noon
It was all Iskender 's fault -- the cunning devil ! The valley of the gold seemed now his legal birthright , of which he had been defrauded by a wicked malefactor , who , not content with that , was leading out the good Emîr to kill him in the desert . Iskender had bribed Aflatûn and Fâris ; Iskender had lamed his horse ; Iskender had set on the soldiers to despoil him . By the time he started on his homeward way , the world was poisoned by Iskender 's wickedness ; he could not look at rock , or myrtle-bush , or wayside flower without groans and gnashing of teeth ; and wherever he reposed at noon , or spent the night , he told his wrongs . The story ran before him through the countryside . When he came at last to his own door , it was to find a crowd awaiting him , anxious to know the truth of strange reports . Several of the dragomans were there , including Abdullah , uncle of Iskender , who questioned Elias in no peaceful tone .