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Allah!" cried my brother, "by Allah, there is none among us who

can see." Then they beat him till he swooned away and the

Governor cried, "Leave him till he come to and then beat him

again." After this he caused each of the companions to receive

more than three hundred sticks, whilst the sham-abraham kept

saying to them "Open your eyes or you will be beaten afresh." At

last the man said to the Governor, "Dispatch some one with me to

bring thee the money; for these fellows will not open their eyes,

lest they incur disgrace before the folk." So the Governor sent

to fetch the money and gave the man his pretended share, three

thousand dirhams; and, keeping the rest for himself, banished the

three blind men from the city. But I, O Commander of the

Faithful, went out and overtaking my brother questioned him of

his case; whereupon he told me of what I have told thee; so I

brought him secretly into the city, and appointed him (in the

strictest privacy) an allowance for meat and drink!