what assistance he wanted?  “Alas!” cried he, “they are assassinating my master, my dear patron;” and without saying anything more, he ran all the way to my house, with the very same cry in his mouth.  From thence he returned, followed by all my domestics armed with sticks.  They knocked with inconceivable fury at the door, and the cauzee sent slave to see what was the matter; but the slave being frightened, returned to his master, crying, “Sir, above ten thousand men are going to break into your house by force.”

Immediately the cauzee himself ran, opened the door, and asked what they wanted.  His venerable presence could not inspire them with respect.  They insolently said to him, “You cursed cauzee, what reason have you to assassinate our master?  What has he done to you?” “Good people,” replied the magistrate, “for what should I assassinate your master, whom I do not know and who has done me no harm? my house is open to you, come and search.”  “You bastinadoed him,” said the barber; “I heard his cries not a minute ago.”  “What harm could your master do to me,” replied the cauzee, “to oblige me to abuse him at that rate?  Is he in my house?  If he is, how came he in, or who could have introduced him?” “Ah! wretched cauzee, cried the barber, “you and your long beard shall never make me believe you; I know your daughter is in love with our master, and appointed him a meeting during the time of noon-prayer, you without doubt have had notice of it, returned home, and surprised him, and made your slaves bastinado him:  but this your wicked action shall not pass with impunity; the caliph shall be acquainted with it, and he will give true and brief justice.  Let him come out, deliver him to us immediately; or if you do not, we will go in and take him out to your shame.”  “There is no occasion for so many words,” replied the cauzee, “nor to make so great a noise:  if what you say is true, go and find him out, I give you free liberty.”  Thereupon the barber and my domestics rushed into the house like furies, and looked for me all about.

As I heard all that the barber said to the cauzee, I sought for a place to conceal myself, and could find nothing but a large empty trunk, in which I lay down, and shut it upon me.  The barber, after he had searched everywhere, came into the chamber where I was, and opened the trunk.  As soon as he saw me, he took it upon his head and carried it away.  He descended a high staircase into a court, which he crossed hastily, and at length reached the street door.  While he was carrying me, the trunk unfortunately flew open, and not being able to endure the shame of being exposed to the view and shouts of the mob who followed us, I leaped out into the street with so much haste, that I have been lame ever since.  I was not sensible of the hurt at first, and therefore got up quickly to avoid the people, who laughed at me; nay, I threw handfuls of gold and silver among them, and whilst they were gathering it up, I made