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d make their plaint to him； that he might do them justice on their adversary。 'How can we go to him；' replied Zein el Mewasif； 'seeing the door is locked on us and our feet shackled and the Jeith； 'I will make keys for the locks and open the door and the shackles therewith。' 'But who will show us the Cadi's house？' asked she； and he said； 'I will describe it to you。' 'But how；' continued she； 'can we appear before him； clad as we are in haircloth； smoked with sulphur？' And he answered； 'He will not reproach this to you； considering your case。' So saying； he went forthright and made keys for the locks； wherewith he opened the door and the shackles； and loosing the latter from their legs； carried them forth and directed them to the Cadi's house。 Then Huboub did off the haircloth garments from her mistress's body and carried her to the bath； where she washed her and clad her in silken raiment； and her colour returned to her。
Now； as luck would have it； her husband was abroad at a bridefeast in the house of one of the merchants； so she adorned herself after the fairest fashion and betook herself to the Cadi； who rose to receive her。 She saluted him with dulcet speech and sweet words； transfixing him the while with the arrows of her glances； and said； 'May God prolong the life of our lord the Cadi and strengthen him to do justice！' Then she acquainted him with the affair of the blacksmith and that which he had done them of kindness and with the heartconfounding torments that the Jew had inflicted on her and her women and how they had been like to perish； nor was there any deliverance found for them ＇till the smith set them free＇。 'O damsel；' said the Cadi； 'what is thy name？' 'My name is Zein el Mewasif；' answered she； 'and this my maid's name is Huboub。' Quoth he； 'Thy name accordeth with its owner and its words conform to its meaning。' Whereupon she smiled and veiled her face； and he said to her； 'O Zein el Mewasif； hast thou a husband or not？' 'I have no husband；' answered she。 'And what is thy faith？' asked he。 'That of Islam；' replied she； 'and the religion of the best of men。' Quoth he； 'Swear to me by the Law； full of instances and admonitions； that thou art a Muslim。' So she swore to him and pronounced the profession of the faith。
Then said he； 'How es it that thou wastest thy youth with this Jew？' And she answered； 'Know； O Cadi （may God prolong thy days in contentment and bring thee to thy hopes and seal thine acts with benefits！）； that my father left me； after his death； fifteen thousand dinars； which he put into the hands of this Jew； that he might trade therewith and share the profit with me； the capital being secured by acknowledgment according to law。 When my father died； the Jew coveted me and sought me in marriage of my mother； who said； 〃How shall I cause her leave her faith and bee a Jewess？ By Allah； I will denounce thee to the authorities！〃 He was affrighted at her words and taking the money； fled to the town of Aden。 When we heard where he was； we came to Aden in search of him； and when we foregathered with him； he told us that he was trading in stuffs ＇with the money＇ and buying goods upon goods。 So we believed him and he ceased not to beguile us till he cast us into prison and fettered us and tortured us exceeding sore； and we are strangers and have no helper save God the Most High and our lord the Cadi。'
When the Cadi heard this； he said to Huboub； 'Is this indeed thy mistress and are ye strangers and is she unmarried？' And she ansarry her to me and be manumission ＇of my slaves＇ and fasting and pilgrimage and almsgiving ＇of all my estate＇ incumbent on me； if I do you not justice on this dog and punish him for that which he hath done！' And she answered； 'I hear and obey。' Then said he； 'Go； fort thy heart and that of thy lady； and tomorrow； if it please God the Most High； I will send for this infidel and do you justice on him and ye shall see wonders of his punishment。' So Huboub called down blessings upon him and went forth from him； ＇she and her mistress；＇ leaving him distracted with passion and lovelonging and desire。 Then they enquired for the house of the second Cadi and presenting themselves before him； told him the same story。 On likewise did she with the third and the fourth； till she had made her plaint to all the four Cadis； each of whom lusted after her and besought her to marry him； to which she consented； nor knew any one of the four that which had happened to the others。 All this passed without the knowledge of the Jew； who slept the night in the house of the bridefeast。
On the morrow； Huboub clad her mistress in her richest raiment and presented herself with her before the four Cadis in the hall of justice。 As soon as she entered； she uncovered her face and saluted the magistrates； who returned her salutation and every one of them knew her。 One was writing； and the pen dropped from his hand； another was talking； and his tongue became embarrassed； and a third was reckoning and blundered in his reckoning； and they said to her； 'O delightsome of attributes and surpassing of loveliness； be not thy heart other than easy； for we will assuredly do thee justice and bring thee to thy desire。' So she called down blessings on them and going forth； proceeded to beseech the notaries and scribes to succour her against that unbelieving miscreant and deliver her from the torment she suffered from him。 Then she wrote a letter to Mesrour； setting forth to him all that the Jew had done with her from first to last and ending with the following verses：
Rain down tears； O mine eyes； as the deluge they were； So perchance in their flood may be quenched my despair。
Once I clad me in raiment of goldwroughten silk： Now the raiment of monks and of friars I wear；
Yea； and sulphur's the scent of my clothes； betwixt that And sweet basil and musk what a difference is there！
Thou wouldst never permit my abasement； Mesrour； Nor my bondage； if but of my case thou wert ware；
And Huboub too's in fetters with one who denies The One； the Requiter of foul and of fair。
Lo； the ways of the Jews and their faith I've renounced And my faith is the noblest of faiths hence fore'er。
To the Clement a Muslim's prostration I make And to follow the law of Mohammed I swear。
Fet not our loves of old time； O Mesrour； And keep thou our vows and our troth plight with care。
My faith for thy love and thy sake I have changed And my secret for passion I'll never declare；
So； if； like to the noble； our love thou've preserved； Be no laggard； but hasten to us to repair。
Then she folded the letter and gave it to her maid Huboub； saying； 'Keep it in thy pocket； till we send it to Mesrour。'
Presently in came the Jew and seeing them joyous； said to them； 'How es it that I find you merry？ Hath a letter reached you from your friend Mesrour？' 'We have no helper against thee save God； blessed and exalted be He！' replied Zein el Mewasif。 'He will deliver us from thy tyranny； and except thou restore to us our country and home； we will plain of thee tomorrow to the Cadi and governor of this town。' Quoth he； 'Who did off the shackles from your legs？ But needs must I let make each of you shackles ten pounds in weight and go