There was oncein the coast-fortress of Alexandriaa Master of PoliceHusameddin by namewho was one night sitting in his seat of officewhen there came in to him a trooperwho said to him'KnowO my lordthat I entered the city this night and alighted at such a khan and slept theretill a third part of the night was pastwhen I awoke and found my saddle-bags cut open and a purse of a thousand dinars stolen from them.'No sooner had he done speaking than the magistrate called his officers and bade them lay hands on all in the khan and clap them in prison till the morning；and on the morrowhe caused bring the instruments of torment and sending for the prisoners，was about to torture them[to make them confess]in the presence of the owner of the stolen moneywhenbeholda man pressed through the crowd and coming up to the chief of the policesaid'O Amirlet these folk gofor they are wrongly accused. It was I who robbed the trooperand here is the purse I stole from his saddle-bags.'So sayinghe pulled out the purse from his sleeve and laid it before Husameddinwho said to the soldier'Take thy money；thou hast no ground of complaint now against the people of the khan.'Thereupon the latter and all who were present fell to blessing the thief and praising him；but he said'O Amirthe skill is not in that I came to thee and brought thee the pursebut in taking it a second time from the trooper.'And how didst thou take itO sharper？'asked Husameddin.
'O Amir，'replied the thief'I was standing in the money-changers'bazaar at Cairowhen I saw yonder man receive the gold and put it in his purse；so I followed him from street to streetbut found no occasion of stealing it from him. Then he left Cairo and I followed him from place to placecasting about by the way to rob himbut without availtill he entered this city and I followed him to the khan. I took up my lodging beside him and watched him till he fell asleep and I heard him snoringwhen I went softly up to him and cutting open his saddlebags with this knifetook the purse thus--'So sayinghe put out his hand and took the purse from before the chief of the policewhilst the latter and the trooper and the folk drew backwatching him and thinking he would show them how he took the purse from the saddle-bags；butof a sudden，he broke into a run and threw himself into a reservoir hard by.
The chief of the police called to his officers to pursue him，but before they could put off their clothes and descend the stepshe had made off；and they sought for himbut found him not；for the streets of Alexandria all communicate one with another. So they came backempty-handedand the chief of the police said to the trooper'Thou hast no recourse against the folk；for thou foundest him who robbed thee and receivedst back thy moneybut didst not keep it.'So the trooper went away，having lost his moneywhilst the folk were delivered from his hands and those of the chief of the police；and all this was of the favour of God the Most High.
EL MELIK EN NASIR AND THE THREE MASTERS OF POLICE.
El Melik en Nasir once sent for the chiefs of the police of New CairoBoulac and Old Cairo and said to them'I wish each of you to tell me the most remarkable thing that hath befallen him during his term of office.'We hear and obey，'answered they. Then said the chief of the police of New Cairo，'O our lord the Sultanthe most remarkable thing that befell meduring my term of officewas on this wise：
Story of the Chief of the Police of New Cairo.
There were oncein this citytwo men apt to bear witness in matters of blood and wounds；but they were both given to wine and women and debauchery；nordo what I wouldcould I succeed in bringing them to account. So I charged the vintners and confectioners and fruiterers and chandlers and bagnio-keepers to acquaint me of these twowhen ever they should anywhere be engaged in drinking or debaucherywhether together or apart，and thatif they or either of them bought of them aught for the purpose of carousalthey should not conceal it from me.
And they replied'We hear and obey.'
One nighta man came to me and said'O my lordknow that the two witnesses are in such a house in such a streetengaged in sore wickedness.'So I disguised myself and went out，accompanied by none but my pageto the street in question.
