Ah, my child! said she, my joy would be complete, had I the pleasure of embracing your father Bedreddin Hassan as I now embrace you!  Then sitting down to supper, she made Agib sit by her, and put several questions to him relating to the walk he had been taking along with the eunuch; and, complaining of his want of appetite, gave him a piece of a cream-tart that she had made herself, and was indeed very good; for I told you before that she could make them better than the best pastry-cooks.  She likewise gave part of it to the eunuch; but they had eaten so heartily at Bedreddin’s house, that they could not taste it.

Agib no sooner touched the piece of cream-tart that had been set before him, than he pretended that he did not like it, and left it uncut.  Schaban[Footnote:  The Mahometans give this name generally to their black eunuchs.] (for such was the eunuch’s name) did the same.  The widow of Noureddin Ali observed, with regret, that her grandson did not like the tart.  What! said she, does my child thus despise the work of my hands?  Be it known to you, that not one in the world can make such cream-tarts, except myself and your father Bedreddin, whom I myself taught.  My good mother, replied Agib, give me leave to tell you, that if you do not know how to make them better, there is a pastry-cook in this town who exceeds you.  We were but just now at his shop, and ate of one that was much better than yours.  The grandmother, frowning on the eunuch, said, How now, Schaban? was the care of my grandchild committed to you to carry him to eat at pastry-shops like a beggar?  Madam, replied the eunuch, it is true we did stop a little while, and talked with the pastry-cook, but we did not eat with him.  Pardon me, said Agib; we went into his shop, and there ate a cream-tart.  Upon this, the lady, more incensed against the eunuch than before, rose in a passion from the table, and running to the tent of Schemseddin, informed him of the eunuch’s crime, and that in such terms as tended more to inflame the vizier than to dispose him to excuse it.  Schemseddin, who was naturally passionate, did not fail on this occasion to display his anger.  He went forthwith to his sister-in-law’s tent; and, making up to the eunuch, What! said he, you pitiful wretch, have you the impudence to abuse the trust I repose in you?  Schaban, though sufficiently convicted by Agib’s testimony, still denied the fact.  But the child persisted in what he had already affirmed:  Grandfather, said he, I can assure you that we did not only eat, but that both of us so much satisfied our appetites, that we have no occasion for supper; besides, the pastry-cook treated us with a large bowl of sherbet.  Well, cried Schemseddin, turning to Schaban, after all this, will you continue to deny that you entered the pastry-cook’s house, and ate there?  Schaban had still the impudence to swear that it was not true.  Then you are a liar! said the vizier; I will believe my grandchild rather than you; but, after all, if you can eat up this cream-tart on the table, I shall be persuaded that you have truth on your side.