might do likewise and declare how old was the fruit and whether its savour was good or bad.  They did his bidding and said, “The flavour of these olives hath not changed and they are of this year’s growth.”  Then said the boy, “Methinks ye are mistaken, for seven years ago Ali Khwajah put the olives into the jar:  how then could fruit of this year find their way therein?” But they replied, " ’Tis even as we say:  an thou believe not our words send straightway for other oil-merchants and make enquiry of them, so shalt thou know if we speak sooth or lies.”  But when the merchant of Baghdad saw that he could no longer avail to prove his innocence, he confessed everything; to wit, how he had taken out the Ashrafis and filled the jar with fresh olives.  Hearing this the boy said to the Prince of True Believers, “O gracious sovereign, last night in play we tried this cause, but thou alone has power to apply the penalty.  I have adjudged the matter in thy presence and I humbly pray that thou punish this merchant according to the law of the Koran and the custom of the Apostle; and thou decree the restoring of his thousand gold pieces to Ali Khwajah, for that he hath been proved entitled to them.”—­And as the morn began to dawn Shahrazad held her peace till

       The end of the Six Hundred and Forty-third Night.

Then said she:—­I have heard, O auspicious King, that the Caliph ordered the merchant of Baghdad to be taken away and be hanged, after he should have made known where he had put the thousand Ashrafis and that these should have been restored their rightful owner, Ali Khwajah.  He also turned to the Kazi who had hastily adjudged the case, and bade him learn from that lad to do his duty more sedulously and conscientiously.  More-over the Prince of True Believers embraced the boy, and ordered that the Wazir give him a thousand pieces of gold from the royal treasury and conduct him safely to his home and parents.[FN#312] And after, when the lad grew to man’s estate, the Commander of the Faithful made him one of his cup-companions and furthered his fortunes and ever entreated him with the highmost honour.  But when Queen Shahrazad had ended the story of Ali Khwajah and the merchant of Baghdad she said, “Now, O auspicious King, I would relate a more excellent history than any, shouldst thou be pleased to hear that I have to say;” and King Shahryar replied, “By Allah! what an admirable tale is this thou hast told:  my ears do long to hear another as rare and commendable.”  So Shahrazad began forthright to recount the adventures of[FN#313]

Prince Ahmad and the fairy
Peri-banu.[FN#314]