Fetim of the al-Hetal made a serious mistake when he allowed himself to be caught in the bed of Selmet Abulbul's youngest and most delectable wife.  The mistake was not instantly obvious, however.  Selmet was old and infirm: there was nothing physical he could do to Fetim, who was at least as strong as he was handsome.  Furthermore, Selmet was unpopular, being a usurer: he had no friends he could call on to fight for him.  Public opinion, in fact, would have applauded Fetim's choice of cuckolds.  And, sadly, the Abulbul clan was in decline.  Selmet had no relations or children who might be persuaded to view Fetim's action as a matter of honor.  In short, he did not appear to be a man who could avenge insults.

But Selmet Abulbul the usurer knew how to curse.

While Fetim preened himself beside the bed, lacking even sufficient decency to be frightened, and the young wife pretended to cower among the sheets, Selmet called upon a few names which I am not permitted to record.  He uttered several phrases which it would be sacrilege for me to repeat.  Then, his voice quaking with rage, he explained what he wished the powers whose attention he had invoked to do to Fetim of the al-Hetal.

"In the name of the great father of djinn, let all those he loves be killed.  Let him be readily loved - and let all those who love him die in anguish.  Let all his seed and all his blood be brought to ruin.  Let horror cover the heads of all who befriend him.  Let his friendship be a surer sign of death than any plague-spot.

"And let the djinn who watches over the accursed protect him, so that his sufferings cannot end."

From such a curse, Selmet's youngest wife was safe: she loved no one but herself.  But the clan of the al-Hetal was prosperous in that town.  Hearing his doom, Fetim should have found it in his heart to be frightened.

He did not.  "Are you done?" he asked politely.  "We are taught that it is rude to leave a room while our elders are speaking."

Selmet's youngest wife also did not understand curses.  A snicker at her husband's expense escaped from the sheets.

"Go!" Selmet shouted as well as he was able.  "From this day forward, you will never forget that you would be happier dead."