ed to the above statement he said: "Verily,
Allah has enabled you to requite the kindness of that man." I asked:
"How can that be?" and he replied: "I am that man, but the trouble in
which you see me has hindered you from recognising me." Then he
reminded me of various circumstances, and so established his identity
that I was perfectly convinced of it, and could not restrain myself
from embracing him most fervently. To my inquiries how he had fallen
into the calamity which had overtaken him, he replied:

"A disturbance arose in Damascus similar to the rebellion which had
broken out when you were there; the Prince of the Believers sent
troops and suppressed it, but I, having been suspected as one of the
ringleaders thereof, was captured by his command, brought as a
prisoner to Baghdad, and considered to have forfeited my life, which I
shall certainly lose. I left my family without taking leave, but a
slave of mine has followed me here, and will carry back information
about me. He is to be found at such and such a place, and if you will
send for him I will give him the necessary instructions. I shall
consider it a high favour, and as a reward for all the obligations
under which you were to me."

'I told him to put his trust in Allah, and got a smith to relieve him
first of his irons, then I made him enter the bath, provided him with
good clothes, and sent for his slave, to whom he gave, with tears in
his eyes, the message for his family. I then ordered my people to get
ready several horses and mules, which I loaded with baggage and
provisions, gave the man a bag of ten thousand dirhems, with another
of five thousand dinars, and ordered my lieutenant to escort him on
his journey to Damascus as far as Anbar.' But the man replied: "The
Prince of the Believers considers that I have committed high treason,
and will send troops to pursue me; I shall be recaptured and executed,
and by allowing me to escape you will endanger your own life." I said:
"Never mind what will became of me, but save your life, and I shall
afterwards endeavour to save mine." He rejoined: "That shall not be,
and I cannot leave Baghdad without knowing what has become of you."
Seeing him determined in his purpose, I ordered my lieutenant to take
him to a certain place in the town where he could remain in
concealment till the next day, when he might be informed as to whether
I had extricated myself from the difficulty, or had lost my life, in
which latter