The crier had been ordered to offer me fifty sherriffs by one of the richest jewellers in town, who had made that offer only to sound me, and try if I was acquainted with the value of the goods which I exposed to sale.  He had no sooner received my answer, than he carried the crier to the justiciary judge; and showing him the necklace, Sir, said he, here is a necklace that was stolen from me, and the thief, under the character of a merchant, has had the impudence to offer it to sale, and is this minute in the bezestein.  He is willing to take fifty sherriffs for a necklace that is worth two thousand, which is a plain argument that it is stolen.

The judge seat immediately to seize me, and, on coming before him, he asked me if the necklace in his hand was not the one I had exposed to sale in the bezestein?  I told him it was.  Is it true, said he, that you are willing to deliver it for fifty sherriffs?  I answered in the affirmative.  Well, said he, in a scoffing way, give him the bastinado; he will quickly tell us, with all his fine merchant’s clothes, that he is only a downright thief; let him be beaten till he confesses.  The violence of the blows made me tell a lie:  I confessed, though it was not true, that I had stolen the necklace, and presently the judge ordered my hand to be cut off.

This made a great noise in the bezestein, and I was scarcely returned to my house, when my landlord came.  My son, said, he, you seem to be a young man well educated, and of good sense; how is it possible that you could be guilty of such an unworthy action?  You gave me an account of your estate yourself, and I do not doubt the correctness of it.  Why did you not ask money of me, and I would have lent it you?  Since, however, the thing has happened, I cannot allow you to lodge longer in my house; you must look out for other lodgings.  I was extremely troubled, and entreated the jeweller, with tears in my eyes, to let me stay three days longer in, his house, which he granted.

Alas! said I to myself, this affront is insufferable; how shall I dare to return to Moussol?  Nothing will persuade his father that I am innocent.

Three hours after this fatal accident, my house was assaulted by the judge’s officers, accompanied by my landlord and the merchant who had falsely accused me of having stolen the necklace.  I asked them what brought them there?  But, instead of giving me an answer, they bound me, calling me a thousand rogues, and told me that the necklace belonged to the governor of Damascus, who had lost it about three years ago, and whose daughter had not been heard of since.  Conceive my thoughts when I heard this news.  However, I called all my resolution about me:  I will tell, thinks I, the governor the truth; and so it will lie at his door either to put me to death, or to pardon me.