Nothing could prevent the execution of this prince’s too severe and irrevocable sentence; and the lives of the most honest people in the city were just going to be taken away, when a young man, of handsome mien and good apparel, pressed through the crowd till he came to the place where the grand vizier was; and after he had kissed his hand, said, Most excellent vizier, chief of the emirs of this court, and comforter of the poor, you are not guilty of the crime for which you stand here.  Withdraw, and let me expiate the death of the lady who was thrown into the Tigris.  It was I who murdered her, and deserve to be punished for it.  Though these words occasioned great joy to the vizier, yet he could not but pity the young man, in whose look he saw something that, instead of being ominous, was engaging; but as he was about to answer him, a tall man, pretty well in years, who had likewise forced his way through the crowd, came up to him, saying, Sir, do not believe what this young man tells you; I killed that lady who was found in the trunk; and this punishment ought only to fall upon me.  I conjure you, in the name of God, not to punish the innocent for the guilty.  Sir, says the young man to the vizier, I do protest that I am he who committed this vile act, and nobody else had any hand it.  My son, said the old man, it is despair that brought you hither, and you would anticipate your destiny.  I have lived a long time in the world, and it is time for me to be gone; let me therefore sacrifice my life for yours.  Sir, said he again to the vizier, I tell you once more I am the murderer; let me die without any more ado.  The controversy between the old man and the young one obliged the grand vizier Giafar to carry them both before the caliph, to which the criminal judge consented, being very glad to serve the vizier.  When he came before the prince, he kissed the ground seven times, and spoke after this manner:  Commander of the faithful, I have brought here before your majesty this old man, and this young one, who both confess themselves to be the sole murderers of the lady.  Then the caliph asked the criminals which of them it was that so cruelly murdered the lady, and threw her into the Tigris?  The young man assured him it was he, but the old man maintained the contrary.  Go, says the caliph to the grand vizier, and cause them both to be hanged.  But, sir, says the vizier, if only one of them be guilty, it would be unjust to take the lives of both.  At these words the young man spoke again:  I swear by the great God, who has raised the heavens so high as they are, that I am the man who killed the lady, cut her in quarters, and threw her into the Tigris about four days ago.  I renounce my part of happiness among the just at the day of judgment, if what I say be not truth; therefore I am he that ought to suffer.  The caliph, being surprised at this oath, believed him, especially as the old man made no answer to this.  Whereupon, turning to the young man, Thou wretch, said he, what was it that made thee to commit that detestable crime, and what is it that moves thee to offer thyself voluntarily to die?  Commander of the faithful, said he, if all that has passed between that lady and me were set down in writing, it would be a history that would be very useful to other men.  I command you then to relate it, said the caliph.  The young man obeyed, and began.