Whilst he was making the best of his way from the grand vizier, that minister came into the room where Fetnah was sitting on a sofa, and where there were many chests full of Ganem’s clothes, and of the money he had made of his goods.

As soon as Fetnah saw the grand vizier, come into the room, she fell upon her face, and continuing in that posture, as it were to receive her death; “My lord,” said she, “I am ready to undergo the sentence passed against me by the commander of the believers; you need only make it known to me.”  “Madam,” answered Jaaffier, falling also down till she had raised herself, “God forbid any man should presume to lay profane hands on you.  I do not intend to offer you the least harm.  I have no farther orders, than to intreat you will be pleased to go with me to the palace, and to conduct you thither, with the merchant that lives in this house.”  “My lord,” replied the favourite, “let us go; I am ready to follow you.  As for the young merchant, to whom I am indebted for my life, he is not here, he has been gone about a month since to Damascus, whither his business called him, and has left these chests you see under my care, till he returns.  I conjure you to cause them to be carried to the palace, and order them to be secured, that I may perform the promise I made him to take all possible care of them.”

“You shall be obeyed,” said Jaaffier, and immediately sent for porters, whom he commanded to take up the chests, and carry them to Mesrour.

As soon as the porters were gone, he whispered the civil magistrate, committing to him the care of seeing the house razed, but first to cause diligent search to be made for Ganem, who, he suspected, might be hidden, notwithstanding what Fetnah had told him.  He then went out, taking her with him, attended by the two slaves who waited on her.  As for Ganem’s slaves, they were not regarded; they ran in among the crowd, and it was not known what became of them.

No sooner was Jaaffier out of the house, than the masons and carpenters began to demolish it, and did their business so effectually, that in a few hours none of it remained.  But the civil magistrate, not finding Ganem, after the strictest search, sent to acquaint the grand vizier, before that minister reached the palace.  “Well,” said Haroon al Rusheed, seeing him come into his closet, “have you executed my orders?” “Yes,” answered Jaaffier “the house Ganem lived in is levelled with the ground, and I have brought you your favourite Fetnah; she is at your closet door, and I will call her in, if you command me.  As for the young merchant, we could not find him, though every place has been searched, and Fetnah affirms that he has been gone a month to Damascus.”

Never was passion equal to that of the caliph, when he heard that Ganem had made his escape.  As for his favourite, believing that she had been false to him, he would neither see nor speak to her.  “Mesrour,” said he to the chief of the eunuchs, who was then present, “take the ungrateful and perfidious Fetnah, and shut her up in the dark tower.”  That tower was within the precinct of the palace, and commonly served as a prison for the favourites who any way offended the caliph.