As soon as I saw the young man, I intreated him to alight, and asked him if he would not take his money?  “There is no hurry,” said he, with a pleasant easy air, “I know it is in good hands; I will come and take it when my other money is all gone.  Adieu,” continued he, “I will return towards the end of the week.”  With that he struck the ass, and soon disappeared.  “Well,” thought I, “he says he will see me towards the end of the week, but he may not perhaps return for a great while; I will make the most I can of his money, which may bring me much profit.”

As it happened, I was not deceived in my conjecture; for it was a full year before I saw my young merchant again.  He then appeared as richly appareled as before, but seemed to have something on his spirits.  I asked him to do me the honour to walk into my house.  “For this time,” replied he, “I will:  but on this condition, that you shall put yourself to no extraordinary charge on my account.”  “I will do just as you please,” said I, “only do me the favour to alight and walk in.”  Accordingly he complied.  I gave orders to have a repast prepared, and while this was doing, we entered into conversation.  All things being ready, we sat down.  I observed he took the first mouthful with his left hand, and not with the right.  I was at a loss what to think of this.  “Ever since I have known this young man,” said I inwardly, “he has always appeared very polite; is it possible he can do this out of contempt?  What can be the reason he does not use his right hand?”

After we had done eating, and every thing was taken away, we sat upon a sofa, and I presented him with a lozenge by way of dainty; but still he took it with his left hand.  I said to him, “Pardon, Sir, the liberty I take in asking you what reason you have for not using your right hand?  Perhaps you have some complaint in that hand.”  Instead of answering, he heaved a deep sigh, and pulling out his right arm, which he had hitherto kept under his vest, shewed me, to my great astonishment, that it had been cut off.  “Doubtless you were displeased,” said he, “to see me feed myself with the left hand; but I leave you to judge, whether it was in my power to do otherwise.”  “May one ask,” said I, “by what mischance you lost your right hand?” Upon that he burst into tears, and after wiping his eyes, gave me the following relation.

You must know that I am a native of Bagdad, the son of a rich merchant, the most eminent in that city for rank and opulence.  I had scarcely launched into the world, when falling into the company of travellers, and hearing their wonderful accounts of Egypt, especially of Grand Cairo, I was interested by their discourse, and felt a strong desire to travel.  But my father was then alive, and would not grant me permission.  At length he died; and being then my own master, I resolved to take a journey to Cairo.  I laid out a large sum of money in the purchase of several sorts of fine stuffs of Bagdad and Moussol. and departed.