第294页 / 共1116页

And as the jingle increased the house mistress could not but

notice it and asked them, "O ye folk! on what matter are ye

talking so loudly?" Then the Porter stood up respectfully before

her and said, "O my lady, this company earnestly desire that thou

acquaint them with the story of the two bitches and what maketh

thee punish them so cruelly; and then thou fallest to weeping

over them and kissing them; and lastly they want to hear the tale

of thy sister and why she hath been bastinado'd with palm sticks

like a man. These are the questions they charge me to put, and

peace be with thee."[FN#187] Thereupon quoth she who was the lady

of the house to the guests, "Is this true that he saith on your

part?" and all replied, "Yes!" save Ja'afar who kept silence.

When she heard these words she cried, "By Allah, ye have wronged

us, O our guests.