Pagina 692 di 1116

Presently up came the lady as usual, followed by a slave girl and

wearing a dress more sumptuous than before; and she saluted me

without noticing Badr al-Din and said in fluent graceful speech

(never heard I voice softer or sweeter), "Send one with me to

take the thousand and two hundred dirhams, the price of the

piece." "Why this hurry?" asked I and she answered, "May we never

lose thee!"[FN#524] and handed me the money. Then I sat talking

with her and presently I signed to her in dumb show, whereby she

understood that I longed to enjoy her person,[FN#525] and she

rose up in haste with a show of displeasure. My heart clung to

her and I went forth from the bazar and followed on her track. As

I was walking suddenly a black slave girl stopped me and said, "O

my master, come speak with my mistress."[FN#526] At this I was

surprised and replied, "There is none who knows me here;" but she

rejoined, "O my lord, how soon hast thou forgotten her!