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ade it for me with her own hand。' 'Wilt thou sell it to me？' asked the Frank。 'By Allah； O accursed one；' replied Noureddin； 'I will not sell it to thee nor to any other； for she made none other than it。' 'Sell it to me；' repeated the Frank； 'and I will give thee to its price eve hundred dinars ready money； and let her who made it make thee another and handsomer。' But Noureddin said； 'I will not sell it at all； for there is not the like of it in this city。' 'O my lord；' insisted the Frank； 'wilt thou sell it for six hundred dinars of fine gold？' And he went on to add to his offer hundred by hundred； till he bid nine hundred dinars； but Noureddin said； 'God will provide me otherwise than by my selling it。 I will never sell it； no； not for two thousand dinars nor more than that。'
Then the Frank went on to tempt him with money； till he bid him a thousand dinars； and the merchants present said； 'We sell thee the kerchief at that price： pay down the money。' Quoth Noureddin； 'By Allah； I will not sell it！' But one of the merchants said to him； 'O my son； the worth of this kerchief is a hundred dinars at most and that to an eager purchaser； and if this Frank pay thee down a thousand for it； thy profit will be nine hundred dinars； and what profit canst thou desire greater than that？ Wherefore it is my counsel that thou sell him the kerchief at that price and gain nine hundred dinars by this accursed Frank； the enemy of God and of the faith； and bid her who wrought it make thee other or handsomer than it。'
Noureddin was abashed at the merchants and sold the kerchief to the Frank； who； in their presence； paid him down the thousand dinars； with which he would have returned to Meryem； to tell her what had passed； but the stranger said； 'Harkye； O pany of merchants； stop my lord Noureddin； for you and he are my guests this night。 I have a pitcher of old Greek wine and a fat lamb and fruit and flowers and confections； wherefore needs must ye all cheer me with your pany tonight and not one of you tarry behind。' So the merchants said to Noureddin； 'O my lord Noureddin； we desire that thou be with us on the like of this night； so we may talk together； we and thou； and we pray thee； of thy favour； to bear us pany； so we may be； we and thou； the guests of this Frank； for he is a hospitable man。' And they conjured him by the oath of divorce and hindered him by force from going home。
Then they rose forthright and shutting up their shops took Noureddin and went with the Frank； who brought them to a goodly and spacious saloon； wherein were two estrades。 Here he made them sit and laid before them ＇a tray covered with＇ a scarlet cloth of rare and goodly workmanship； wroughten in gold with figures of breaker and broken； lover and beloved； asker and asked； whereon he set precious vessels of porcelain and crystal； full of the costliest fruits and flowers and confections； and brought them a pitcher of old Greek wine。 Then he manded to slaughter a fat lamb and kindling fare； proceeded to roast of its flesh and feed the merchants therewith and give them to drink of the wine； winking them the while to ply Noureddin with liquor。 So they plied him with wine till he became drunken and took leave of his wits； which when the Frank saw； he said to him； 'O my lord Noureddin； thou gladdenest us with thy pany tonight： wele； a thousand times wele to thee！'
Then he drew near unto him and dissembled with him awhile in talk； till he ＇found his opportunity and＇ said to him； 'O my lord； wilt thou sell me thy slavegirl； whom thou boughtest a year ago for a thousand dinars； in presence of these merchants？ I will give thee five thousand dinars for her and thou wilt thus make four thousand dinars profit。' Noureddin refused but the Frank ceased not to ply him with meat and drink and tempt him with money； still adding to his offers； till he bid him ten thousand dinars for her； whereupon Noureddin； in his drunkenness； said； in the presence of the merchants； 'I sell her to thee for ten thousand dinars； hand over the money。' At this the Frank rejoiced mightily and took the merchants to witness of the sale。
They passed the night in eating and drinking and making merry； till the morning； when the Frank cried out to his servants； saying； 'Bring me the money。' So they brought it to him and he counted out ten thousand dinars to Noureddin； saying； 'O my lord； take the price of thy slavegirl； whom thou soldest to me last night； in the presence of these Muslim merchants。' 'Thou liest； O accursed one；' replied Noureddin。 'I sold thee nothing and have no slavegirls。' Quoth the Frank； 'Verily thou didst sell her to me and these merchants were witnesses to the bargain。' 'Yes；' said they all； 'thou soldest him thy slavegirl before us for ten thousand dinars； O Noureddin； and we will all bear witness against thee of the sale。 e； take the money and deliver him the girl； and God will give thee a better than she in her stead。 Doth it mislike thee； O Noureddin； that thou boughtest the girl for a thousand dinars and hast enjoyed her beauty and grace and taken thy fill of her pany and converse night and day for a year and a half； wherein thou hast gained half a score thousand dinars by the sale of the girdle which she made thee every day and thou soldest for twenty dinars； and after all this thou hast sold her again at a profit of nine thousand dinars over and above her original price？ And withal thou deniest the sale and belittlest the profit！ What gain is greater than this gain and what profit wouldst thou have greater than this？ If thou love her； thou hast had thy fill of her all this time： so take the money and buy another handsomer than she； or we will marry thee to one of our daughters lovelier than she； at a dowry of less than half this price； and the rest of the money will remain in thy hand an capital。' And they ceased not to ply him with persuasion and argument till he took the ten thousand dinars； the price of the damsels and the Frank straightway fetched Cadis and witnesses； who drew up the contract of sale。
Meanwhile； Meryem sat awaiting Noureddin from morning till sundown and from sundown till midnight； and when he returned not； she was troubled and wept sore。 The druggist heard her weeping and sent his wife to her； who went in to her and finding her in tears said to her； 'O my lady； what ails thee to weep？' 'O my mother；' answered she； 'I have sat awaiting my lord Noureddin all day； but he eth not； and I fear lest some one have put a cheat on him； to make him sell me； and he have fallen into the snare and sold me。' 'O my lady Meryem； rejoined the druggist's wife； 'were they to give thy lord this room full of gold to thy price； yet would he not sell thee； for what I know of his love to thee。 Belike there be folk e frown his parents at Cairo and he hath made them an entertainment in their lodging； being ashamed to bring them hither； for that the place is overstrain for them or maybe their condition is less than that he should bring them to his own house； or belike he preferred to conceal thine affair from them； so passed the night with them； and if it be the will of God the Most High； tomorrow he will e to thee； safe and well。 So burden not thy soul with care nor anxiety； O