Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 2.djvu/226

204 to the harem; else would he restore her to Ishac’s palace.

One day, the Commander of the Faithful’s breast was straitened; so he sent after his Vizier Jaafer the Barmecide and Ishac the boon-companion and Mesrour the eunuch, the swordsman of his vengeance; and when they came, he changed his raiment and disguised himself, whilst Jaafer [and Ishac] and Mesrour and El Fezl and Younus (who were also present) did the like. Then he went out, he and they, by the privy gate, to the Tigris and taking boat, fared on till they came to near Et Taf, when they landed and walked till they came to the gate of the thoroughfare street. Here there met them an old man, comely of hoariness and of a venerable and dignified bearing, pleasing of aspect and apparel. He kissed the earth before Ishac el Mausili (for that behe [sic] knew but him of the company, the Khalif being disguised, and deemed the others certain of his friends) and said to him, ‘O my lord, there is presently with me a slave-girl, a lutanist, never saw eyes the like of