Page 758 of 1116

They made enquiries and sought for me, but hearing no tidings

they said, "He will have gone back to Damascus." When they

departed I came forth from my hiding place and abode in Cairo

three years, until naught remained of my money. Now every year I

used to send the rent of the Damascus house to its owner, until

at last I had nothing left but enough to pay him for one year's

rent and my breast was straitened. So I travelled to Damascus and

alighted at the house whose owner, the jeweller, was glad to see

me and I found everything locked up as I had left it. I opened

the closets and took out my clothes and necessaries and came

upon, beneath the carpet bed whereon I had lain that night with

the girl who had been beheaded, a golden necklace set with ten

gems of passing beauty. I took it up and, cleansing it of the

blood, sat gazing upon it and wept awhile. Then I abode in the

house two days and on the third I entered the Hammam and changed

my clothes.