enjoining him to stop awhile, that he was angry at his presumption.  But there was another reason; for the king that very moment casting his eye towards a street that faced him, saw a troop of horsemen advancing full speed towards the palace.  “Vizier,” said the king immediately, “look yonder; what is the meaning of those horsemen?” Saouy, who knew not who they might be, earnestly pressed the king to give the executioner the sign.  “No,” replied the king; “I will first know who those horsemen are.”  It was the vizier Jaaffier, with his train, who came in person from Bagdad by the caliph’s order.

To understand the occasion of this minister’s coming to Bussorah, we must observe, that after Noor ad Deen’s departure with the letter, the caliph the next day, nor for several days after, thought not of sending him the patent which he mentioned to the fair Persian.  He happened one day to be in the inner palace, which was that of the women, and passing by her apartment, heard the sound of a fine voice:  he listened to it; and he had no sooner heard the words of one complaining for the absence of somebody, than he asked the officer of the eunuchs who attended him who the woman was that lived in that apartment?  The officer told him it was the young stranger’s slave whom he had sent to Bussorah to be king in the room of Mahummud Zinebi.

“Ah! poor Noor ad Deen,” cried the caliph, “I had forgotten thee; but hasten,” said he to the officer, “and bid Jaaffier come to me.”  The vizier was with him in an instant.  As soon as he came, “Jaaffier,” said he, “I have hitherto neglected sending the patent which was to confirm Noor ad Deen king of Bussorah; but we have no time now to draw up one; therefore immediately take post-horses, and with some of your servants, make what haste you can to that city.  If Noor ad Deen is no longer alive, but put to death by them, order the vizier Saouy to be impaled; but if he is living, bring him to me with the king and the vizier.”

The grand vizier stayed no longer than just to get on horseback; and being attended by a great train of officers belonging to his household departed for Bussorah, where he arrived in the manner and at the time already mentioned.  As soon as he came to the palace-yard, the people cleared the way for him, crying out, “A pardon for Noor ad Deen!” and with his whole train he rode into the palace, even to the very stairs, where he alighted.

The king of Bussorah, knowing him to be the caliph’s chief minister, went to meet him, and received him at the entrance of his apartment.  The first question the vizier asked was, If Noor ad Deen was living? and if he was, he desired that he might be sent for.  The king made answer, he was alive, and gave orders to have him brought in.  Accordingly he soon made his appearance as he was, bound with cords.  The grand vizier Jaaffier caused him to be unbound, and setting him at liberty, ordered the vizier Saoay to be seized, and bound him with the same cords.