Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/143

123 fared on, without tarrying, till she stopped at the door of a lofty house, whereupon quoth I to her, “O my lady, who art thou? Indeed, thou hast done me kindness, and what is the reason of this?” “By Allah,” answered she, “O Captain Muïn, I am a woman on whom desire and longing are sore for the love of the daughter of the Cadi Amin el Hukm. Now there was between us what was and the love of her fell upon my heart and I agreed with her upon meeting, according to possibility and convenience. But her father Amin el Hukm took her and went away, and my heart cleaveth to her and love-longing and distraction are sore upon me on her account.”

I marvelled at her words and said to her, “What wouldst thou have me do?” And she answered, “O Captain Muïn, I would have thee give me a helping hand.” Quoth I, “What have I to do with the daughter of the Cadi Amin el Hukm?” And she said, “Know that I would not have thee intrude upon the Cadi’s daughter, but I would fain contrive for the attainment of my wishes. This is my intent and my desire, and my design will not be accomplished but by thine aid.” Then said she, “I mean this night to go with a stout heart and hire me trinkets of price; then will I go and sit in the street wherein is the house of Amin el Hukm; and when it is the season of the round and the folk are asleep, do thou pass, thou and those who are with thee of the police, and thou wilt see me sitting and on me fine raiment and ornaments and wilt smell on me the odour of perfumes; whereupon do thou question me of my case and I will say, ‘I come from the Citadel and am of the daughters