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When the Governor saw this he said to him, "What have we here, O

accursed?"; whereto he replied, "Give me the seal-ring of pardon!

We four have shammed blind, and we impose upon people that we may

enter houses and look upon the unveiled faces of the women and

contrive for their corruption. In this way we have gotten great

gain and our store amounts to twelve thousand dirhams. Said I to

my company, 'Give me my share, three thousand;' but they rose and

beat me and took away my money, and I seek refuge with Allah and

with thee; better thou have my share than they. So, if thou

wouldst know the truth of my words, beat one and every of the

others more than thou hast beaten me, and he will surely open his

eyes." The Governor gave orders for the question to begin with my

brother, and they bound him to the whipping post,[FN#655] and the

Governor said, "O scum of the earth, do ye abuse the gracious

gifts of Allah and make as if ye were blind!" "Allah!