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"Pardon me, O my master," quoth the bird, "I could neither hear

nor see aught by reason of the exceeding murk and the thunder and

lightning which lasted throughout the night." As it happened to

be the summer tide the master was astounded and cried, "But we

are now in mid Tammuz,[FN#92] and this is not the time for rains

and storms." "Ay, by Allah," rejoined the bird, "I saw with these

eyes what my tongue hath told thee." Upon this the man, not

knowing the case nor smoking the plot, waxed exceeding wroth;

and, holding that his wife had been wrongously accused, put forth

his hand and pulling the Parrot from her cage dashed her upon the

ground with such force that he killed her on the spot.