1116ページ中842ページ

Then he went out, unknowing whither to turn, and presently fell

in with two other blind men, companions of his, who said to him,

"What didst thou gain to day?" He told them what had befallen him

and added, "O my brothers, I wish to take some of the money in my

hands and provide myself with it." Now the master of the house

had followed him and was listening to what they said; but neither

my brother nor his comrades knew of this. So my brother went to

his lodging and sat down to await his companions, and the house

owner entered after him without being perceived. When the other

blind men arrived, my brother said to them, "Bolt the door and

search the house lest any stranger have followed us." The man,

hearing this, caught hold of a cord that hung from the ceiling

and clung to it, whilst they went round about the house and

searched but found no one. So they came back, and, sitting beside

my brother, brought out their money which they counted and lo! it

was twelve thousand dirhams.