Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/247

222 the bracelet to the Sultan and it pleased him greatly, by reason of the goodliness of its workmanship. Then he called an old woman, who was in his palace, and said to her, ‘Needs must I have the mistress of this bracelet, though but for a single night, or I shall die.’ And the old woman answered, ‘I will bring her to thee.’

So she donned a devotee’s habit and betaking herself to the goldsmith, said to him, ‘To whom belongeth the bracelet that is in the king’s hand?’ Quoth he, ‘It belongeth to a man, a stranger, who hath bought him a slave-girl from this city and lodgeth with her in such a place.’ So the old woman repaired to the young man’s house and knocked at the door. The damsel opened to her and seeing her clad in devotee’s apparel, saluted her and said to her, ‘Belike thou hast an occasion with us?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the old woman; ‘I desire privacy and ablution.’ Quoth the girl, ‘Enter.’ So she entered and did her occasion and made the ablution and prayed. Then she brought out a rosary and began to tell her beads thereon, and the damsel said to her, ‘Whence comest thou, O pilgrim?’ Quoth she ‘[I come] from [visiting] the Idol of the Absent in such a church. There standeth up no woman [to prayer] before him, who hath an absent