This, commander of the faithful, is the sincere confession your majesty required from me.  You have now heard all the circumstances of my crime, and I must humbly beg of you to order the punishment due for it; how severe soever it may be, I shall not in the least complain, but esteem it too easy and light.

The caliph was much astonished at the young man’s relation.  But this just prince, finding he was rather to be pitied than condemned, began to speak in his favour:  “This young man’s crime,” said he, “is pardonable before God, and excusable with men.  The wicked slave is the sole cause of this murder; it is he alone that must be punished:  wherefore,” continued he, looking upon the grand vizier, “I give you three days’ time to find him out; if you do not bring him within that space, you shall die in his stead.”  The unfortunate Jaaffier, had thought himself out of danger, was perplexed at this order of the caliph; but as he durst not return any answer to the prince, whose hasty temper he knew too well, he departed from his presence, and retired melancholy to his house, convinced that he had but three days to live; for he was so fully persuaded that he should not find the slave, that he made not the least enquiry after him.  “Is it possible,” said he, “that in such a city as Bagdad, where there is an infinite number of negro slaves, I should be able to find him out that is guilty?  Unless God be pleased to interpose as he hath already to detest the murderer, nothing can save my life.”

He spent the first two days in mourning with his family, who sat round him weeping and complaining of the caliph’s cruelty.  The third day being arrived, he prepared himself to die with courage, as an honest minister, and one who had nothing to trouble his conscience; he sent for notaries and witnesses’ who signed his will.  After which he took leave of his wife and children, and bade them farewell.  All his family were drowned in tears, so that there never was a more sorrowful spectacle.  At last a messenger came from the caliph to tell him that he was out of all patience, having heard nothing from him concerning the negro slave whom he had commanded him to search for; “I am therefore ordered,” said the messenger, “to bring you before his throne.”  The afflicted vizier, obeyed the mandate, but as he was going out, they brought him his youngest daughter, about five or six years of age, to receive his last blessing.

As he had a particular affection for that child, he prayed the messenger to give him leave to stop a moment, and taking his daughter in his arms, kissed her several times:  as he kissed her, he perceived she had something in her bosom that looked bulky, and had a sweet scent.  “My dear little one,” said he, “what hast thou in thy bosom?” “My dear father,” she replied, “it is an apple which our slave Rihan sold me for two sequins.”