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dost thou spoil my son, [FN#471] and dost take him into common

cookshops?" The Eunuch was frightened and denied, saying, "We did

not go into the shop; we only passed by it." "By Allah," cried

Ajib, "but we did go in and we ate till it came out of our

nostrils, and the dish was better than thy dish!" Then his

grandmother rose and went and told her brother-in-law, who was

incensed against the Eunuch, and sending for him asked him, "Why

didst thou take my son into a cookshop?"; and the Eunuch being

frightened answered, "We did not go in." But Ajib said, "We did

go inside and ate conserve of pomegranate-grains till we were

full; and the cook gave us to drink of iced and sugared sherbet."

At this the Wazir's indignation redoubled and he questioned the

Castrato but, as he still denied, the Wazir said to him, "If thou

speak sooth, sit down and eat before us." So he came forward and

tried to eat, but could not and threw away the mouthful crying "O

my lord!