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Then the merman went down into the sea ＇and disappeared＇； whereupon the fisherman repented him of having released him and said in himself； 'How know I that he will e back to me？ Indeed； he beguiled me； so that I released him； and now he will laugh at me。 Had I kept him； I might have made a show of him for the diversion of the people of the city and taken money from all the folk and entered with him the houses of the great。' And he repented him of having let him go and said； 'Thou hast let thy prey go from thy hand。' But； as he was thus bemoaning his credulity； behold； the merman returned to him； with his hands full of pearls and coral and emeralds and rubies and other jewels； and said to him； 'Take these； O my brother； and excuse me； for I had no basket that I might fill it for thee。'
The fisherman rejoiced and took the jewels from the merman； who said to him； 'e hither every day； before sunrise；' and taking leave of him； went down into the sea； whilst the other returned to the city； rejoicing； and stayed not till he came to the baker's shop and said to him； 'O my brother； good luck is e to us ＇at last＇； so do thou reckon with me。' 'There needs no reckoning；' answered the baker。 'If thou have aught； give it me； and if not； take thy bread and spendingmoney and begone； against good betide thee。' 'O my friend；' rejoined the fisherman； 'indeed good hath betided me of God's bounty； and I owe thee much money； but take this。' So saying； he took up； at a handful； half of the pearls and coral and rubies and other jewels he had with him； and gave them to the baker saying； 'Give me some ready money to spend this day； till I sell these jewels。'
So the baker gave him all the money he had by him and all the bread in his basket and rejoiced in the jewels he had given him； saying； 'I am thy slave and thy servant。' Then he set all the bread on his head and following the fisherman home； gave it to his wife and children； after which he repaired to the market and fetched meat and vegetables and all kinds of fruit。 Moreover； he left his shop and abode with Abdallah all that day； busying himself in his service and doing all his occasions。 'O my brother；' said the fisherman； 'thou weariest thyself。' 'This is my duty；' answered the baker； 'for I am bee thy servant and thou hast overwhelmed me with thy bounties。' 'Not so；' rejoined the fisherman； 'it is thou who wast my benefactor in the days of dearth and straitness。' And the baker passed the night in feasting with him and became a faithful friend to him。 Then the fisherman told his wife what had befallen him with the merman； whereat she rejoiced and said； 'keep thy secret； lest the magistrates e down upon thee。' But he said； 'Though I keep my secret from all the folk； yet will I not hide it from the baker。'
On the morrow； he rose before the sun and shouldering a basket； which he had filled overnight with all manner fruits； repaired to the seashore； where he set down the basket and called out； saying； 'Where art thou； O Abdallah； O merman？' And he answered； saying； 'Here am I； at thy service；' and came forth to him。 The fisherman gave him the fruit and he took it and plunging into the sea with it； was absent awhile。 after which he came up； with the basket full of all kinds of precious stones and jewels。 The fisherman set it on his head and went away； and when he came to the baker's shop； the latter said to him； 'O my lord； I have baked thee forty brioches and have sent them to thy house； and now I will bake wastelbread； and as soon as it is done； I will bring it to thy house and go and fetch thee meat and vegetables。'
Abdallah gave him three handsful of jewels out of the basket and going home； set it down there。 Then he took a jewel of price of each sort and going to the jewelbazaar； stopped at the Syndic's shop and said to him； 'Buy these jewels of me。' 'Show them to me；' said the Syndic。 So he showed them to him and the jeweller said； 'Hast thou other than these？' 'Yes；' answered Abdallah； 'I have a basketful at home。' 'And where is thy house？' asked the Syndic。 'In such a quarter；' replied the fisherman； whereupon the Syndic took the jewels from him and said to his servants； 'Lay hold of him； for he is the thief who stole the queen's jewels。' And he bade beat him。 So they beat him and bound his hands behind him； after which the Syndic and all the people of the jewelmarket arose and set out ＇to carry him to the king＇； saying； 'We have gotten the thief。' Quoth one； 'None robbed such an one but this knave；' and another； 'It was none but he stole all that was in such an one's house；' and some said this and some that。
