In fine, Agib and his governor having fared well, returned thanks to the pastry-cook for their good entertainment, and moved homewards, it being then late.  When they arrived at the tents of Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, Agib’s grandmother received him with transports of joy:  her son ran always in her mind, and in embracing Agib, the remembrance of him drew tears from her eyes.  “Ah, my child!” said she, “my joy would be perfect, if I had the pleasure of embracing your father as I now embrace you.”  She made Agib sit by her, and put several questions to him, relating to the walk he had been taking with the eunuch; and when he complained of being hungry, she gave him a piece of cream-tart, which she had made for herself, and was indeed very good:  she likewise gave some to the eunuch.

Agib no sooner touched the piece of cream-tart that had been set before him, than he pretended he did not like it, and left it uncut; and Shubbaunee (which was the eunuch’s name) did the same.  The widow of Noor ad Deen Ali observed with regret that her grandson did not like the tart.  “What!” said she, “does my child thus despise the work of my hands?  Be it known to you, no one in the world can make such besides myself and your father, whom I taught.”  “My good mother,” replied Agib, “give me leave to tell you, if you do not know how to make better, there is a pastry-cook in this town that outdoes you.  We were at his shop, and ate of one much better than yours.”

On hearing this, the grandmother, frowning upon the eunuch, said, “How now, Shubbaunee, was the care of my grandchild committed to you, to carry him to eat at pastry-shops like a beggar?” “Madam,” replied the eunuch, “it is true, we did stop a little while and talked with the pastry-cook, but we did not eat with him.”  “Pardon me,” said Agib, “we went into his shop, and there ate a cream-tart.”  Upon this, the lady, more incensed against the eunuch than before, rose in a passion from the table, and running to the tent of Shumse ad Deen, informed him of the eunuch’s crime; and that in such terms, as tended more to inflame the vizier than to dispose him to excuse it.

The vizier who was naturally passionate, did not fail on this occasion to display his anger.  He went forthwith to his sister-in-law’s tent, and said to the eunuch, “Wretch, have you the impudence to abuse the trust I repose in you?” Shubbaunee, though sufficiently convicted by Agib’s testimony, denied the fact still.  But the child persisting in what he had affirmed, “Grandfather,” said he, “I can assure you we not only ate, but that so very heartily, that we have no occasion for supper:  besides, the pastry-cook treated us also with a great bowl of sherbet.”  “Well,” cried Shumse ad Deen, “after all this, will you continue to deny that you entered the pastry-cook’s house, and ate there?” Shubbaunee had still the impudence to swear it was not true.  “Then you are a liar,” said the vizier “I believe my grandchild; but after all, if you can eat up this cream-tart I shall be persuaded you have truth on your side.”