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He threw a wink at Ja'afar wishing him to ask, but; the Minister

turning towards him said by signs, "Be silent!" Then quoth the

portress to the mistress of the house, "O my lady, arise and go

to thy place that I in turn may do my devoir."[FN#176] She

answered, "Even so"; and, taking her seat upon the couch of

juniper wood, pargetted with gold and silver, said to the

portress and cateress, "Now do ye what ye have to do." Thereupon

the portress sat upon a low seat by the couch side; but the

procuratrix, entering a closet, brought out of it a bag of satin

with green fringes and two tassels of gold. She stood up before

the lady of the house and shaking the bag drew out from it a lute

which she tuned by tightening its pegs; and when it was in

perfect order, she began to sing these quatrains:-