" So he walked before her, as she bade him; and when
she saw he had caught the trick of women's gait, she said to him,
"Expect me to-morrow night, when, God willing, I will come and
carry thee to the palace. When thou seest the chamberlains and
the eunuchs, fear not, but bow thy head and speak not with any,
for I will ward thee from their speech; and with God is success."
Accordingly, on the morrow she returned at the appointed hour and
carrying him to the palace, entered and he after her. The
chamberlain would have stayed him, but the old woman said to him,
"O most ill-omened of slaves, this is the handmaid of Num, the
Khalif's favourite. How darest thou stay her?" Then said she,
"Enter, O damsel!" And they went on, till they drew near the
door leading to the inner court of the palace, when the old woman
said to him, "O Nimeh, take courage and enter and turn to the
left. Count five doors and enter the sixth, for it is that of
the place prepared for thee. Fear nothing, and if any speak to
thee, answer not neither stop." Then she went up with him to the
door, and the chamberlain on guard hailed her, saying, "What
damsel is that?" Quoth the old woman, "Our lady hath a mind to
buy her." And he said, "None may enter save by leave of the
Commander of the Faithful; so go thou back with her.
Pages:
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351