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"One day, as I sat at my work, a female slave entered, and said "'Hunoman, happy man that you are, listen to me. My mistress, who is no other than Sojah, the wife of Gholab Khan himself, has seen you and likes you.
"Suddenly, and without affording the poor wretches a moment's warning, on a sign from Jowahir, the holder of hands seized on the man with whom he was amicably conversing, and the strangler, passing the roomal round his neck with the speed of lightning, strangled him in an instant." "What," asked the Caliph, "is a roomal?" "It is," replied Hunoman, "simply a strip of cloth.
It was Hunoman, my foster-brother. He is the son of my nurse, and we were brought up together as young children, and loved each other as children love, the sister the brother, and the brother the sister. At seven years of age, his father having died, an uncle took him to India.
Haroun, who thought that Zobeideh was now telling the truth, and who was in truth by no means displeased to find his suspicions concerning her conduct to be unfounded, asked with great calmness "What said you is the name of this man?" "His name," said Zobeideh, "is Hunoman." "And where is he to be found? for I must see him."
Thus the Caliph pardoned and rewarded Hunoman, the foster-brother of his favourite wife, Zobeideh; but perhaps he was not unwilling to separate them as far as Bagdad is from Cairo. The Caliph and the Slave Merchants
But moreover, since I am not used to send away those I pardon with empty hands, I appoint you Governor of my province of Egypt. Giafer shall immediately prepare the patent of investiture, and you are to start at once." Hunoman thanked the Commander of the Faithful for his munificence, and promised instant obedience to this and every order he should receive.
When the officer returned with Hunoman and his mother, the latter was conducted to an apartment in that part of the palace which was set apart for the women, while Hunoman himself was at once brought into the presence of the Caliph. Haroun, looking sternly at Hunoman, who was a stout man of middle height, and not unprepossessing appearance, said
Hunoman bowed and continued: "At one town where we stayed, it happened that when the morning came on which we had arranged to depart, I had still some work by me which I had not finished, and I agreed therefore with Soobulda and Esuree, that they should start first and proceed leisurely, and that I would hasten after them and overtake them at their first halting-place.
"He is staying at present with his mother, Siveree, my nurse, to whom I have given a small house near the river side." The Caliph clapped his hands, and to the officer who entered he said "Go at once and bring Siveree, a woman belonging to the household of the Lady Zobeideh, and her son, who is called Hunoman, and who is at present staying with her."
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