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After this I wiped my hands, but forgot to wash them; and sat

till it grew dark, when the wax candles were lighted and the

singing women came in with their tambourines and proceeded to

display the bride in various dresses and to carry her in

procession from room to room all round the palace, getting their

palms crossed with gold. Then they brought her to me and disrobed

her. When I found myself alone with her on the bed I embraced

her, hardly believing in our union; but she smelt the strong

odours of the ragout upon my hands and forth with cried out with

an exceeding loud cry, at which the slave girls came running to

her from all sides. I trembled with alarm, unknowing what was the

matter, and the girls asked her, "What aileth thee, O our

sister?" She answered them, "Take this mad man away from me: I

had thought he was a man of sense!" Quoth I to her, "What makes

thee think me mad?" Quoth she, "Thou madman' what made thee eat

of cumin ragout and forget to wash thy hand?