Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/113

93 me what thou atest and drankest before sleeping.’ Quoth he, ‘We supped as usual and prayed the evening prayer,evening-prayer, [sic] after which there came in to us a maid, who gave each of us a cup of [diet-]drink, which when I had drunk, I fell asleep and awoke not till the morning.’ ‘The mischief is in the cup of drink,’ said the old woman. ‘So, when the maid gives it thee, take it from her, but drink not and wait till the master of the house have drunken and fallen asleep; then say to her, “Give me a draught of water,” and she will go to fetch thee the gugglet. Whilst she is gone, empty the cup behind the pillow and lie down and feign sleep. So when she comes back with the gugglet, she will deem that thou hast fallen asleep, after having drunk off the cup, and will go away; and the case will appear to thee anon; but beware of disobeying my bidding.’ ‘I hear and obey,’ answered he and returned to the khan.

Meanwhile the jeweller’s wife said to her husband, ‘A guest’s due is three nights’ entertainment: so do thou invite him a third time.’ Accordingly the jeweller betook himself to Kemerezzeman and inviting him, carried him home and sat down with him in the saloon. When they had supped and prayed the evening prayer,evening-prayer, [sic] in came the maid and gave each of them a cup. The jeweller drank and fell asleep; but Kemerezzeman forbore to drink, whereupon quoth the maid, ‘Wilt thou not drink, O my lord?’ ‘I am athirst,’ answered he. ‘Bring me the gugglet.’ So she went to fetch it, and in the meantime he emptied the cup behind the cushion and lay down. When the girl returned, she saw him lying down and told her mistress that he had drunk off the cup and fallen asleep; whereupon quoth Helimeh to herself, ‘Verily, his death is better than his life.’ Then, taking a sharp knife, she went in to him, saying, ‘Three times, and thou notedst not the sign, O fool! So now I will slit thy weasand.’