But he was silent and spoke not a word nor answered any of them； till they brought him before the king； to whom said the Syndic； 'O king of the age； when the queen's necklace was stolen； thou sentest to acquaint us therewith； requiring of us the discovery of the culprit； wherefore I strove beyond the rest of the folk and have taken the thief for thee。 Here he is before thee； and these jewels we have recovered from him。' Thereupon the king said to the eunuch； 'Carry these jewels to the queen and say to her； 〃Are these thy jewels that thou hast lost？〃' So the eunuch carried the jearvelled at them and sent to the king to say； 'I have found my necklace in my own place and these jewels are not my property； nay； they are finer than those of my necklace。 Wherefore oppress thou not the man； but； if he will sell them； buy them of him for thy daughter Umm esSuwood； that we may string them on a necklace for her。'
When the eunuch returned and told the king what the queen said； he cursed the Syndic of the jewellers and his pany with the curse of Aad and Themoud；' （199） and they said to him； 'O king of the age； we knew this man for a poor fisherman and deemed these jewels too much for him ＇to e by honestly＇； so made sure that he had stolen them。' 'Wretches that ye are！' cried the king。 'Do ye begrudge a truebeliever good fortune？ ？ Peradventure God the Most High hath vouchsafed him these things from a source on which he did not reckon。 Why did ye make him out a thief and dishonour him amongst the folk？ Begone； and may God not bless you！'
So they went out in affright and the king said to Abdallah； 'O man； （may God bless thee in that He hath bestowed on thee！） no harm shall befall thee； but tell me truly； whence gottest thou these jewels； for I am a king and have not the like of them。' 'O king of the age；' answered the fisherman； 'I have a basketful of them at home。' And he told him of his friendship with the merman； adding； 'We have made a covenant together that I shall bring him every day a basketful of fruit and that he shall fill me the basket with these jewels。' 'O man；' said the king； 'this is thy lot； but wealth hath need of station。' （200） I will protect thee for the once against men's usurpations； but it may be I shall be deposed or die and another be made king in my stead； and he shall put thee to death； because of his love of the things of this world and his covetousness。 Wherefore I am minded to marry thee to my daughter and make thee my vizier and bequeath thee the kingdom after me； so none may oppress thee after my death。'
Then said he to his officers； 'Carry this man to the bath。' So they carried him to the bath and washed his body and clad him in royal apparel； after which they brought him back to the king； and he made him his vizier and sent to his house couriers and the soldiers of his guard and all the wives of the notables； who clad his children in royal apparel and mounting the former in a horselitter； with the little child in her lap； carried her to the palace； whilst the guards and couriers and Cadis walked before her。 Moreover； they brought her elder children in to the king； who made much of them； taking them in his lap and seating them by his side； for they were nine male children and the king had no ＇male＇ offspring； nor had he been blessed with any child； save this one daughter； Umm esSuwood。 Meanwhile the queen entreated Abdallah's wife with honour and bestowed favours on her and made her her vizieress。 Then the king manded to draw up the contract of marriage between his daughter and the fisherman； who assigned to her； as her dower； all the precious stones and jewels in his possession； and they opened the chapter of festivity。 Moreover； the king made proclamation； manding to decorate the city； in honour of his daughter's wedding； and Abdallah went in to the princess and did away her maiden head。
Next morning； the king looked out of window and saw Abdallah carrying on his head a basket full of fruit。 So he said to him； 'What hast thou there； O my soninlaw； and whither goest thou？' 'I go to my friend Abdallah the merman；' answered the fisherman； and the king said； 'O my soninlaw； this is no time to go to thy friend。' Quoth Abdallah； 'Indeed； I fear to break tryst with him； lest he reckon me a liar and say； 〃The things of the world have distracted thee from me。〃' 'True；' rejoined the king。 'Go to thy friend and God help thee！' So he passed through the city on his way to the seashore； and as he went； he heard those who knew him say； 'There goes the king's soninlaw to exchange fruit for jewels；' whilst those who knew him not said； 'Harkye； how much a pound？ e； sell