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It is also told that Ala al-Din, the governor of Qus, was sitting in his house one night when a handsome, well-dressed man came to his door, accompanied by a servant carrying a chest on his head. The man said to one of the governor’s pages, “Go in and tell your master that I wish to meet him on a confidential matter.” The page went in and delivered the message, and the governor ordered him to admit the visitor. When the man entered, the governor saw how handsome and imposing he was, seated him beside him, and received him with every courtesy. “What is your business?” he asked. The man replied, “I am a highwayman, and I wish to turn back to God Most High under your guidance. I ask you to help me, for I have now come into your domain and placed myself under your care. In this chest I have valuables worth some forty thousand dinars, and you are more deserving of them than I. Give me a thousand lawful dinars from your own wealth, that I may use them as capital, support myself in my repentance, and have no further need of ill-gotten gains. Your reward will be with God Most High.” Then he opened the chest to show the governor what it held, and there were ornaments, jewels, precious metals, gemstones, and pearls. The governor was astonished and overjoyed at the sight. He called to his treasurer, “Bring me such-and-such a purse.” It contained a thousand dinars. But morning overtook Shahrazad, and she fell silent, leaving off her permitted tale.

Then, when it was the three hundred and forty-sixth night,

She said: It has reached me, O fortunate king, that the governor called to his treasurer, saying, “Bring me such-and-such a purse.” It contained a thousand dinars, and when the treasurer brought it, the governor gave it to the man, who took it, thanked him for his kindness, and went his way under cover of night. When morning came, the governor summoned the head of the goldsmiths and showed him the chest and the ornaments it contained. He found that all the metalwork was tin and copper, while the jewels, gemstones, and pearls were all glass. The governor was deeply distressed and sent men in search of the fellow, but no one could find him.