THE SIXTH OFFICER'S STORY
by Unknown · from Tales from the Arabic — Volume 02
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, a clever man had a problem. Many people came to his house. Police officers came too. Knock, knock! They knocked on his door.
The man looked out the window. "What do you want?" he asked. "Please talk to the officer," they said. The man came down. "Bring out the woman," they said. "That is my wife!" the man said. "Do you have a paper?" they asked. "Yes," he said. "It is at her father's house."
The man was worried. He went inside. He made a fake paper very fast. He wrote his friends' names on it. He gave the paper to the woman. "Go home," he told her. A helper went with her.
At her door, the woman stopped. "I will not come back," she said. "I need my paper and friends." The helper told the officer. "That is fair," the officer said.
The man told the helper, "Get my friend." The friend came. The man said, "Get the paper from her." The friend understood. He went to the woman's house. She gave him the fake paper. He brought it to the officer.
The officer looked at the paper. He was happy. The man said to his friend, "Go tell the head boss." The officer got scared. "I am sorry!" he said many times. "Please forgive me!"
The clever man smiled. "It is okay," he said. The officer left quickly. He was still very scared.
The clever man was safe. He used his smart trick. The clever man showed that thinking fast can help you out of trouble.
Original Story
THE SIXTH OFFICER'S STORY.
A certain assessor was one day taken with a woman and much people assembled before his house and the lieutenant of police and his men came to him and knocked at the door. The assessor looked out of window and seeing the folk, said, "What aileth you?" Quoth they, "[Come,] speak with the lieutenant of police such an one." So he came down and they said to him, "Bring forth the woman that is with thee." Quoth he, "Are ye not ashamed? How shall I bring forth my wife?" And they said, "Is she thy wife by contract[FN#118] or without contract?" ["By contract,"] answered he, "according to the Book of God and the Institutes of His Apostle." "Where is the contract?" asked they; and he replied, "Her contract is in her mother's house." Quoth they, "Arise and come down and show us the contract." And he said to them, "Go from her way, so she may come forth." Now, as soon as he got wind of the matter, he had written the contract and fashioned it after her fashion, to suit with the case, and written therein the names of certain of his friends as witnesses and forged the signatures of the drawer and the wife's next friend and made it a contract of marriage with his wife and appointed it for an excuse.[FN#119] So, when the woman was about to go out from him, he gave her the contract that be had forged, and the Amir sent with her a servant of his, to bring her to her father. So the servant went with her and when she came to her door, she said to him, "I will not return to the citation of the Amir; but let the witnesses[FN#120] present themselves and take my contract."
Accordingly, the servant carried this message to the lieutenant of police, who was standing at the assessor's door, and he said, "This is reasonable." Then said [the assessor] to the servant, "Harkye, O eunuch! Go and fetch us such an one the notary;" for that he was his friend [and it was he whose name he had forged as the drawer-up of the contract]. So the lieutenant of police sent after him and fetched him to the assessor, who, when he saw him, said to him, "Get thee to such an one, her with whom thou marriedst me, and cry out upon her, and when she cometh to thee, demand of her the contract and take it from her and bring it to us." And he signed to him, as who should say, "Bear me out in the lie and screen me, for that she is a strange woman and I am in fear of the lieutenant of police who standeth at the door; and we beseech God the Most High to screen us and you from the trouble of this world. Amen."
So the notary went up to the lieutenant, who was among the witnesses, and said "It is well. Is she not such an one whose marriage contract we drew up in such a place?" Then he betook himself to the woman's house and cried out upon her; whereupon she brought him the [forged] contract and he took it and returned with it to the lieutenant of police. When the latter had taken cognizance [of the document and professed himself satisfied, the assessor] said [to the notary,] "Go to our lord and master, the Cadi of the Cadis, and acquaint him with that which befalleth his assessors." The notary rose to go, but the lieutenant of police feared [for himself] and was profuse in beseeching the assessor and kissing his hands, till he forgave him; whereupon the lieutenant went away in the utterest of concern and affright. On this wise the assessor ordered the case and carried out the forgery and feigned marriage with the woman; [and thus was calamity warded off from him] by the excellence of his contrivance."[FN#121]
The folk marvelled at this story with the utmost wonderment and the seventh officer said, 'There befell me in Alexandria the [God-]guarded a marvellous thing, [and it was that one told me the following story].
Story DNA
Moral
Resourcefulness and quick thinking can help one escape difficult situations, even if it involves deception.
Plot Summary
An assessor is caught with a woman, and a crowd, along with the police, demands she be brought out. Claiming she is his wife, the assessor quickly forges a marriage contract. He sends the woman away with the contract, then manipulates the police and a 'notary' (whose name he forged) to retrieve the contract, making the situation appear legitimate. Finally, he threatens to report the lieutenant to a higher authority, causing the lieutenant to beg for forgiveness, thus successfully escaping the predicament through his cunning deception.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects a society where legal contracts, social standing, and the power of officials (Amir, Cadi, Lieutenant) are significant. The quick wit of the assessor to manipulate these elements is central.
Plot Beats (13)
- A crowd and police gather at an assessor's house, demanding he bring forth a woman found with him.
- The assessor claims she is his wife by contract, but the police demand to see the contract.
- While stalling, the assessor quickly forges a marriage contract, including names of friends as witnesses and a notary.
- He gives the forged contract to the woman and sends her away with a servant to her father's house.
- The woman, upon reaching her door, refuses to return to the Amir's citation without witnesses and the contract.
- The servant relays this message to the lieutenant, who finds it reasonable.
