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thine entrance.” So Nimeh bowed his head and entered, but mistook and turned to his right, instead of his left, and meaning to count five doors and enter the sixth, counted six and entering the seventh, found himself in a place carpeted with brocade and hung with curtains of gold-embroidered silk. Here and there stood censers of aloes-wood and ambergris and sweet-scented musk, and at the upper end was a couch covered with brocade, on which he seated himself, marvelling at the exceeding magnificence of the place and knowing not what was appointed to him in the secret purpose of God. As he sat musing on his case, the Khalif’s sister entered, followed by her handmaid, and seeing him seated there took him for a slave-girl and said to him, “What art thou, O damsel, and who brought thee hither?” He made no reply and she continued, “If thou be one of my brother’s favourites and he be wroth with thee, I will intercede with him for thee.” But he answered her not a word; so she said to her maid, “Stand at the door and let none enter.” Then she went up to Nimeh and looking at him, was amazed at his beauty and said to him, “O lady, tell me who thou art and how thou camest here; for I have never seen thee in the palace.” Still he answered not, whereat she was angered and putting her hand to his bosom, found no breasts and would have unveiled him, that she might know who he was; but he said to her, “O my lady, I am thy slave and cast myself on thy protection; do thou protect me.” “No harm shall come to thee,” said she; “but tell me who thou art and who brought thee into this my lodging.” “O princess,” answered he, “I am known as Nimeh ben er Rebya of Cufa, and I have ventured my life for my slave-girl Num, whom El Hejjaj took by sleight and sent hither.” “Fear not,” rejoined the princess; “no harm shall befall thee.” Then, calling her maid, she said to her, “Go to Num’s chamber and bid her to me.”
