greatly afflicted,
and that country became disagreeable to me after her loss; my heart
became quite sad, and I determined to return to Persia. I solicited
the king's leave to depart, and got the situation of the governor
of the port transferred to the young man [whose story I have just
related]. In the meantime the king died also; I took this faithful
dog and all my jewels and money with me, and came to _Naishapur_, in
order that no one should know the story of my brothers. I have become
well-known as the dog-worshipper; and owing to this evil fame, I to
this day pay double taxes into the exchequer of the king of Persia.

"It so happened that this young merchant went to _Naishapur_, and
owing to him I have had the honour to kiss your majesty's feet." I
asked [357] the _khwaja_ Is not this [young merchant] your son? He
answered, "Mighty sire, he is not my son; he is one of your majesty's
own subjects; but he is now my master or heir, or whatever you
choose to call him." On hearing this, I asked the young merchant,
"what merchant's son art thou, and where do thy parents reside?" The
youth kissed the ground, and beseeching pardon for his life, replied,
"This slave is the daughter of your majesty's _wazir_; my father came
under the royal anger on account of this very _khwaja's_ rubies, and
your majesty's orders were, that if in one year my father's words
should not be verified, he should be put to death. On hearing [the
royal mandate], I assumed this disguise and went to _Naishapur_;
God has conducted the _khwaja_, together with the dog and rubies,
before your majesty, and you have heard all the circumstances; I now
am hopeful that my aged father may be released."

On hearing these circumstances from the _wazirzadi_, the _khwaja_ gave
a groan, and helplessly fell down. When rose water was sprinkled over
his face, he recovered his senses, and exclaimed, "O, dire mishap! that
I should have come from such a distance, with such toil and sorrows, in
the hope that, having adopted the young merchant for my son, I should
make over to him by a deed of gift, all my wealth and property, that
my name might not perish, and every one should call him _khwaja-zada_;
[358] but now my imaginations have proved vain, and the affair has
turned out quite the contrary. He, by becoming a woman, has ruined the
old man. I fell into female snares, and now the saying may be applied
to me, 'Thou remainedst at home, and didst not go to pilgrimage;
yet