T h e B l a c k S t o n e 29 The junior servant rushes to open the door. The voices get louder and closer. Junior Servant (to Saqlabi): It is the Master. He is coming with the Commanders. Both the Junior Servant and Saqlabi hide where they could eavesdrop. Abu Sa‘id: What’s the news from Baghdad? A Commander: All Baghdad’s news is happy. Since al-Muqtadir became a Caliph six years ago, his relationship with the people there have suffered many ups and downs. Tremendously unsettled. One minute he is the Caliph, and another they remove him from office. A Commander: And the vizirs are busy competing in hunting Francolinus birds, and rewarding the hunters very handsomely. A Commander: It is very pleasing to know that they turned away from serious state affairs to complete indulgence in play and entertainment.
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