Then said Zumurrud to Jewan'What is thy name and condition and why comest thou hither？'O our lord the Sultan，'answered he，'my name is Othman；I am a gardener and am come hither in quest of somewhat I have lost.'Bring me a table of sand，'said Zumurrud. So they brought itand she took the pen and drawing a geomantic figureconsidered it awhilethen raising her head，exclaimed'Out on theethou sorry knave！ How darest thou lie to kings？ This sand tells me that thy name is Jewan the Kurd and that thou art by trade a robbertaking men's goods in the way of unright and slaying those whom God hath forbidden to slaysave for just cause.'And she cried out upon himsaying'O hogtell me the truth of thy case or I will cut off thy head！'
When he heard thishe turned pale and his teeth chattered；then，deeming that he might save himself by telling the truthhe replied'O Kingthou sayest sooth；but I repent at thy hands henceforth and turn to God the Most High！'Quoth she'I may not leave a pest in the way of the true-believers.'And she said to her guards'Take him and flay him and do with him as ye did by his like last month.'And they did her commandment. When the hashish-eater saw thishe turned his back upon the dish of rice，saying'It is unlawful to present my face to thee.'Thenwhen they had made an end of eatingthey dispersed and Zumurrud returned to her palace and dismissed her attendants.
When the fourth month came roundthey made the banquetas of wontand the folk sat awaiting leave to begin. Presently Zumurrud entered and sitting down on her thronelooked at the tables and saw that room for four people was left void before the dish of riceat which she wondered. As she satlooking around，she saw a man come running in at the gatewho stayed not till he reached the tables and finding no roomsave before the dish of ricetook his seat there. She looked at him and knowing him for the accursed Christianwho called himself Reshideddinsaid in herself'How blessed is this device of the foodinto whose toils this infidel hath fallen！'
Now the manner of his coming was extraordinaryand it was on this wise. When he returned from his journeythe people of the house told him that Zumurrud was missing and with her a pair of saddle-bags full of gold；whereupon he rent his clothes and buffeted his face and plucked out his beard. Then he despatched his brother Bersoum in quest of herand when he was weary of awaiting news of himhe went forth himselfto seek for him and for Zumurrudand fate led him to the latter's city. He entered it on the first day of the month and finding the streets deserted and the shops shutenquired of the women at the windowswho told him that the King made a banquet on the first of each month for the peopleall of whom were bound to attend itnor might any abide in his house or shop that day；and they directed him to the tilting-ground.
So he betook himself thither and sitting down before the rice，put out his hand to eat thereofwhereupon Zumurrud cried out to her guardssaying'Bring me him who sits before the dish of rice.'So they laid hands on him and brought him before Queen Zumurrudwho said to him'Out on thee！ What is thy name and occupationand what brings thee hither？'O King of the age，'
answered he'my name is Rustem and I have no occupationfor I am a poor dervish.'Then said she to her attendants'Bring me a table of sand and pen of brass.'So they brought her what she soughtas usual；and she took the pen and drawing a geomantic figureconsidered it awhilethen raising her head to Reshideddinsaid'O doghow darest thou lie to kings？ Thy name is Reshideddin the Nazarene；thou art outwardly a Muslimbut a Christian at heartand thine occupation is to lay snares for the slave-girls of the Muslims and take them. Speak the truthor I will smite off thy head.'He hesitated and stammeredthen replied'Thou sayest soothO King of the age！'Whereupon she commanded to throw him down and give him a hundred blows on each sole and a thousand on his body；after which she bade flay him and stuff his skin with hards of flax and dig a pit without the citywherein they should burn his body and cast dirt and rubbish on his ashes. They did as she bade them and she gave the people leave to eat.
So they ate their fill and went their wayswhilst Zumurrud returned to her palacethanking God for that He had solaced her heart of those who had wronged her. Then she praised the Creator of heaven and earth and repeated the following verses：
Lothese erst had power and used it with oppression and unright！
In a littletheir dominion was as it ne'er had been.
Had they used their power with justicethey had been repaid the like；But they wrought unright and Fortune guerdoned them with dole and teen.
So they perished and the moral of the case bespeaks them thus，'This is what your crimes have earnt you： Fate is not to blameI ween.'
Then she called to mind her lord Ali Shar and weptbut presently recovered herself and said'Surely Godwho hath given mine enemies into my handwill vouchsafe me speedy reunion with my beloved；for He can do what He will and is generous to His servants and mindful of their case！'Then she praised God（to whom belong might and majesty）and besought forgiveness of Him，submitting herself to the course of destinyassured that to each beginning there is an endand repeating the saying of the poet：
Be at thine easefor all things'destiny Is in His hands who fashioned earth and sea.
Nothing of Him forbidden shall befall Nor aught of Him appointed fail to thee.
And what another saith：
Let the days passas they listand fareAnd enter thou not the house of despair.
Full oftwhen the quest of a thing is hardThe next hour brings us the end of our care.
And a third：
Be mild what time thou'rt ta'en with anger and despite And patientif there fall misfortune on thy head.
Indeedthe nights are quick and great with child by Time And of all wondrous things are hourly brought to bed.
And a fourth：
Take patiencefor therein is good；an thou be learn'd in it，Thou shalt be calm of soul nor drink of anguish any whit.
