When it was the appointed time, there came to us the man of the Sultan’s guards, [who had accompanied the Jew, when he came to complain of the loss of the money,] and said, “The Sultan biddeth you nail up[FN#143] the Jew and bring the money, for that there is no way by which five thousand dinars can be lost.”  Wherefore we knew that our device sufficed not.  So I went forth and finding a young man, a Haurani,[FN#144] passing the road, laid hands on him and stripped him and beat him with palm-rods.  Then I clapped him in irons and carrying him to the prefecture, beat him again, saying to them, “This is the thief who stole the money.”  And we strove to make him confess; but he would not confess.  So we beat him a third and a fourth time, till we were weary and exhausted and he became unable to return an answer.  But, when we had made an end of beating and tormenting him, he said, “I will fetch the money forthright.”

So we went with him till he came to the place where my slave had buried the money and dug there and brought it out; whereat I marvelled with the utmost wonder and we carried it to the prefect’s house.  When the latter saw the money, he rejoiced with an exceeding joy and bestowed on me a dress of honour.  Then he restored the money straightway to the Sultan and we left the youth in prison; whilst I said to my slave who had taken the money, “Did yonder young man see thee, what time thou buriedst the money?” “No, by the Great God!” answered he.  So I went in to the young man, the prisoner, and plied him with wine till he recovered, when I said to him, “Tell me how thou stolest the money.”  “By Allah,” answered he, “I stole it not, nor did I ever set eyes on it till I brought it forth of the earth!” Quoth I, “How so?” And he said, “Know that the cause of my falling into your hands was my mother’s imprecation against me; for that I evil entreated her yesternight and beat her and she said to me, ’By Allah, O my son, God shall assuredly deliver thee into the hand of the oppressor!’ Now she is a pious woman.  So I went out forthright and thou sawest me in the way and didst that which thou didst; and when beating was prolonged on me, my senses failed me and I heard one saying to me, ‘Fetch it.’  So I said to you what I said and he[FN#145] guided me till I came to the place and there befell what befell of the bringing out of the money.”

I marvelled at this with the utmost wonderment and knew that he was of the sons of the pious.  So I bestirred myself for his release and tended him [till he recovered] and besought him of quittance and absolution of responsibility.’

All those who were present marvelled at this story with the utmost marvel, and the twelfth officer came forward and said, ’I will tell you a pleasant trait that I had from a certain man, concerning an adventure that befell him with one of the thieves.  (Quoth he)

The twelfth officer’s story.

As I was passing one day in the market, I found that a thief had broken into the shop of a money-changer and taken thence a casket, with which he had made off to the burial-grounds.  So I followed him thither [and came up to him, as] he opened the casket and fell a-looking into it; whereupon I accosted him, saying, “Peace be on thee!” And he was startled at me.  Then I left him and went away from him.