Page:Tales from the Arabic, Vol 3.djvu/187

169 eunuch come out to thee and say to thee a [certain] word, to wit, “Art thou Sendel?” And do thou answer, “Yes,” and go with him.’

Then she took leave of me and I of her, after I had strained her to my bosom and embraced her and we had kissed awhile. So she went away and I abode expecting the appointed day, till it came, when I arose and went forth, intending for the trysting-place; but a friend of mine met me by the way [and would have me go home with him. So I accompanied him to his house] and when I came up [into his sitting-chamber] he locked the door on me and went forth to fetch what we might eat and drink. He was absent till mid-day, then till the hour of afternoon-prayer, whereat I was sore disquieted. Then he was absent till sundown, and I was like to die of chagrin and impatience; [and indeed he returned not] and I passed my night on wake, nigh upon death, for that the door was locked on me, and my soul was like to depart my body on account of the tryst.

At daybreak, my friend returned and opening the door, came in, bringing with him meat-pottage and fritters and bees’ honey, and said to me, ‘By Allah, thou must needs excuse me, for that I was with a company and they locked the door on me and have but now let me go.’ But I returned him no answer. Then