Then he went in to his
mother, whom he found sitting with her cheek on her hand, and
said to her, "O my mother, where is Num?" "O my son," answered
she, "she is with one who is worthier than I to be trusted with
her, namely, the devout old woman; she went forth with her to
visit the fakirs and return." "Since when has this been her
wont," asked Nimeh, "and at what hour went she forth?" Quoth his
mother, "She went out early in the morning." "And how camest
thou to give her leave for this?" said he, and she replied, "O my
son, it was she persuaded me." "There is no power and no virtue
but in God the Most High, the Supreme!" exclaimed Nimeh and going
forth, in a state of distraction, repaired to the chief of the
police, to whom said he, "Dost thou practice on me and steal my
slave-girl away from me? I will assuredly complain of thee to
the Commander of the Faithful." "Who has taken her?" asked the
chief of the police, and Nimeh answered, "An old woman of such
and such a favour, clad in woollen raiment and carrying a rosary
of thousands of beads." "Find me the old woman," rejoined the
other, "and I will get thee back thy slave-girl." "Who knows
the old woman?" said Nimeh. "And who knows the hidden things
save God, may He be glorified and exalted?" replied the official,
who knew her for El Hejjaj's agent.
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