Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 9.djvu/71

53 After this, a month passed, without my seeing her, and I abode bewildered for love of her; but, at the end of this time, she came again and saluted me, whereat I was like to fly for joy. She asked me how I did and said to me, “Belike thou saidst to thyself, ‘What manner of trickstress is this, who hath taken my money and made off?’” “By Allah, O my lady,” answered I, “my money and my life are all at thy service!” With this she unveiled herself and sat down to rest, with the jewels and ornaments playing over her face and bosom. Presently, she said to me, “Give me three hundred dinars.” “I hear and obey,” answered I and counted out to her the money. She took it and went away and I said to my servant, “Follow her.” So he followed her, but returned mumchance, and some time passed without my seeing her. But, as I was sitting one day, she came up to me and after talking awhile, said to me, “Give me five hundred dinars, for I have occasion for them.” I would have said to her, “Why should I give thee my money?” But excess of passion hindered me from speaking; for, whenever I saw her, I trembled in every limb and my colour paled and I forgot what I would have said and became even as saith the poet:

So I counted her out the five hundred dinars and she took them and went away; whereupon I arose and followed her myself, till she came to the jewel-market, where she stopped at a man’s shop and took of him a necklace. Then she turned and seeing me, said, “Pay [him] five hundred dinars for me.” When the jeweller saw me, he rose to me and made much of me, and I said to him, “Give her the necklace and be the price at my charge.” “I hear and obey,” replied he, and she took it and went away. I followed her, till she came to the Tigris and