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When the portress heard the third song she cried aloud; and,

laying hands on her garments, rent them down to the very skirt

and fell to the ground fainting a third time, again showing the

scars of the scourge. Then said the three Kalandars, "Would

Heaven we had never entered this house, but had rather nighted on

the mounds and heaps outside the city! for verily our visit hath

been troubled by sights which cut to the heart." The Caliph

turned to them and asked, "Why so?" and they made answer, "Our

minds are sore troubled by this matter." Quoth the Caliph, "Are

ye not of the household?" and quoth they, "No; nor indeed did we

ever set eyes on the place till within this hour." Hereat the

Caliph marvelled and rejoined, "This man who sitteth by you,

would he not know the secret of the matter?" and so saying he

winked and made signs at the Porter.