第81章 STORY OF THE HUNCHBACK(3)

Now the hunchback in question was the favourite buffoon of the Sultanwho could not bear him out of his sight： so when he got drunk and did not make his appearance that night or next daythe Sultan asked the courtiers about him and they replied'O our lordthe chief of the police has come upon him dead and ordered his murderer to be hanged： butas the hangman was about to hoist him upthere came a second and a third and a fourth，each declaring himself to be the sole murderer and giving the prefect an account of the manner in which the crime had been committed.'When the King heard thishe cried out to one of his chamberlainssaying'Go down to the chief of the police and bring me all four of them.'So the chamberlain went down at once to the place of executionwhere he found the hangman on the point of hanging the tailor and cried out to him to stop. Then he gave the King's order to the prefectwho took the tailorthe physicianthe controller and the brokerand brought them all，together with the dead hunchbackbefore the King. When he came into the presencehe kissed the earth and told the King all that had passed；whereat he was moved to wonder and mirth and commended the story to be written in letters of goldsaying to the courtiers'Did you ever hear a more wonderful story than that of this hunchback？'With this came forward the Christian broker and said'O King of the agewith thy leaveI will tell thee a thing that happened to myself and which is still stranger and more wonderful and pleasant than the story of the hunchback.'

Quoth the King'Let us hear it.'Then said the broker'O King of the ageI came to this city with merchandiseand Fate made me settle here with youbut The Christian Broker's Story.

I am by birth a Coptand a native of Cairowhere I was brought up. My father was a brokerand when I came to man's estatehe died and I became a broker in his stead. One dayas I was sitting in my shopthere came up to me a young man as handsome as could berichly clad and riding on an ass. When he saw mehe saluted meand I rose to do him honour. Then he pulled out a handkerchiefcontaining a sample of sesameand said to me，'What is the worth of an ardebb of this？'A hundred dirhems，'replied I；and he said'Take porters and measures and come to-morrow to the Khan of El Jaweliby the Gate of Victory，where thou wilt find me.'Then he went awayleaving with me the handkerchief containing the sample of sesame；and I went round to the buyers and agreed for a hundred and twenty dirhems an ardebb.

Next dayI took four gaugers and carried them to the Khanwhere I found him awaiting me. As soon as he saw mehe rose and opened his magazinesand we measured the contents and found them fifty ardebbs of sesamemaking five thousand dirhems. Then said he to me'Thou shalt have ten dirhems an ardebb to thy brokerage；so take the price and lay by four thousand five hundred dirhems for me；and when I have made an end of selling my other goodsI will come to thee and take the amount.'It is well，'replied Iand kissed his hand and went awayhaving made that day a profit of a thousand dirhemsbesides the brokerage. I saw no more of him for a monthat the end of which time he came to me and said'Where is the money？'I rose and saluted him and said to him'Wilt thou not eat somewhat with me？'But he refusedsaying'Get the money readyand I will come back for it.'So I brought out the money and sat down to await his returnbut saw no more of him for another monthat the end of which time he came to me and said，'Where is the money？'I rose and saluted him and said'Wilt thou not eat a morsel with me？'But he refusedsaying'Have the money ready against my return，'and rode away. So I fetched the dirhems and sat awaiting him；but he did not come near me for another monthand I said'Verilythis young man is the incarnation of liberality.'At the end of the monthhe came up，riding on a mule and clad in sumptuous raiment. His face shone like the moon at its full and he seemed as if he had just come from the bathwith his rosy cheeks and flower-white forehead and mole like a grain of ambergriseven as says the poet：

Within one mansion of the sky the sun and moon combine；With all fair fortune and delight of goodliness they shine.

Their beauty stirs all those that see to passion and to love：

Good luck to themfor that they move to ravishment divine！

In grace and beauty they increase and aye more perfect grow： All souls yearn out to them for loveall hearts to them incline.

Blessed be Godwhose creatures are so full of wonderment！

Whate'er He wills He fashions fortheven as He doth design.

When I saw himI rose and saluted him and kissed his hand，saying'O my lordwilt thou not take thy money？'What hurry is there？'replied he；'wait till I have made an end of my business，when I will come and take it.'Then he went awayand I said to myself'By Allahwhen he comes next timeI must press him to eat with me，'for I had traded with his money and profited largely by it. At the end of the year he came againdressed even more richly than beforeand I conjured him to dismount and eat of my victual；and he said to me'I consenton condition that what thou expendest on me shall be of my money in thy hands.'So be it，'replied Iand made him sit downwhilst I made ready what was needful of meat and drink and so forth and set the tray before himsaying'In the name of God.'So he came to the table and put out his left hand and ate with me；and I wondered at his using his left hand. When we had done eatingI poured water on his hand and gave him wherewith to wipe it. Then we sat talkingafter I had set sweetmeats before himand I said to him'O my lordI prithee relieve my mind by telling me why thou eatest with thy left hand. Belike something ails thy right hand？'

When he heard my wordshe recited the following verses：

Ask notI pritheemy friendof the anguish that burns in my heart 'Twould but the infirmities show that now in my bosom lie hid.

If with Selma I company now and harbour with Leila no more，Believe me'tis none of my will；needs mustif necessity bid.