Pardon，O my lord，'replied the Amir；thou art a man in authority，[108] and God forbid that such should be guilty of treason！'Quoth Alaeddin，Needs must my house be searched. So they entered，and Ahmed Kemakim went straight to the saloon and let the rod fall upon the slab，under which he had buried the stolen goods，with such force that the marble broke in sunder and discovered something that glistened underneath. Then said he，In the name of God！what He willeth！Thanks to our coming，we have lit upon a treasure. Let us go down into this hiding-place and see what is therein.'So the Cadis and Assessors looked down into the hole and finding there the stolen goods，drew up a statement of how they had discovered them in Alaeddins house，to which they set their seals. Then they bade seize upon Alaeddin and took his turban from his head，and making an inventory of all his property and effects，[sealed them up]. Meanwhile，Ahmed Kemakim laid hands on Jessamine，who was with child by Alaeddin，and committed her to his mother，saying，Deliver her to the Lady Khatoun.'So the old woman took her and carried her to the wife of the Master of Police. As soon as Hebezlem saw her，health and strength returned to him and he arose forthright，rejoicing greatly，and would have drawn near her： but she pulled a dagger from her girdle and said，Keep off from me，or I will kill thee and myself after.'O strumpet，'exclaimed his mother，let my son have his will of thee！'But Jessamine answered，O bitch，by what code is it lawful for a woman to marry two husbands，and how shall the dog take the lions place？With this Hebezlems passion redoubled and he sickened for unfulfilled desire and refusing food，took to his bed again. Then said his mother to her，O harlot，how canst thou make me thus to sorrow for my son？
Needs must I punish thee，and as for Alaeddin，he will assuredly be hanged.'And I will die for love of him，'answered Jessamine.
Then Khatoun stripped her of her jewels and silken raiment and clothing her in sackcloth drawers and a shift of hair-cloth，sent her down into the kitchen and made her a scullery-wench，saying，Thy punishment shall be to split wood and peel onions and set fire under the cooking pots.'Quoth she，I am willing to brook all manner of hardship and servitude，but not thy sons sight.'
But God inclined the hearts of the slave-girls to her and they used to do her service in the kitchen.
Meanwhile，they carried Alaeddin to the Divan and brought him，together with the stolen goods，before the Khalif，who said，Where did ye find them？Amiddleward Alaeddins house，answered they；whereat the Khalif was filled with wrath and took the things，but found not the lantern among them，and said to Alaeddin，Where is the lantern？I know nought of it，'answered he；it was not I that stole it.'O traitor，'said the Khalif，how comes it that I brought thee near unto me and thou hast cast me out，and I trusted in thee and thou hast betrayed me？And he commanded to hang him. So the Chief of the Police took him and went down with him into the city，whilst the crier forewent them，proclaiming aloud and saying，This is the reward and the least of the reward of him who doth treason against the orthodox Khalifs！'And the folk flocked to the gallows.
Meanwhile，Ahmed ed Denef，Alaeddins adopted father，was sitting，making merry with his followers in a garden，when in came one of the water-carriers of the Divan and kissing Ahmeds hand，said to him，O Captain，thou sittest at thine ease，with water running at thy feet，and knowest not what has happened.'
What is to do？asked Ahmed，and the other answered，They have gone down with thine adopted son，Alaeddin，to the gallows.'
O Hassan Shouman，'said Ahmed，What sayst thou of this？
Assuredly，Alaeddin is innocent replied his lieutenant；and this is some enemys practice against him.'Quoth Ahmed，What counsellest thou？And Hassan said，God willing，we must rescue him.'Then he went to the prison and said to the gaoler，Give us some one deserving of death.'So he gave him one that was likest to Alaeddin and they covered his head and carried him to the place of execution between Ahmed ed Denef and Ali ez Zibec of Cairo. Now they had brought Alaeddin to the gibbet，to hang him，but Ahmed ed Denef came forward and set his foot on that of the hangman，who said，Give me room to do my office.'O accursed one，'replied Ahmed，take this man and hang him in Alaeddins stead；for he is innocent and we will ransom him with this fellow，even as Abraham ransomed Ishmael[109] with the ram.'
So the hangman took the man and hanged him in Alaeddins room.
Then Ahmed and Ali took Alaeddin and carried him to the house of the former，to whom said he，O my father，may God abundantly requite thee！'O Alaeddin，'said Ahmed，what is this thou hast done？Gods mercy on him who said，'Whoso trusteth in thee，betray him not，though thou be a traitor.'Now the Khalif set thee in high place about him and styled thee'Trusty'and'Faithful；'how then couldst thou deal thus with him and steal his goods？By the Most Great Name，O my father，'replied Alaeddin，I had no hand in this，nor do I know who did it.'
Quoth Ahmed，Of a surety none did this but a manifest enemy and whoso doth aught shall be requited for his deed；but，O Alaeddin，thou canst tarry no longer in Baghdad，for kings，O my son，may not be bought off and longsome is his travail whom they pursue.'
Whither shall I go，O my father？asked Alaeddin. O my son，answered Ahmed，I will bring thee to Alexandria，for it is a blessed place；its environs are green and its sojourn pleasant.'
