`The negroes, when they saw this, were cowed and silent, and the King, master now of their lives, said, `The man that lifts his hand only, shall lose his head!' And he commanded that the remaining five negroes should have their hands tied behind their backs.

This having been done, he turned to Beder el Bedour and asked her, `Whose wife are you, and who is this negro?'

She then told him on that subject what he had heard already from Omar. And the King thanked her, saying, `May God give you his blessing.' He then asked her, `How long can a woman patiently do without coition?' She seemed amazed, but the King said, `Speak, and do not be abashed.'

She then answered, `A well-born lady of high origin can remain for six months without; but a lowly woman of no race nor high blood, who does not respect herself when she can lay her hand upon a man, will have him upon her; his stomach and his member will know her vagina.'

Then said the King, pointing to one of the women, `Who is this one?' She answered, `This is the wife of the Cadi.' `And this one?' `The wife of the second Vizir.' `And this?' `The wife of the Chief of the Muftis.' `And that one?' `The Treasurer's.' `And those two women that are in the other room?' She answered, `They have received the hospitality of the house, and one of them was brought here yesterday by an old woman; the negro has so far not got possession of her.'

Then said Omar, `This is the one I spoke to you about, O my master.'

`And the other woman? To whom does she belong?' said the King.

`She is the wife of the Amine of the Carpenters,' answered she.

Then said the King, `And these girls, who are they?'

She answered, `This one is the daughter of the clerk of the treasury; this other one the daughter of the Mohtesib, the third is the daughter of the Bouab, the next one the daughter of the Athine of the Moueddin; that one the daughter of the colour-keeper.' At the invitation of the King, she passed them thus all in review.

The King then asked for the reason of so many women being brought together there.

Beder el Bedour replied, `O master of ours, the negro knows no other passions than for coition and good wine. He keeps making love night and day, and his member rests only when he himself is asleep.

The King asked further, `What does he live upon?'

She said, `Upon yolks of eggs fried in fat and swimming in honey, and upon white bread; he drinks nothing but old muscatel wine.'

The King said, `Who has brought these women here, who, all of them, belong to officials of the State?'

She replied `O master of ours, he has in his service an old woman who has had the run of the houses in the town; she chooses and brings to him any woman of superior beauty and perfection; but she serves him only against good consideration in silver, dresses, etc., precious stones, rubies, and other objects of value.'

`And whence does the negro get that silver?' asked the King. The lady remaining silent, he added, `Give me some information, please.'

She signified with a sign from the corner of her eye that he had got it all from the wife of the Grand Vizir.