NOUREDDIN AND THE BEAUTIFUL PERSIAN, 301

but whilst readily admitting the justice of all she said, he still
kept on in his reckless course.

Noureddin, in short, attended to nothing for the space of a
year but feasting and merriment, and to the lavishing away the
property which the good vizier, his father, had acquired. The
year had hardly gone by, when he hard one day a rapping at the
door of his hall while he was at table with his friends. The
slaves being dismissed, Noureddin went to the door himself;
when, finding his steward, he withdrew a little way out of the
hall to hear what he wanted, leaving the door partly open.

One of the guests having perceived the steward, and curious
to hear what he might have to say to Noureddin, placed himself
between the hangings and the door, when he heard him thus
address his master: “Sir,” said he, “I beg pardon for inter-
rupting you in your pleasures, but what I have to communicate
is of so great importance, that I could not avoid taking this
liberty. Ihave just been making up my accounts, and I find
that not the smallest coin remains of all the sums I have
received from you to defray your expenses. Here are my
accounts, sir, examine them ; if you wish that I should continue
to serve you, assign me other funds ; or, otherwise, permit me
to retire.’ Noureddin was so astonished at this discourse, that
he could not answer a word.

The friend who had been listening, having heard all that
passed, returned immediately, and communicated it to the rest
of the party. “You will please yourselves,” said he, “in profit-
ing or not by this information ; with regard to myself, this is the
last time you will ever see me in Noureddin’s house.” “ Nay,”
replied they, “if it be as you have represented, we have no more
pusiness here than yourself; he will scarcely see us again,” and
they all shortly took their leave.

Noureddin on the next day called on his friends who had
feasted with him on the previous day. He knocked at the first
door he came to,,where one of the richest of them lived. A
female slave attended, who, before she opened the door, inquired
who was there? “Tell your master,” said Noureddin, “ that it
is Noureddin, son of the late vizier Khacan.” The slave having
let him in, and introduced him into a hall, went to the chamber
where her master was, to inform him that Noureddin was come
to wait upon him. “Nonreddin,” said he in a tone of con-