spending money; then, binding the purse mouth with a bit of string I tied it tightly in the folds of my turband and wound the cloth around my head.  Presently, I went off to the market street and bought me a stock of hemp and coming homewards I laid in some meat for supper, it being now a long while since we had tasted flesh.  But as I trudged along the road, meat in hand, a kite[FN#274] came suddenly swooping down, and would have snatched the morsel from out my hand had I not driven off the bird with the other hand.  Then it had fain pounced upon the flesh on the left side but again I scared it away and thus, whilst exerting myself with frantic efforts to ward off the bird, by ill luck my turband fell to the ground.  At once that accursed kite swooped down and flew off with it in its talons; and I ran pursuing it and shouted aloud.  Hearing my cries the Bazar-folk, men and women and a rout of children, did what they could to scare it away and make the beastly bird drop its prey, but they shouted and cast stones in vain:  the kite would not let drop the turband and presently flew clean out of sight.  I was sore distressed and heavy hearted to lose the Ashrafis as I tried me home bearing the hemp and what of food I had bought, but chiefly was I vexed and grieved in mind, and ready to die of shame at the thought of what Sa’di would say; especially when I reflected how he would misdoubt my words, nor deem the tale true when I should tell him that a kite had carried off my turband with the gold pieces, but rather would he think that I had practised some deceit and had devised some amusing fable by way of excuse.  Howbeit I hugely enjoyed what had remained of the ten Ashrafis and with my wife and children fared sumptuously for some days.  Presently, when all the gold was spent and naught remained thereof, I became as poor and needy as before, withal I was content and thankful to Almighty Allah nor blamed my lot.  He had sent in his mercy this purse of gold to me unawares and now He had taken it away, wherefore I was grateful and satisfied, for what He doeth is ever well done.—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

       The end of the Six Hundred and Seventeenth Night.

Then said she:  I have heard, O auspicious King, that Master Hasan the Ropemaker continued his story in these words:—­My wife, who knew not of the matter of the Ashrafis, presently perceived that I was ill at ease and I was compelled for a quiet life to let her know my secret; moreover the neighbours came round to ask me of my case:  but I was right loath to tell them all that had betided; they could not bring back what was gone and they would assuredly rejoice at my calamity.  However, when they pressed me close I told them every whit; and some thought that I had spoken falsely and derided me and others that I was daft and hare-brained and my words were the wild pratings of an idiot or the drivel of dreams.  The youngsters made abundant fun of me and laughed