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Now as we sat talking, my sisters asked me, "And what wilt thou

do with this handsome young man?"; and I answered, "I purpose to

make him my husband!" Then I turned to him and said, "O my lord,

I have that to propose to thee wherein thou must not cross me;

and this it is that, when we reach Baghdad, my native city, I

offer thee my life as thy handmaiden in holy matrimony, and thou

shalt be to me baron and I will be femme to thee." He answered,

"I hear and I obey!; thou art my lady and my mistress and whatso

thou doest I will not gainsay." Then I turned to my sisters and

said, "This is my gain; I content me with this youth and those

who have gotten aught of my property let them keep it as their

gain with my good will." "Thou sayest and doest well," answered

the twain, but they imagined mischief against me.