Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/103

83 need of management to do it away, yea, and contrivance to wash withal our shame from our faces.’ And they gave not over watching the gate till break of day, when the young man opened the door and their mother took leave of him; after which he went his way and she entered, she and her handmaid.

Then said Selim to his sister, ‘Know that I am resolved to slay yonder man, if he return this next night, and I will say to the folk, “He was a thief,” and none shall know that which hath befallen. Moreover, I will address myself to the slaughter of whosoever knoweth that which is between yonder fellow and my mother.’ But Selma said, ‘I fear lest, if thou slay him in our dwelling-place and he savour not of robberhood, suspicion will revert upon ourselves, and we cannot be assured but that he belongeth unto folk whose mischief is to be feared and their hostility dreaded, and thus wilt thou have fled from privy shame to open shame and abiding public dishonour.’ ‘How then deemest thou we should do?’ asked Selim and she said, ‘Is there nothing for it but to slay him? Let us not hasten unto slaughter, for that the slaughter of a soul without just cause is a grave [matter].’

(When Shehriyar heard this, he said in himself, ‘By Allah, I have indeed been reckless in the slaying of women and girls, and praised be God who hath occupied