Pagina 591 de 1116

Tell me at once thy tale, for thou art become dearer to me than

my soul." So Hasan recounted to him all that had befallen him

from beginning to end (but in repetition there is no fruition)

and the Cook said, "O my lord Badr al-Din, doubtless thou knowest

that this case is wondrous and this story marvellous; therefore,

O my son, hide what hath betided thee, till Allah dispel what

ills be thine; and tarry with me here the meanwhile, for I have

no child and I will adopt thee." Badr al-Din replied, "Be it as

thou wilt, O my uncle!" Whereupon the Cook went to the bazar and

bought him a fine suit of clothes and made him don it; then fared

with him to the Kazi, and formally declared that he was his son.

So Badr al-Din Hasan became known in Damascus-city as the Cook's

son and he sat with him in the shop to take the silver, and on

this wise he sojourned there for a time.