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I felt my very soul going with her; so I stood up and stayed her,

saying, "I conjure thee by the Lord, O my lady, favour me by

retracing thy gracious steps." She turned back with a smile and

said, "For thy sake I return," and took a seat opposite me in the

shop. Then quoth I to Badr al-Din, "What is the price they asked

thee for this piece?"; and quoth he, "Eleven hundred dirhams." I

rejoined, "The odd hundred shall be thy profit: bring me a sheet

of paper and I will write thee a discharge for it." Then I wrote

him a receipt in my own handwriting and gave the piece to the

lady, saying, "Take it away with thee and, if thou wilt, bring me

its price next bazar day; or better still, accept it as my guest

gift to thee." "Allah requite thee with good," answered she, "and

make thee my husband and lord and master of all I have!"[FN#523]

And Allah favoured her prayer.