第273页 / 共1116页

Indeed one of them said to me:-Haply the owner of this mansion

will let us have the key of his stable or some old out house

wherein we may pass this night; for evening had surprised them

and, being strangers in the land, they knew none who would give

them shelter. And, O my sisters, each of them is a figure o' fun

after his own fashion; and if we let them in we shall have matter

to make sport of." She gave not over persuading them till they

said to her, "Let them in, and make thou the usual condition with

them that they speak not of what concerneth them not, lest they

hear what pleaseth them not." So she rejoiced and going to the

door presently returned with the three monoculars whose beards

and mustachios were clean shaven.[FN#168] They salam'd and stood

afar off by way of respect; but the three ladies rose up to them

and welcomed them and wished them joy of their safe arrival and

made them sit down.