I cried her at that price, but presently the vizier Saouy came, and his presence has stopped the mouths of all the merchants, who seemed disposed to raise her, at least to the same price your deceased father gave for her.  Saouy will give no more than four thousand pieces; and it is much against my inclination that I am come to tell you his despicable offer.  The slave indeed is your own; but I will never advise you to part with her upon those terms, since you and every one else are sensible of her being worth infinitely more; besides, he is base enough to contrive a way to trick you out of the money.”

“Hagi Hassan,” replied Noor ad Deen, “I am highly obliged to thee for thy advice:  do not think I will ever sell my slave to any enemy of our family; my necessities, indeed, are at present very great; but I would sooner die in the utmost poverty than consent to delivering her up to him.  I have only one thing to beg of thee, who art skilful in all the turns and shifts of sale, that thou wouldst put me in a way to prevent the completion of the bargain.”

“Sir,” said Hagi Hassan, “nothing is more easy:  you must pretend that, being in a violent passion with your slave, you swore to expose her in the market, and for the sake of your oath have now brought her hither, without any intention of selling her.  This will satisfy every one; and Saouy will have nothing to say against it.  Come along with me then; and just as I am presenting her to Saouy as if it were by your own consent, pull her to you, give her two or three blows, and send her home.”  “I thank thee for thy counsel,” said Noor ad Deen, “and will make use of it.”

Hagi Hassan went back to the chamber; and having privately acquainted the fair Persian with their design, that she might not be surprised, took her by the hand, and led her to the vizier Saouy, who was still on horseback at the door “Sir,” said he, “here is the slave, she is yours; take her.”

The words were scarcely out of Hagi Hassan’s mouth, when Noor ad Deen, catching hold of the fair Persian, pulled her to him, and giving her a box on the ear, “Come hither, impertinence,” said he, “and get you home again; for though your ill-humour obliged me to swear I should bring you hither, yet I never intended to sell you:  I have business for you to do yet; and it will be time enough to part with you when I have nothing else left.”

This conduct of Noor ad Deen put the vizier Saouy into a violent passion.  “Miserable debauchee,” cried he, “wouldst thou have me believe thou hast any thing else left to make money of but thy slave?” and at the same instant, spurring his horse directly against him, endeavoured to carry off the fair Persian.  Noor ad Deen. nettled to the quick at the affront the vizier had put upon him, quitted the fair Persian, and laying hold of his horse’s bridle, made him run two or three paces backwards.  “Vile dotard,” said he to the vizier, “I would tear thy soul out of thy body this moment, were it not out of respect for the crowd of people here present.”