Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 6.djvu/383

353 en Nufous,’ and calling an eunuch whose jaw-teeth the princess had knocked out, bade him carry the necklace to her and say to her, ‘One of the kings hath sent thy father this as a presents and its price may not be paid with money; put it on thy neck.’ The slave took the necklace, saying in himself, ‘God make it the last thing she shall put on in this world, for that she deprived me of the use of my teeth!’ and repairing to the princess’s apartment found the door locked and the old woman asleep before it. He shook her, and she awoke in affright and said, ‘What dost thou want?’ Quoth he, ‘The King hath sent me on an errand to his daughter.’ ‘The key is not here,’ answered the old woman. ‘Go away, whilst I fetch it.’ But he said, ‘I cannot go back to the King, without having done his commandment.’ So she went away, as if to fetch the key; but fear overtook her and she sought safety in flight.

The eunuch awaited her awhile; then, finding she did not return, he feared that the King would be angry at his delay; so he shook the door, whereupon the bolt gave way and the door opened. He entered and passed on, till he came to the seventh door, [which was that of the princess’s chamber], and going in, found the place splendidly furnished and saw candles and flagons there. At this he marvelled and going up to the bed, which was enclosed with a curtain of silk, embroidered with a network of jewels, drew back the curtain and saw the princess asleep in the arms of a young man handsomer than herself; whereat he magnified God the Most High, who had created him of vile water, and said, ‘This is a goodly fashion for one who hath an aversion to men! How came she by this fellow? Methinks it was on his account that she knocked out my teeth!’ Then he dropped the curtain and made for the door; but the princess awoke in affright and seeing the eunuch, whose name was Kafour, called to him. He made her no answer: so she came down from the bed and VOL. VI.