After this egregious piece of villainy, Saouy turned to the king, and giving him the letter, “Sir,” said he to him in a low voice, “what does your majesty intend to do?” “What the caliph has commanded me,” replied the king.  “Have a care, sir,” said the wicked vizier, “what you do.  It is true this is the caliph’s hand, but the form is not to it.”  The king had observed it, but in his confusion thought his eyes had deceived him when he saw it was gone.

“Sir,” continued the vizier, “we have no reason to doubt but that the caliph, on the complaints he has made against your majesty and myself, has granted him this letter to get rid of him, and not with any intention of having the order contained in it executed.  Besides, we must consider he has sent no express with a patent; and without that the order is of no force.  And since a king like your majesty was never deposed without that formality, any other man as well as Noor ad Deen might come with a forged letter:  let who will bring such a letter as this, it ought not to be put in execution.  Your majesty may depend upon it, that is never done; and I will take upon myself all the consequence of disobeying this order.”

King Zinebi, easily persuaded by this pernicious counsel, left Noor ad Deen entirely to the discretion of the vizier Saouy, who led him to his house in a very insulting manner; and after causing him to be bastinadoed till he was almost dead, he ordered him to a prison, where he commanded him to be put into the darkest and deepest dungeon, with a strict charge to the gaoler to give him nothing but bread and water.

When Noor ad Deen, half dead with the strokes, came to himself, and found what a dismal dungeon he was in, he bewailed his misfortunes in the most pathetic manner.  “Ah! fisherman,” cried he, “how hast thou cheated me; and how easy have I been in believing thee!  Could I, after the civility I shewed thee, expect such inhuman and barbarous usage?  However, may Heaven reward thee; for I cannot persuade myself that thy intention was so base; and I will with patience wait the end of my afflictions.”

The disconsolate Noor ad Deen remained six whole days in this miserable condition; and Saouy did not forget that he had confined him there; but being resolved to put him to a shameful death, and not daring to do it by his own authority, to accomplish his villainous design, loaded some of his slaves with rich presents, which he, at the head of them, went and presented to the king.  “Behold, sire,” said he, with the blackest malice, “what the new king has sent you upon his accession to the crown, and begs your majesty to accept.”

The king taking the matter just as Saouy intended, “What!” replied he, “is that wretch still living?  I thought you had put him to death already.”  “Sire, I have no power,” answered the vizier, “to take any person’s life; that only belongs to your majesty.”  “Go,” said the king, “behead him instantly; I give you full authority.”