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On the third day she came again, clad in stuff weft with gold

wire, and wearing raiment and ornaments finer than before. I had

prepared the place for her ere she arrived and the repast was

ready; so we ate and drank and lay together, as we had done, till

the morning, when she gave me other fifteen gold pieces and

promised to come again after three days.

Accordingly, I made ready for her and, at the appointed time, she

presented herself more richly dressed than on the first and

second occasions, and said to me, "O my lord, am I not

beautiful?" "Yea, by Allah thou art!" answered I, and she went

on, "Wilt thou allow me to bring with me a young lady fairer than

I, and younger in years, that she may play with us and thou and

she may laugh and make merry and rejoice her heart, for she hath

been very sad this long time past, and hath asked me to take her

out and let her spend the night abroad with me?" "Yea, by Allah!"

I replied; and we drank till the wine turned our heads and slept

till the morning, when she gave me other fifteen dinars, saying,

"Add something to thy usual provision on account of the young

lady who will come with me." Then she went away, and on the

fourth day I made ready the house as usual, and soon after sunset

behold, she came, accompanied by another damsel carefully wrapped

in her mantilla.