She played the part you had given her
admirably well, for I could not get a word out of her. She
pretended to be asleep, but I was no sooner fallen into a slumber
than she arose and left me. You know all this; for I doubt not she
has been to make her report to you.'
'My lord,' replied the vizier, 'nothing of this has been done which
you seem to reproach me with; neither your father nor I have sent
this lady you speak of; permit me therefore to remind your highness
once more that you have only seen this lady in a dream.'
'Do you come to affront and contradict me,' said the prince in a
great rage, 'and to tell me to my face that what I have told you is
a dream?' At the same time he took him by the beard, and loaded him
with blows as long as he could stand.
The poor grand vizier endured with respectful patience all the
violence of his lord's indignation, and could not help saying
within himself, 'Now am I in as bad a condition as the slave, and
shall think myself happy if I can, like him, escape from any
further danger.' In the midst of repeated blows he cried out for
but a moment's audience, which the prince, after he had nearly
tired himself with beating him, consented to give.
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