Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/272

244 ‘Where is thy daughter, that I may see her?’ But she smote upon her breast and he said, ‘What ails thee?’ ‘Would there were no such thing as ill and envious neighbours!’ answered she. ‘My neighbours saw thee enter the house with me and asked me of thee; and I said, “This is a bridegroom I have found for my daughter.” They envied me on thine account and said to my daughter, “Is thy mother tired of maintaining thee, that she marries thee to a leper?” So I swore to her that she should see thee naked.’ Quoth he, ‘I take refuge with God from the envious!’ and bearing his fore-arm, showed her that it was like silver. ‘Have no fear,’ said she; ‘thou shalt see her naked, even as she shall see thee.’ And he said, ‘Let her come and see me.’ Then he put off his sable pelisse and girdle and dagger and the rest of his clothes, except his shirt and trousers, and laid the purse of a thousand dinars with them. Quoth Delileh, ‘Give them to me, that I may take care of them.’ So she took them and fetching the girl’s clothes and jewellery, went out with the whole and locked the door upon them.

She deposited her purchase with a druggist of her acquaintance and returned to the dyer, whom she found sitting, awaiting her. Quoth he, ‘God willing, the house pleaseth thee?’ ‘There is a blessing in it,’ answered she, ‘and I go now to fetch porters to carry our goods and bedding thither. But my children would have me bring them meat-patties; so do thou take this dinar and buy the patties and go and eat the morning mealmorning-meal [sic] with them.’ ‘Who shall guard the dyery meanwhile and the people’s goods that are therein?’ asked the dyer. ‘Thy boy,’ answered the old woman. ‘So be it,’ rejoined he and taking a covered dish, went out to do her bidding. As soon as he was gone, she fetched the clothes and jewels she had left with the druggist and going back to the dyery, said to the boy, ‘Run after thy master, and I will