Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/251

222 Damascus, but afterwards I said, "It would not do for the messenger to come and not find me, for then verily I should have committed a second error against myself." So I sat down in the shade of a wall hard by. And when the day was far spent, behold! one of the two youths who had been with the young man drew near. And I never remember to have felt greater pleasure at anything than my pleasure that moment on seeing him.

And he said to me, "O my lord! I am late in reaching thee."

But I said not a word to him of what I had suffered.

Then he asked me, "Didst thou recognize the man?"

I said, "No."

"He is the heir-apparent," said he, "el-Walîd-ibn-Hishâm." Upon hearing which, I remained silent.

Then he said, "Rise, and mount."