Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/310

282 thee that Ali would not forego his revenge? He hath done this in requital of that which thou didst with him and he had it in his power to do with thee other than this; but he refrained therefrom out of courtesy and a desire that there should be friendship between us.’ So saying, she put off her man’s clothes and donned woman’s attire and tying the kerchief [of truce] about her neck, repaired to Ahmed ed Denef’s lodging.

Now when Ali entered with the clothes and the carrier-pigeons, Hassan Shouman gave the hall-keeper the price of forty pigeons and he bought them and cooked them before the men. Presently there came a knock at the door and Ahmed ed Denef said to the hall-keeper, ‘That is Delileh’s knock: rise and open to her.’ So he admitted her and Hassan said to her, ‘What brings thee hither, O ill-omened old woman? Verily, thou and thy brother Zureic the fishmonger are of a piece!’ ‘O captain,’ answered she, ‘I am in the wrong and my neck is at your mercy; but tell me which of you it was that played me this trick?’ Quoth Ahmed, ‘It was the first of my lads.’ ‘For God’s sake,’ rejoined Delileh, ‘intercede with him to give me back the carrier-pigeons and what not, and thou wilt lay me under great obligation.’ When Hassan heard this, he said to Ali, ‘God requite thee, O Ali! Why didst thou cook the pigeons?’ And Ali answered, ‘I knew not that they were carrier-pigeons.’ Then said Ahmed to the hall-keeper, ‘Bring us the cooked pigeons.’ So he brought them and Delileh took a piece and tasting it, said, ‘This is none of the carrier-pigeons’ flesh, for I fed them on grains of musk and their flesh is become even as musk.’ Quoth Hassan, ‘An thou wilt have the carrier-pigeons, comply with Ali’s desire.’ ‘What is that?’ asked she, and Hassan answered, saying, ‘He would have thee marry him to thy daughter Zeyneb.’ ‘I have no power over her except of affection,’ said she; and Hassan said to Ali, ‘Give her the pigeons.’