannot quicken, and needs must we look to the end of affairs.  The slaying of this youth will not escape us."[FN#163] Therewith he bade imprison him, whilst he himself went back to the city and, his duties done, fared forth to the chase.  Then he returned to town and forgot the youth; so the pages went in to him and said to him, “O king, an thou keep silence concerning yonder youth, who designed to slaughter thee, all thy servants will presume upon the king’s majesty, and indeed the folk talk of this matter.”