Pagina 641 di 1116

Up now, and order the house as it was on thy bridal night." So

the servants arose and lit the candles; and the Wazir took out

his plan of the nuptial chamber, and directed them what to do

till they had set everything in its stead, so that whoever saw it

would have no doubt but it was the very night of the marriage.

Then he bade them put down Badr al-Din Hasan's turband on the

settle, as he had deposited it with his own hand, and in like

manner his bag-trousers and the purse which were under the

mattress: and told daughter to undress herself and go to bed in

the private chamber as on her wedding-night, adding, "When the

son of thine uncle comes in to thee, say to him:-Thou hast

loitered while going to the privy; and call him to lie by thy

side and keep him in converse till daybreak, when we will explain

the whole matter to him." Then he bade take Badr al-Din Hasan out

of the chest, after loosing the fetters from his feet and

stripping off all that was on him save the fine shirt of blue

silk in which he had slept on his wedding-night; so that he was

well-nigh naked and trouserless. All this was done whilst he was

sleeping on utterly unconscious.