"Our last
hour is come and we are all lost." As they sat, pondering, in
came the princess's maid and saluting Num, said to her, "My lady
bids thee to her entertainment." "I hear and obey," answered the
damsel, and the old woman said, "Belike thy lord is with the
Khalif's sister and the veil has been done away." So Num rose
and betook herself to the princess, who said to her, "Here is thy
lord sitting with me; it seems he has gone astray; but, please
God, neither thou nor he has any cause for fear." When Num heard
this, she took heart and went up to Nimeh, who rose to meet her,
and they embraced and fell down in a swoon. As soon as they came
to themselves, the princess said to them, "Sit down and let us
take counsel for your deliverance from this your strait." And
they answered, "O our lady, we hear and obey: it is thine to
command." "By Allah," quoth she, "no harm shall befall you from
us!" Then she called for meat and drink, and they sat down and
ate till they had enough, after which they sat drinking. The cup
went round amongst them and their cares ceased from them; but
Nimeh said, "Would I knew how this will end!" "O Nimeh," quoth
the princess, "dost thou love thy slave Num?" "O my lady,"
answered he, "it is my passion for her that has brought me thus
in peril of my life.
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