and thus they abode a long whilewith rancour in their hearts，till it fell out that the Khalif invested Abdallah with the government of Armenia and sent him thither. Soon after he had established himself in his seat of governmentthere came to him one of the people of Iraka man of excellent parts and good breedingwho had lost his wealth and wasted his substanceand his estate was come to nought；so he forged a letter to Abdallah in Yehya's name and set out therewith for Armenia. When he came to the governor's gatehe gave the letter to one of the chamberlainswho carried it to his master. Abdallah read it and considering it attentivelyknew it to be forged；so he sent for the manwho presented himself before him and called down blessings upon him and praised him and those of his court. Quoth Abdallah to him'What moved thee to weary thyself thus and bring me a forged letter？ But be of good heart；for we will not disappoint thy travail.'God prolong the life of our lord the Vizier！'replied the other. 'If my coming irk theecast not about for a pretext to repel mefor God's earth is wide and the Divine Provider liveth. Indeedthe letter I bring thee from Yehya ben Khalid is true and no forgery.'Quoth Abdallah'I will write a letter to my agent at Baghdad and bid him enquire concerning the letter. If it be trueas thou sayestI will bestow on thee the government of one of my cities；orif thou prefer a presentI will give thee two hundred thousand dirhems，besides horses and camels of price and a robe of honour. Butif the letter prove a forgeryI will have thee beaten with two hundred blows of a stick and thy beard shaven.'
Accordinglyhe bade confine him in a privy chamber and furnish him therein with all he neededtill his case should be made manifest. Then he despatched a letter to his agent at Baghdadto the following purport： 'There is come to me a man with a letter purporting to be from Yehya ben Khalid. Now I have my doubts of this letter： so delay thou notbut go thyself and learn the truth of the case and let me have an answer in all speed.'When the letter reached the agenthe mounted at once and betook himself to the house of Yehya ben Khalidwhom he found sitting with his officers and boon-companions. So he gave him the letter and he read it and said to the agent'Come back to me to-morrow，against I write thee an answer.'