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governor of Bassora had made ready the tribute and was about to despatch it; and had I delayed a day, it had met me on the road. But, O Commander of the Faithful, I had a rare adventure with Abdallah ben Fazil; never in my life saw I its like.’ ‘And what was it, O Abou Ishac?’ asked the Khalif. So he acquainted him with that which he had seen the governor do with the two dogs, adding, ‘On this wise I saw him do three nights following, first beating the dogs, then making his peace with them and comforting them and giving them to eat and drink, what while I watched him, whereas he saw me not.’ ‘Didst thou question him of the cause of this?’ asked the Khalif. ‘No, as thy head liveth, O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered Abou Ishac.
Then said Er Reshid, ‘O Abou Ishac, I command thee to return to Bassora and bring me Abdallah ben Fazil and the two dogs.’ ‘O Commander of the Faithful,’ replied he, ‘excuse me from this; for indeed Abdallah entreated me with the utmost hospitality and I chanced upon this thing without design and acquainted thee therewith. So how can I go back to him and bring him to thee? Verily, if I return to him, I shall find no countenance for shame of him; wherefore it were meet that thou send him another than myself, with a letter under thine own hand, and he shall bring him to thee, him and the two dogs.’ Quoth the Khalif, ‘If I send him other than thyself, most like he will deny the whole affair and say, “I have no dogs.” But, if I send thee and thou say to him, “I saw them with mine own eyes,” he will not be able to deny it. Wherefore nothing will serve but that thou go and fetch him and the two dogs; Night dcccclxxelse will I put thee to death.’ ‘I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered Abou Ishac. ‘God is our sufficiency and good is He in whom we trust. He spoke sooth who said, “The calamity of man is from the tongue,” and it is
