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Indeed thou hast loitered long in the water-closet." When he

heard her words and saw her face he burst out laughing and said,

"Of a truth this is a very nightmare among dreams!" Then he went

in sighing, and pondered what had come to pass with him and was

perplexed about his case, and his affair became yet more obscure

to him when he saw his turband and bag-trousers and when, feeling

the pocket, he found the purse containing the thousand gold

pieces. So he stood still and muttered, "Allah is all knowing!

Assuredly I am dreaming a wild waking dream!" Then said the Lady

of Beauty to him, "What ails thee to look puzzled and

perplexed?"; adding, "Thou wast a very different man during the

first of the night!" He laughed and asked her, "How long have I

been away from thee?"; and she answered him, "Allah preserve thee

and His Holy Name be about thee! Thou didst but go out an hour

ago for an occasion and return.