correct. So I cried, 'O thou! of a truth it is incumbent upon me to do thee justice, and it is thy right that I should point out to thee the murderer of thy father, and spare thy footsteps, and bring that near to thee which is afar off.' Then he exclaimed, 'Dost thou know where he is?' I replied, 'I do.' 'Where is he?' he asked. I said, 'By Allâh! he is I; so take thy revenge upon me.' Then he, disbelieving me, said, 'I believe that concealment has weakened thee, and that thou art tired of life.' I answered, 'No, by Allâh! I slew him on such-and-such a day.' And when he was convinced that I spoke the truth, he changed colour, and his eyes kindled, and he cast down his head for a while. Then he turned towards me and said, 'However, he will meet thee on the Resurrection morn, and will cite thee before One from whom concealment will not hide thee; and certainly I am not the betrayer of one who is under my protection, nor a traitor to my guest. Get thee away from me, for verily I will not answer for myself concerning thee after this day.' Then, O Commander of the Faithful! he ran to a chest, and took out of it a purse containing five hundred dinârs, and said, 'Take this to help thy concealment.' But I abso-
