which I have not the power to give, even if I were inclined to give it."
"You mean that you have parents—a guardian?"
"Not that. My parents have been received into the mercy of Allah, and I have no guardian. Being of age, I am legally my own mistress, yet I have a cousin, a powerful and war-like sheik of the Beni Sakr tribe, who has given notice that he comes next month to claim his cousinly prerogative."
Well I knew, effendi, the rights which tradition and custom give a first cousin in such matters, and of the affront which would be placed upon him if his priority claim were disregarded. And only too well was I aware of the revenge which a powerful and war-like sheik would take for a transgression of such rights. Yet so great was my desire for this girl that I would have risked my life a thousand times to possess her.
"Such little as I have to offer, in comparison to that which your cousin can give you," I replied, "is yours for the choosing. Only name your will, and it shall be the will of Hamed your Slave."
"I can not answer you now," she said. "I must have time to think."
"So be it," I replied, swinging up on the wall.
"My slave-woman will convey my answer to you," she said. "Meanwhile, send no khatibeh, for I would spare you all unnecessary expense, and say nothing to anyone about this, lest it reach the ears of my cousin."
"To hear is to obey," I said. Then I dropped onto my own diwan where I spent the rest of the night smoking, and thinking over my strange adventure and what it might lead to, until the mueddin called the summons for the dawn prayer. . . .
After prayers and breakfast, I went to
my shop, but found it difficult to
keep my mind on my business. Being
lovesick, I mooned about, with the result
that my faculties were not as keen as they
should have been, and I lost several
opportunities for quite profitable sales.
When midafternoon came, I made up a
package of choice perfumes, cosmetics
and unguents, and sent my apprentice
with them to the Lady Salamah, telling
him that all was paid, and forbidding
him to accept anything for them.
When he returned he told me that an old slave-woman had met him at the door, and had taken the package without so much as an offer of baksheesh.
On the following day, I sent a porter with a choice collection of potted flowers and shrubs which I had purchased at no little cost.
On the third, I forwarded by messenger an assortment of delicious and costly sweetmeats.
The next day being El-Goom'ah, which is our Sabbath, I repaired to the mosque for worship at the noon call, nor did I reopen my shop thereafter, but spent the rest of the day in holy contemplation, and in selfishly praying Allah to soften the heart of the lady toward me.
The fifth day found me still without word from her whose love-slave I had become, and in the afternoon I purchased a valuable prayer rug on which were depicted the mihrab—the tree of life—and the hands of Mohammed, the Apostle of Allah, on whom be peace and prayer. This I sent to the lady by messenger.
On the sixth day I sent a bale of valuable hangings, tapestries and silks.
The seventh day arrived without word from my beloved, and I sat behind the curtains in the rear of my shop, leaving my apprentice to attend to all sales. By this time, hope had so far fled me that