- The assessor then sends the servant to fetch the notary whose name he forged.
- The assessor instructs the notary to go to the woman, demand the contract, and bring it back.
- The notary, understanding the assessor's signal, plays along, retrieves the contract from the woman, and returns to the lieutenant.
- After the lieutenant is satisfied, the assessor instructs the notary to report the incident to the Cadi of the Cadis.
- Fearing repercussions, the lieutenant profusely begs the assessor for forgiveness.
- The assessor forgives him, and the lieutenant departs in fear and concern.
- The assessor successfully uses his cunning and forgery to escape the predicament.
Characters
The Assessor
A man of average build and height, likely well-groomed given his position, though no specific details are provided. His appearance would reflect a man of some authority and intellect in an Arabian setting.
Attire: Fine, but not overly ostentatious, robes befitting an assessor in an Arabian city. Perhaps a flowing thobe or a similar garment made of quality linen or light wool, possibly in muted, respectable colors like cream, beige, or light blue, with a simple turban or head covering.
Wants: To avoid public scandal and legal repercussions for being caught with a woman who is not his wife, and to maintain his reputation and position.
Flaw: His illicit affair and willingness to deceive to escape consequences.
He starts in a precarious situation, facing public exposure and legal trouble. Through his cunning, he successfully fabricates a defense, manipulates others, and escapes punishment, solidifying his reputation for cleverness, albeit through deceit.
Cunning, quick-witted, resourceful, manipulative, self-preserving.
The Woman
No specific details are provided, but as a woman involved in an illicit affair with an assessor, she would likely be attractive and perhaps of a lower social standing or a married woman herself, though this is not explicit. Her appearance would be typical of a woman in an Arabian city of the era.
Attire: Modest but perhaps well-kept clothing, likely a simple abaya or a long dress with a head covering, suitable for a woman in an Arabian city. The fabric would be practical, like cotton or linen, in subdued colors.
Wants: To avoid public shame and potential punishment for her involvement with the assessor, and to return to her father's house safely.
Flaw: Her vulnerable position as a woman caught in an illicit affair.
She is initially a passive participant in the scandal but becomes an active, albeit guided, participant in the assessor's elaborate deception to escape the situation. She successfully returns to her father's house.
Obedient, complicit, resourceful (in following the assessor's plan).
The Lieutenant of Police
A man of authority, likely of a sturdy build, reflecting his role in law enforcement. His appearance would be formal and imposing, typical of a police official in an Arabian city.
Attire: Formal, practical attire for a police lieutenant in an Arabian city. Perhaps a dark, well-tailored thobe or a tunic, with a more elaborate turban or head covering than a common citizen, possibly with some insignia of his rank. He might carry a short, ceremonial dagger.
Wants: To investigate the public disturbance and enforce the law regarding the assessor's illicit affair, then to avoid the wrath of the Cadi and protect his own position.
Flaw: His susceptibility to intimidation and fear of higher authority, making him easily manipulated.
He begins as an imposing figure of authority, challenging the assessor. However, he is outsmarted and manipulated by the assessor's cunning plan, ending up fearful and humiliated, forced to retreat in 'utterest of concern and affright'.
Authoritative, suspicious, easily intimidated, concerned with protocol, ultimately fearful.
The Notary
A man of average build, likely appearing respectable and trustworthy, given his profession. No specific details are provided, but he would embody the appearance of a professional scribe or legal assistant in an Arabian city.
Attire: Modest but respectable robes, perhaps a light brown or grey thobe, indicating his professional but not overly wealthy status. A simple head covering or turban would be appropriate.
Wants: To assist his friend, the assessor, and avoid any trouble for himself, especially since his name was forged on the contract.
Flaw: His loyalty to the assessor and fear of being implicated in the forgery.
He is drawn into the assessor's deception, initially as an unwitting victim of forgery, then as an active accomplice. He successfully plays his role, helping the assessor escape his predicament.
Compliant, loyal (to the assessor), easily manipulated, somewhat nervous.
The Amir's Servant
A eunuch, as explicitly stated, implying a specific physical appearance often associated with such roles in historical contexts – perhaps a smoother complexion, less pronounced masculine features, and a generally well-kept but subservient demeanor. He would be of average height and build.
Attire: Simple but neat livery, indicating his service to the Amir. Perhaps a tunic and trousers in a specific color (e.g., blue or green) with a sash, and a small, plain turban or cap.
Wants: To carry out the Amir's orders to escort the woman to her father.
Flaw: His unquestioning obedience makes him an unwitting pawn in the assessor's scheme.
He remains unchanged, simply fulfilling his duty as a messenger and escort, unknowingly facilitating the assessor's deception.
Obedient, diligent, unobservant (regarding the deception).
Locations
Assessor's House
A traditional Abbasid-era house, likely built of sun-dried mud brick or stone, with a flat roof and small, high windows to maintain privacy and coolness. The exterior would be plain, possibly whitewashed, with a heavy wooden door. Inside, there would be a courtyard (riad) with a fountain or small garden, and rooms arranged around it. The assessor looks out of a window.
Mood: Tense, public scrutiny, urgent
The lieutenant of police and a crowd gather, demanding the woman be brought forth, leading to the assessor's quick thinking and forgery.
Woman's House
A private residence, likely similar in architectural style to the assessor's house but perhaps more modest. It would feature a secluded entrance and an inner courtyard. The woman receives the notary here.
Mood: Private, momentarily secure, then confronted
The woman is brought here by the Amir's servant, and later the notary comes to demand the forged contract from her.