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Then he turned to me and said, "Know, O my son, that the elder

damsel who first came to thee was my daughter whom I used to keep

closely guarded. When she grew up, I sent her to Cairo and

married her to her cousin, my brother's son. After a while he

died and she came back: but she had learnt wantonness and

ungraciousness from the people of Cairo;[FN#598] so she visited

thee four times and at last brought her younger sister. Now they

were sisters-german and much attached to each other; and, when

that adventure happened to the elder, she disclosed her secret to

her sister who desired to go out with her. So she asked thy leave

and carried her to thee; after which she returned alone and,

finding her weeping, I questioned her of her sister, but she

said, 'I know nothing of her.' However, she presently told her

mother privily of what had happened and how she had cut off her

sister's head and her mother told me. Then she ceased not to weep

and say, 'By Allah!