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The fact is I was riding on an ass and it stumbled, throwing me

to the ground; and my cheek lighted upon a stick or a bit of

glass and got this wound." "Then," said he, "tomorrow I will go

up to Ja'afar the Barmaki and tell him the story, so shall he

kill every donkey boy in Baghdad." "Wouldst thou destroy all

these men because of my wound," said I, "when this which befel me

was by decree of Allah and His destiny?" But he answered, "There

is no help for it;" and, springing to his feet, plied me with

words and pressed me till I was perplexed and frightened; and I

stuttered and stammered and my speech waxed thick and I said,

"This is a mere accident by decree of Allah." Then, O Commander

of the Faithful, he guessed my case and said, "Thou hast been

false to thine oath." He at once cried out with a loud cry,

whereupon a door opened and in came seven black slaves whom he

commanded to drag me from my bed and throw me down in the middle

of the room.