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Indeed my husband who took my virginity is but just now gone to

the draught-house and I feel that I have conceived by him."

[FN#440] The Wazir rose in much marvel and entered the privy

where he found the hunchbacked groom with his head in the hole,

and his heels in the air. At this sight he was confounded and

said, "This is none other than he, the rascal Hunchback!" So he

called to him, "Ho Hunchback!" The Gobbo grunted out, "Taghum!

Taghum!" [FN#441] thinking it was the Ifrit spoke to him; so the

Wazir shouted at him and said, "Speak out, or I'll strike off thy

pate with this sword." Then quoth the Hunchback, "By Allah, O

Shaykh of the Ifrits, ever since thou settest me in this place, I

have not lifted my head; so Allah upon thee, take pity and

entreat me kindly!" When the Wazir heard this he asked, "What is

this thou sayest?