Quoth Nimeh, "I look to thee
for my slave-girl, and El Hejjaj shall judge between thee and
me." And the master of police answered, "Go to whom thou wilt."
Now Nimeh's father was one of the chief men of Cufa; so he went
to the palace of the governor, whose chamberlain went in to him
and told him what was to do. El Hejjaj bade admit him and
enquired his business. Quoth Nimeh, "Such and such things have
befallen me." And the governor said, "Bring me the chief of the
police, and we will bid him seek for the old woman." Now he knew
that the chief of the police knew her; so, when he came, he said
to him, "I wish thee to make search for the slave-girl of Nimeh
ben er Rebya." And he answered, "None knoweth the hidden things
save God the Most High." "Thou must send out horsemen," rejoined
El Hejjaj, "and look for the damsel in all the roads and towns."
Then he turned to Nimeh and said to him, "An thy slave-girl
return not, I will give thee ten slave-girls from my house and
ten from that of the chief of the police." And he said to the
latter, "Go and seek for the girl." So he went out and Nimeh
returned home, full of trouble and despairing of life. He had
now reached the age of fourteen and there was yet no hair on his
cheeks.
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