Page:Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp.djvu/285

237 said in himself, “Now have I found that which I sought. An it please God the Most High, I shall achieve my quest by means of this woman.” So he went up to the folk who were speaking of the devout old woman’s supernatural powers and said to one of them, “O uncle, I hear you talk of the divine gifts of one she-saint, by name Fatimeh. Who is she and where is her place?” “Wonderful!” cried the man. “What, thou art in our city and hast not heard of the divine gifts of my Lady Fatimeh? Apparently, good man, thou art a stranger, since thou hast never chanced to hear of the fasts of this holy woman and her abhorrence of the world and the goodliness of her piety.” “Ay, my lord,” replied the Maugrabin, “I am indeed a stranger and arrived but yesternight in this your town; wherefore I beseech thee tell me of the divine gifts of this holy woman and where her place is, for that I have fallen into a calamity and would fain go to her and crave her of prayer, so haply God (to whom belong might and majesty) may