it was we took thy goods yesternight and carried off thy friend and her who was singing to him.' Quoth I，'Allah let down His veil over you！ Where be my friend and she who was singing to him？' They pointed with their hands to one side and replied，'Yonder，but，by Allah，O our brother，the secret of their case is known to none save to thee，for from the time we brought the twain hither up to this day，we have not looked upon them nor questioned them of their condition，seeing them to be persons of rank and dignity. Now this and this only it was that hindered our killing them： so tell us the truth of their case and thou shalt be assured of thy safety and of theirs.' When I heard this'（continued the jeweller） 'I almost died of fright and horror，and I said to them，'Know ye，O my brethren，that if generosity were lost，it would not be found save with you； and had I a secret which I feared to reveal，none but your breasts would conceal it.' And I went on exaggerating their praises in this fashion，till I saw that frankness and readiness to speak out would profit me more than concealing facts； so I told them all that had betided me to the very end of the tale. When they heard it，they said，'And is this young man Ali Bakkarson and this lady Shams alNahar？' I replied，'Yes.' Now this was grievous to them and they rose and made their excuses to the two and then they said to me，'Of what we took from thy house part is spent，but here is what is left of it.' So speaking，they gave me back most of my goods and they engaged to return them to their places in my house，and to restore me the rest as soon as they could. My heart was set at ease till they split into two parties，one with me and the other against me； and we fared forth from that house and such was my case.
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