Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 1.djvu/56

36 upon this and] abode awaiting Mesrour, till such time as he should return with news.

As for Mesrour, he gave not over running till he came to the by-street, [wherein was the house] of Aboulhusn el Khelia. Now the latter was sitting reclining at the lattice, and chancing to look round, saw Mesrour running along the street and said to Nuzhet el Fuad, “Meseemeth the Khalif, when I went forth from him, dismissed the Divan and went in to the Lady Zubeideh, to condole with her [for thee;] whereupon she arose and condoled with him [for me,] saying, ‘God greaten thy recompencerecompense [sic] for [the loss of] Aboulhusn el Khelia!’ And he said to her, ‘None is dead save Nuzhet el Fuad, may thy head outlive her!’ Quoth she, ‘It is not she who is dead, but Aboulhusn el Khelia, thy boon-companion.’ And he to her, ‘None is dead but Nuzhet el Fuad.’ And they gainsaid one another, till the Khalif waxed wroth and they laid a wager, and he hath sent Mesrour the sword-bearer to see who is dead. Wherefore it were best that thou lie down, so he may see thee and go and acquaint the Khalif and confirm my saying.” So Nuzhet el Fuad stretched herself out and Aboulhusn covered her with her veil and sat at her head, weeping.

Presently, in came Mesrour the eunuch to him and saluted him and seeing Nuzhet el Fuad stretched out, uncovered her face and said, “There is no god but God! Our sister Nuzhet el Fuad is dead. How sudden was the [stroke of] destiny! May God have mercy on thee and acquit thee of responsibility!” Then he returned and related what had passed before the Khalif and the Lady