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not to come to me from the folk, till, one day, reckoning up the profit I had made of them, I found it a thousand dinars and said in myself, “The best thing I can do is to return to Egypt.” So I went to Ahmed’s house and kissed his hand, and he said, “What seekest thou?” Quoth I, “I have a mind to depart;” and I repeated the following verses:
The stranger’s sojourning in any land of lands Even as the building is of mansions on the wind.
The waftings of the breeze cast down what he hath built, And now to fare away the stranger hath a mind.
“The caravan is about to start for Cairo,” added I, “and I wish to return to my people.” So he gave me a mule and a hundred dinars and said to me, “I desire to send somewhat by thee. Dost thou know the people of Cairo?” Night dccx.“Yes,” answered I; and he said, “Take this letter and carry it to Quicksilver Ali of Cairo and say to him, ‘Thy captain salutes thee and he is now with the Khalif.’” So I took the letter and jouneyed back to Cairo, where I paid my debts and plied my trade of a water-carrier; but I have not delivered the letter, because I know not the abode of Quicksilver Ali.’ Quoth Ali, ‘O elder, be of good cheer: I am that Ali, the first of the lads of Captain Ahmed: give me the letter.’ So he gave him the letter and he opened it and read as follows:
‘I’ve written unto thee, adornment of the fair, A letter that indeed the passing winds shall bear.
Could I but fly, I’d flown for longing after thee; But how shall he who’s clipped of pinions wing the air?
From Captain Ahmed ed Denef to the eldest of his sons, Quicksilver Ali of Cairo, greeting. Thou knowest that I tormented Selaheddin the Cairene and befooled him till I buried him alive and reduced his lads to obey me, and amongst them Ali Kitf el Jemel; and I am now become town-captain of Baghdad and overseer of the suburbs. If thou be still mindful of our love, come to me; haply thou
