Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/273

244 a black standard which had certainly come from el-Kûfah, and was advancing towards el-Hîrah. And the idea struck me that people had come out to seek for me. So I fled forth in disguise, and reached el-Kûfah by another road. And, by Allâh! I was uncertain what to do, knowing nobody there. And lo! I found myself at the great gate of an enclosed court; so I entered the court, and stood near the house. And behold! there came by a man of gracious mien, mounted upon a horse, and with him a crowd of friends and attendants. And he came into the court, and saw me waiting in perplexity. So he asked me, 'What dost thou want?' I replied, 'I am a stranger who fears lest he should be murdered.' He said,