This said, he left the ladies in their tent, and retired to his own; where he called for fifty of his men, and said to them:  “Take each of you a stick in your hands, and follow Shubbaunee, who will conduct you to a pastry-cook in this city.  When you arrive there, break and dash in pieces all you find in the shop:  if he demand the reason of your outrage, only ask him in return if it was not he that made the cream-tart that was brought from his house.  If he answer in the affirmative, seize his person, fetter him, and bring him along with you; but take care you do not beat him, nor do him the least harm.  Go, and lose no time.”

The vizier’s orders were immediately executed.  The detachment, conducted by the black eunuch, went with expedition to Buddir ad Deen’s house, broke in pieces the plates, kettles, copper pans, and all the other moveables and utensils they met with, and inundated the sherbet-shop with cream and comfits.  Buddir ad Deen, astonished at the sight, said with a pitiful tone, “Pray, good people, why do you serve me so?  What is the matter?  What have I done?” “Was it not you,” said they, “that sold this eunuch the cream-tart?” “Yes,” replied he, “I am the man; and who says any thing against it?  I defy any one to make a better.”  Instead of giving him an answer, they continued to break all round them, and the oven itself was not spared.

In the mean time the neighbours took the alarm, and surprised to see fifty armed men committing such a disorder, asked the reason of such violence; and Buddir ad Deen said once more to the rioters, “Pray tell me what crime I have committed to deserve this usage?” “Was it not you,” replied they, “that made the cream-tart you sold to the eunuch?” “Yes, yes, it was I,” replied he; “I maintain it is a good one.  I do not deserve this treatment.”  However, without listening to him, they seized his person, and, snatching the cloth off his turban, tied his hands with it behind his back, and, after dragging him by force out of his shop, marched off.

The mob gathering, from compassion to Buddir ad Deen, took his part; but officers from the governor of the city dispersed the people, and favoured the carrying off of Buddir ad Deen, for Shumse ad Deen Mahummud had in the mean time gone to the governor’s house to acquaint him with the order he had given, and to demand the interposition of force to favour the execution; and the governor, who commanded all Syria in the name of the sultan of Egypt, was unwilling to refuse any thing to his master’s vizier.

It was in vain for Buddir ad Deen to ask those who carried him off, what fault had been found with his cream-tart:  they gave him no answer.  In short, they conducted him to the tents, and made him wait there till Shumse ad Deen returned from the governor of Damascus.