they arrived at the tents of
Shumse ad Deen Mahummud, Agib's grandmother received him with
transports of joy: her son ran always in her mind, and in
embracing Agib, the remembrance of him drew tears from her eyes.
"Ah, my child!" said she, "my joy would be perfect, if I had the
pleasure of embracing your father as I now embrace you." She made
Agib sit by her, and put several questions to him, relating to
the walk he had been taking with the eunuch; and when he
complained of being hungry, she gave him a piece of cream-tart,
which she had made for herself, and was indeed very good: she
likewise gave some to the eunuch.

Agib no sooner touched the piece of cream-tart that had been set
before him, than he pretended he did not like it, and left it uncut;
and Shubbaunee (which was the eunuch's name) did the same. The widow
of Noor ad Deen Ali observed with regret that her grandson did not
like the tart. "What!" said she, "does my child thus despise the work
of my hands? Be it known to you, no one in the world can make such
besides myself and your father, whom I taught." "My good mother,"
replied Agib, "give me leave to tell you, if you do not know how to
make better, there is a pastry-cook in this town that outdoes you. We
were at his shop, and ate of one much better than yours."

On hearing this, the grandmother, frowning upon the eunuch, said,
"How now, Shubbaunee, was the care of my grandchild committed to
you, to carry him to eat at pastry-shops like a beggar?" "Madam,"
replied the eunuch, "it is true, we did stop a little while and
talked with the pastry-cook, but we did not eat with him."
"Pardon me," said Agib, "we went into his shop, and there ate a
cream-tart." Upon this, the lady, more incensed against the
eunuch than before, rose in a passion from the table, and running
to the tent of Shumse ad Deen, informed him of the eunuch's
crime; and that in such terms, as tended more to inflame the
vizier than to dispose him to excuse it.

The vizier who was naturally passionate, did not fail on this occasion
to display his anger. He went forthwith to his sister-in-law's tent,
and said to the eunuch, "Wretch, have you the impudence to abuse the
trust I repose in you?" Shubbaunee, though sufficiently convicted by
Agib's testimony, denied the fact still. But the child persisting in
what he had affirmed, "Grandfather," said he, "I can assure you we not
only ate, but that so very heartily, that we have no occasion for
supp