I never yet saw; no, never!  All the day long he idleth away his time with the sons of the quarter, vagabonds like himself, and his father (O regret of me!) died not save of dolour for him.  And I also am now in piteous plight:  I spin cotton and toil at my distaff, night and day, that I may earn a couple of scones of bread which we eat together.  This is his condition, O my brother-in-law; and, by the life of thee, he cometh not near me save at meal-times and none other.  Indeed, I am thinking to lock the house-door nor ever open to him again but leave him to go and seek a livelihood whereby he can live, for that I am now grown a woman in years and have no longer strength to toil and go about for a maintenance after this fashion.  O Allah, I am compelled to provide him with daily bread when I require to be provided!” Hereat the Moorman turned to Alaeddin and said, “Why is this, O son of my brother, thou goest about in such ungraciousness? ’tis a disgrace to thee and unsuitable for men like thyself.  Thou art a youth of sense, O my son, and the child of honest folk, so ’tis for thee a shame that thy mother, a woman in years, should struggle to support thee.  And now that thou hast grown to man’s estate it becometh thee to devise thee some device whereby thou canst live, O my child.  Look around thee and Alhamdolillah—­praise be to Allah—­in this our town are many teachers of all manner of crafts and nowhere are they more numerous; so choose thee some calling which may please thee to the end that I establish thee therein; and, when thou growest up, O my son, thou shalt have some business whereby to live.  Haply thy father’s industry may not be to thy liking; and, if so it be, choose thee some other handicraft which suiteth thy fancy; then let me know and I will aid thee with all I can, O my son.”  But when the Maghrabi saw that Alaeddin kept silence and made him no reply, he knew that the lad wanted none other occupation than a scapegrace-life, so he said to him, “O son of my brother, let not my words seem hard and harsh to thee, for, if despite all I say, thou still dislike to learn a craft, I will open thee a merchant’s store[FN#78] furnished with costliest stuffs and thou shalt become famous amongst the folk and take and give and buy and sell and be well known in the city.”  Now when Alaeddin heard the words of his uncle the Moorman, and the design of making him a Khwajah[FN#79]—­merchant and gentleman,—­he joyed exceedingly knowing that such folk dress handsomely and fare delicately.  So he looked at the Maghrabi smiling and drooping his head groundwards and saying with the tongue of the case that he was content.—­And Shahrazad was surprised by the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.

       When it was the Five Hundred and Twentieth Night,