Chapter 21, The Lady and Her Five Suitors Summary

A woman whose husband often traveled fell in love with the son of a merchant. After a quarrel, the son of the merchant is put in jail, so the woman appeals to the Chief of Police to release him. She delivers her letter, saying that the man is her brother and her sole means of support. The Chief of Police (also known as the Wali) offers to trade the man's release for sex, so the woman asks the Wali to come to her house at a certain date and time. The woman then appeals the same case to the Kazi of the City, the Wazir, and the King, all of whom ask for sex in trade for the favor. One by one she invites them to come to her house at...