Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/264

240 Meanwhile, the old woman went to Num’s bed-chamber and said to her, “Has thy lord come to thee?” “No, by Allah!” answered Num, and the other said, “Belike he hath gone astray and entered some chamber other than thine.” “There is no power and no virtue but in God the Most High, the Supreme!” exclaimed Num. “Our last hour is come and we are all lost.” As they sat, pondering, in came the princess’s maid and saluting Num, said to her, “My lady bids thee to her entertainment.” “I hear and obey,” answered the damsel, and the old woman said, “Belike thy lord is with the Khalif’s sister and the veil has been done away.” So Num rose and betook herself to the princess, who said to her, “Here is thy lord sitting with me; it seems he has gone astray; but, please God, neither thou nor he has any cause for fear.” When Num heard this, she took heart and went up to Nimeh, who rose to meet her, and they embraced and fell down in a swoon. As soon as they came to themselves, the princess said to them, “Sit down and let us take counsel for your deliverance from this your strait.” And they answered, “O our lady, we hear and obey: it is thine to command.” “By Allah,” quoth she, “no harm shall befall you from us!” Then she called for meat and drink, and they sat down and ate till they had enough, after which they sat drinking. The cup went round amongst them and their cares ceased from them; but Nimeh said, “Would I knew how this will end!” “O Nimeh,” quoth the princess, “dost thou love thy slave Num?” “O my lady,” answered he, “it is my passion for her that has brought me thus in peril of my life.” Then she said to the damsel, “O Num, dost thou love thy lord Nimeh?” And she replied, “O my lady, it is the love of him that has wasted my body and brought me to evil case.” “By Allah,” rejoined the princess, “since ye love each other thus, may he not live who would sunder you! Take heart and be of good cheer.”