Buddir ad Deen Houssun ran after Agib and the eunuch, and overtook them before they had reached the gate of the city.  The eunuch perceiving he followed them, was extremely surprised:  “You impertinent fellow,” said he, with an angry tone, “what do you want?” “My dear friend,” replied Buddir ad Deen, “do not trouble yourself; I have a little business out of town, and I must needs go and look after it.”  This answer, however, did not at all satisfy the eunuch, who turning to Agib, said, “This is all owing to you; I foresaw I should repent of my complaisance; you would needs go into the man’s shop; it was not wisely done in me to give you leave.”  “Perhaps,” replied Agib, “he has real business out of town, and the road is free to every body.”  While this passed they kept walking together, without looking behind them, till they came near the vizier’s tents, upon which they turned about to see if Buddir ad Deen followed them.  Agib, perceiving he was within two paces of him, reddened and whitened alternately, according to the different emotions that affected him.  He was afraid the grand vizier his grandfather should come to know he had been in the pastry shop, and had eaten there.  In this dread, he took up a large stone that lay at his foot and throwing it at Buddir ad Deen, hit him in the forehead, and wounded him so that his face was covered with blood.  The eunuch gave Buddir ad Deen to understand, he had no reason to complain of a mischance that he had merited and brought upon himself.

Buddir ad Deen turned towards the city staunching the blood of the wound with his apron, which he had not put off.  “I was a fool,” said he within himself, “for leaving my house, to take so much pains about this brat; for doubtless he would never have used me after this manner, if he had not thought I had some ill design against him.”  When he got home, he had his wound dressed, and softened the sense of his mischance by the reflection that there was an infinite number of people upon the earth, who were yet more unfortunate than he.

Buddir ad Deen kept on the pastry-trade at Damascus, and his uncle Shumse ad Deen Mahummud went from thence three days after his arrival.  He went by way of Emaus, Hanah, and Halep; then crossed the Euphrates, and after passing through Mardin, Moussoul, Singier, Diarbeker, and several other towns, arrived at last at Bussorah.  Immediately after his arrival he desired audience of the sultan, who was no sooner informed of his quality than he admitted him to his presence, received him very favourably, and inquired the occasion of his journey to Bussorah.  “Sire,” replied the vizier “I come to know what is become of the son of my brother, who has had the honour to serve your majesty.”  “Noor ad Deen Ali,” said the sultan, “has been long dead; as for his son, all I can tell you of him is, that he disappeared suddenly, about two months after his father’s death, and nobody has seen him since, notwithstanding all the inquiry I ordered to be made.  But his mother, who is the daughter of one of my viziers, is still alive.”  Shumse ad Deen Mahummud desired leave of the sultan to take her to Egypt; and having obtained permission, without waiting till the next day, inquired after her place of abode, and that very hour went to her house, accompanied with his daughter and his grandson.