On the morrowthe folk assembled to see his hand cut offnor was there man or woman in Bassora but came forth to look upon his punishment. Then Khalid mounted in company of the notables of the city and others and summoning the Cadisent for the young man，who camehobbling in his shackles. There none saw him but wept for himand the women lifted up their voices in lamentation. The Cadi bade silence the women and said to the prisoner'These folk avouch that thou didst enter their dwelling and steal their goods： belike thou stolest less than a quarter dinar？'
'Nay，'replied he'I stole more than that.'Peradventure，'rejoined the Cadi'thou art partner with them in some of the goods？'Not so，'replied the young man；'it was all theirs. I had no right in it.'At this Khalid was wroth and rose and smote him on the face with his whipapplying this verse to his own case：
Man wisheth and seeketh his wish to fulfilBut Allah denieth save that which He will.
Then he called for the executionerwho came and taking the prisoner's handset the knife to it and was about to cut it off，whenbeholda damselclad in tattered clothespressed through the crowd of women and cried out and threw herself on the young man. Then she unveiled and showed a face like the moon；whereupon the people raised a mighty clamour and there was like to have been a riot amongst them. But she cried out her loudestsaying，'I conjure theeby AllahO Amirhasten not to cut off this man's handtill thou have read what is in this scroll！'So sayingshe gave him a scrolland he took it and read therein the following verses：
O Khalidthis man is love-maddeneda cave of desireTransfixed by the glances that sped from the bows of my eye.
The shafts of my looks 'twas that pierced him and slew him；indeedHe a bondsman of lovesick for passion and like for to die.
Yearather a crimethat he wrought nothe choose to confess Than suffer on her whom he cherished dishonour to lie.
Have ruth on a sorrowful lover；indeed he's no thiefBut the noblest and truest of mortals for passion that sigh.
When he had read thishe called the girl apart and questioned her；and she told him that the young man was her lover and she his mistress. He came to the dwelling of her peoplethinking to visit herand threw a stone into the houseto warn her of his coming. Her father and brothers heard the noise of the stone and sallied out on him；but hehearing them comingcaught up all the household stuff and made as if he would have stolen itto cover his mistress's honour. 'So they seized him，'continued she，'saying'A thief！'and brought him before theewhereupon he confessed to the robbery and persisted in his confessionthat he might spare me dishonour；and this he did****** himself a thiefof the exceeding nobility and generosity of his nature.'
'He is indeed worthy to have his desire，'replied Khalid and calling the young man to himkissed him between the eyes. Then he sent for the girl's father and bespoke himsaying'O elder，we thought to punish this young man by cutting off his hand；but God（to whom belong might and majesty）hath preserved us from this！ and I now adjudge him the sum of ten thousand dirhemsfor that he would have sacrificed his hand for the preservation of thine honour and that of thy daughter and the sparing you both reproach. MoreoverI adjudge other ten thousand dirhems to thy daughterfor that she made known to me the truth of the case；and I ask thy leave to marry him to her.'O Amir，'rejoined the old man'thou hast my consent.'So Khalid praised God and thanked Him and offered up a goodly exhortation and prayer；after which he said to the young man'I give thee this damsel to wife，with her own and her father's consent；and her dowry shall be this moneyto witten thousand dirhems. 'I accept this marriage at thy hands，'replied the youth and Khalid let carry the money on trays in procession to the young man's housewhilst the people dispersedfull of gladness. And surely [quoth he who tells the tale ] never saw I a rarer day than thisfor that its beginning was weeping and affliction and its end joy and gladness.
