Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 3.djvu/95

77 of the hidden things, I have no desire but to be united with her whom I love and my one business is the concealment of my passion, though sickness consume me. This is the exposition of my case and peace be on thee.’ When the jeweller read this letter, he wept sore and the girl said to him, ‘Leave not this place, till I return to thee; for he suspects me of such and such things, in which he is excusable; so it is my desire to bring thee in company with my mistress Shemsennehar, howsoever I may contrive it. I left her prostrate, awaiting my return with the answer.’ Then she went away and the jeweller passed the night in a state of agitation. On the morrow he prayed the morning prayermorning-prayer [sic] and sat awaiting the girl’s coming. Presently she came in to him, rejoicing, and he said to her, ‘What news, O damsel?’ Quoth she, ‘I gave my mistress Ali ben Bekkar’s reply, and when she read it, she was troubled in her mind; but I said to her, “O my lady, have no fear of the hindrance of your affair by reason of Aboulhusn’s absence, for I have found one to take his place, better than he and more of worth and apt to keep secrets.” Then I told her what was between Aboulhusn and thyself and how thou camest by his confidence and that of Ali ben Bekkar and how I met with thee and showed her how matters stood betwixt thee and me. Now she is minded to have speech of thee, that she may be assured by thy words of the covenants between thee and him; so do thou make ready to go with me to her forthwith.’ When the jeweller heard the girl’s words, he saw that what she proposed was a grave matter and a great peril, not lightly to be undertaken or entered upon, and said to her, ‘O my sister, verily, I am of the common people and not like unto Aboulhusn; for he was of high rank and repute and was wont to frequent the Khalif’s household, because of their need of his wares. As for me, he used to talk with me, and I trembled before him the while. So, if thy