It is related that Ala al-Din，Chief of Police at Kus，[407]was sitting one night in his house，when behold，a personage of handsome appearance and dignified aspect came to the door，accompanied by a servant bearing a chest upon his head and，standing there said to one of the Wali's young men，'Go in and tell the Emir that I would have audience of him on some privy business.'So the servant went in and told his master，who bade admit the visitor.When he entered，the Emir saw him to be a man of handsome semblance and portly presence； so he received him with honour and high distinction，seating him beside himself，and said to him，'What is thy wish？'Replied the stranger，'I am a highwayman and am minded to repent at thy hands and turn to Almighty Allah； but I would have thee help me to this，for that I am in thy district and under thine inspection.Now I have here a chest，wherein are matters worth some forty thousand dinars； and none hath so good a right to it as thou； so do thou take it and give me in exchange a thousand dinars，of thine own monies lawfully gotten，that I may have a little capital，to aid me in my repentance，[408] and save me from resorting to sin for my subsistence； and with Allah Almighty be thy reward！'Speaking thus he opened the chest and showed the Wali that it was full of trinkets and jewels and bullion and ring-gems and pearls，whereat he was amazed and rejoiced with great joy.So he cried out to his treasurer，saying，'Bring hither a certain purse containing a thousand dinars，'--And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
When it was the Three Hundred and Forty-sixth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the Wali cried out to his treasurer，saying 'Bring hither a certain purse containing a thousand dinars； and gave it to the highwayman，who took it and thanking him，went his way under cover of the night.
Now when it was the morrow，the Emir sent for the chief of the goldsmiths and showed him the chest and what was therein； but the goldsmith found it nothing but tin and brass，and the jewels and bezel stones and pearls all of glass； whereat the Wali was sore chagrined and sent in quest of the highwayman； but none could come at him.And men also tell the tale of IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI AND THE MERCHANT'S SISTER.
The Caliph Al-Maamun once said to his uncle Ibrahim bin Al-Mahdi，'Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever seen.'
Answered he： 'I hear and obey，O Commander of the Faithful.Know that I rode out one day，a-pleasuring，and my ride brought me to a place where I smelt the reek of food.So my soul longed for it and I halted，O Prince of True Believers，perplexed and unable either to go on or to go in.Presently，I raised my eyes and lo！
I espied a lattice-window and behind it a wrist，than which I never beheld aught lovelier.The sight turned my brain and I
forgot the smell of the food and began to plan and plot how I should get access to the house.After awhile，I observed a tailor hard by and going up to him，saluted him.He returned my salam and I asked him，'Whose house is that？'And he answered，'It belongeth to a merchant called such an one，son of such an one，who consorteth with none save merchants.'As we were talking，behold，up came two men，of comely aspect with intelligent countenances，riding on horseback； and the tailor told me that they were the merchant's most intimate friends and acquainted me with their names.So I urged my beast towards them and said to them，'Be I your ransom！ Abu Fulan[409] awaiteth you！'and I rode with them both to the gate，where I entered and they also.
Now when the master of the house saw me with them he doubted not but I was their friend； so he welcomed me and seated me in the highest stead.Then they brought the table of food and I said in myself，'Allah hath granted me my desire of the food； and now there remain the hand and the wrist.'After awhile，we removed for carousel to another room，which I found tricked out with all manner of rarities； and the host paid me particular attention，addressing his talk to me，for that he took me to be a guest of his guests； whilst in like manner these two made much of me，taking me for a friend of their friend the house-master.Thus I was the object of politest attentions till we had drunk several cups of wine and there came into us a damsel as she were a willow wand of the utmost beauty and elegance，who took a lute and playing a lively measure，sang these couplets，'Is it not strange one house us two contain*And still thou draw'st not near，or talk we twain？
Only our eyes tell secrets of our souls，* And broken hearts by lovers'fiery pain；
Winks with the eyelids，signs the eyebrow knows；*Languishing looks and hand saluting fain.'
When I heard these words my vitals were stirred，O Commander of the Faithful，and I was moved to delight，for her excessive loveliness and the beauty of the verses she sang； and I envied her her skill and said，'There lacketh somewhat to thee，O damsel！'Whereupon she threw the lute from her hand in anger，and cried，'Since when are ye wont to bring ill-mannered louts into your assemblies？'Then I repented of what I had done，seeing the company vexed with me，and I said in my mind，'My hopes are lost by me'； and I weeted no way of escaping blame but to call for a lute，saying，'I will show you what escaped her in the air she played.'Quoth the folk，'We hear and obey'； so they brought me a lute and I tuned the strings and sang these verses，'This is thy friend perplexed for pain and pine，* Th'enamoured，down whose breast course drops of brine：
He hath this hand to the Compassionate raised*For winning wish，and that on hearts is lien：
O thou who seest one love-perishing，* His death is caused by those hands and eyne！'[410]
