Then he drew his right arm out from his sleeveand beholdit was a stump without a handthe latter having been cut off at the wrist. I was astonished at thisand he said to me'Thou seest that my eating with the left hand arosenot from conceitbut from necessity；and there hangs a strange story by the cutting off of my right hand.'And how came it to be cut off？'asked I.
'Know，'answered he'that I am a native of Baghdad and the son of one of the principal men of that city. When I came to man's estateI heard the pilgrims and travellers and merchants talk of the land of Egyptand this abode in my thought till my father diedwhen I laid out a large sum of money in the purchase of stuffs of Baghdad and Mosulwith which I set out on my travels and God decreed me safetytill I reached this your city.'And he wept and recited the following verses：
It chances oft that the blind man escapes a pitWhilst he that is clear of sight falls into it：
The ignorant man can speak with impunity A word that is death to the wise and the ripe of wit：
The true believer is pinched for his daily breadWhilst infidel rogues enjoy all benefit.
What is a man's resource and what shall he do？ It is the Almighty's will： we must submit.
'So I entered Cairo，'continued he'and put up at the Khan of Mesrourwhere I unpacked my goods and stored them in the magazines. Then I gave the servant money to buy me something to eat and lay down to sleep awhile. When I awokeI went to the street called Bein el Kesrein and presently returned and passed the night at the Khan. Next morningI said to myself'I will walk through the bazaars and see the state of the market.'
So I opened a bale and took out certain stuffswhich I gave to one of my servants to carrythen repaired to the Bazaar of Jergiswhere I was accosted by the brokerswho had heard of my arrival. They took my stuffs and cried them for salebut could not get the prime cost of them. I was vexed at this；but the chief of the brokers said to me'O my lordI will tell thee how thou mayst make a profit of thy goods. Thou shouldst do as the other merchants do and sell thy goods on creditfor a fixed periodon a contract drawn up by a scrivenerand duly witnessedand employ a money-changer and take thy money every Monday and Thursday. So shalt thou profit two dirhems for every one；and besides thisthou canst amuse thyself meanwhile at leisure in viewing Cairo and the Nile.'Quoth I'This advice is good，'and carried the brokers to the Khan. They took my stuffs and transported them to the bazaarwhere I sold them to various merchantstaking their bonds for the value. These bonds I deposited with a money-changerwho gave me an acknowledgment in writingwith which I returned to my Khan. Here I abode a month，breaking my fast with a cup of wine every morning and sending out for mutton and sweetmeatstill the time came when my receipts began to fall due. Soevery Monday and ThursdayI used to repair to the bazaar and sit in the shop of one or other of the merchantswhilst the scrivener and money-changer went round to collect the money from the different merchantstill after the time of afternoon-prayerwhen they brought me the amountand I counted it and gave receipts for itthen took it and returned to my Khan. One day I went to the bath and retured to the Khan，where I broke my fast on a cup of wineafter which I slept a little. When I awokeI ate a fowland scenting myselfrepaired to the shop of a merchant called Bedreddin el Bustaniwho welcomed me；and I sat talking with him till the market should open. Presentlythere came up a lady of stately figurewearing a magnificent head-dress and exhaling perfumesas she walked along with a swimming gait. She stopped before Bedreddin and saluted himraising her kerchief and showing a pair of large black eyes. He returned her salute and stood talking with her；and when I heard her speechthe love of her got hold upon my heart. Then she said to Bedreddin'Hast thou any stuffs of figured cloth of gold？'So he brought out to her a piece that he had had of me and she bought it of him for twelve hundred dirhemssaying'I will take it with me and send thee the price.'It may not beO my lady，'answered he. 'This is the owner of the stuff and I owe him the price of it.'Out on thee！'
said she. 'Do I not use to take great store of costly stuffs of theeat a greater profit than thou askestand send thee the money？'Yes，'rejoined he；'but I am in pressing need of the price to-day.'With this she took the piece of stuff and threw it back into his lapsaying'You merchants have no respect for any one！'Then she turned to goand I felt as if my soul went with her；so I rose and stopped hersaying'O my ladyfavour me by retracing thy gracious steps！'She smiled and saying'For thy sakeI will return，'came back and sat down in the shop opposite me. Then I said to Bedreddin'What is the price set upon this piece？'And he replied'Eleven hundred dirhems.'The other hundred shall be thy profit，'rejoined I. 'Give me a piece of paper and I will write thee a discharge for it！So I wrote him a docket to that effect and gave the piece of stuff to the lady，saying'Take it andif thou wiltbring me the price next market-day；orbetter stillaccept it as a gift from me to thee.'May God requite thee with good，'answered she'and make thee my husband and master of my property！'（And God heard her prayer.） 'O my lady，'replied I'this piece of stuff is thine and another like itif thou wilt but let me see thy face.'
