Part 39 (1/2)
CHAPTER LXVII
Hajji Baba makes a conquest of theof an emir, which at first alarms, but afterwards elates him
I had lived in this s, towards the dusk, retiring fro at the corner of a sazed intensely at me, seemed desirous to speak, looked up every now and then at the latticed s of the house, at the foot of which she had taken post, and then allowed me to pass on
The first ti at the corner of a street being nothing remarkable; but, on the second, I becauard; the third roused allI deterain, to discover what could be her ly I dressed ranted that ood planet, were at work forforth fro step towards theher, when, as I turned the angle of the street that screened me from the s of the coffee-house, of a sudden a lattice of the house before mentioned was thrown open, and an unveiled feht, whose face and for beauty A floas in her hand, which she first held out to my notice, then placed it on her heart, threw it to me, and then shut the lattice in such haste, that the whole scene was like an apparition which had shown itself, and then suddenly disappeared I stood with ently pulled by the sleeve by the old wo it to me as I looked round upon her
?What is this,? said I, ?in the name of the Prophet? Are there Gins and Peris in this land??
?Are you such a novice,? answered the old wo enough, you are not a child, and your dress proclaims that you have travelled; but you have travelled to little purpose, if you know not what a lady ives you an almond flower
?O yes,? said I, ?I know that fistek (almond) rhymes to yastek (pillow); and I also know that two heads upon one pillow have frequently been co enough to reer, and that the heads may be cut off, as well as the kernels sed up?
?Fear nothing,? said reat emotion, ?by the holy Mohamed, we are clean ones, and you despise fortune, if you reject us
Are you an ass, that you should start at a shadow? for such are your fears?
?Tell me then,? said I, ?who is the lady I have just seen, and what am I to do??
?Be not in such a hurry,? answered she; ?nothing can be done to-night, and you must have patience Time and place are not now convenient; but meet me to-morrow at noon, at the cemetery of Eyub, and you will hear all that you wish to know I shall be seated at the foot of the tonize me from any other woman by a red shawl, thrown over o with you!?
Upon this we parted, and I returned to my room in the caravanserai to ru good was in store for me; but I had heard terrible accounts of the jealousy of Turkish husbands, and could not help iht fall a victim to the fury of some much-injured man Zeenab and her tower, Mariam and her Yusuf, Dilaram and her pimple, all the instances of unfortunate loves, came across ht at first have felt in prosecuting this adventure
However, h to carry h reluctantly, to proceed
On the noon of the ensuing day I faithfully kept reen-turbaned toht hand, where I discovered the old woman with her red shawl over her left shoulder We retired from the roadside, and retreated to the shade of soround; where, seated on the ground, with the nificent view of the harbour of Constantinople before us, we calmly entered upon the subject of our conference
She first coain assuredto fear froarrulity of her age, and spoke for so professions of her attachment, and of her desire to serve me; all of which I foresaould ultimately diminish the profits of ress, and requested her at once to let me know the history of the fair lady at the
Divesting her narrative of all her repetitions and circu effect:--
?The lady whohter of a rich Aleppo merchant, who, besides her, had two sons The father died not long ago, and was succeeded in his business by his sons, who are noealthy merchants, and reside in this city My ar-lips, wasto an old but rich e more than one wife at a time, because from experience he knew that he could have no peace at hoe of the per to himself his female companions He was very fond of do, he ht be able to mould her to his wishes, and that she would never thwart hientle and docile creature than my mistress does not exist There was only one point upon which they could never agree, which proved indeed one of the causes of the Emir?s death, which happened soon after She liked tarts made with creaularly for five years they daily at breakfast had a dispute, until, about sixate over estion and died He bequeathed one-fourth of his wealth, the house which you saw, his furniture, his slaves, in short, all that he could leave according to the Mohamedan law, to the fair Shekerleb, now his disconsolateWith the advantages of youth, beauty, and riches, you may be certain that she has not lived without ad wo any new tie, resolving to wait until soht really love, and ould neither be swayed by interest nor a opposite to one of the most fashi+onable coffee-houses in the city, she has had an opportunity of watching those who frequent it; and without a couished you as the handsost them, and indeed, as the man most to her fancy whom she had ever seen My brother,? said the old woman, ?is the owner of the coffee-house, and as the opportunities of seeing him are frequent, I requested him to inquire who you were; and to let me knohat sort of a character you bore His report was such as highly pleased my mistress; and we resolved to endeavour to et acquainted with you You best knoe have succeeded, and noill be able to judge whether I have rendered you a service or not?
Little did I expect to hear such a result when first the old woan her tale I now felt like one who had received his reprieve after conde of walls and s, drawn sciue, I saw nothing before me but riches, ease, and repose from all future care I blessed my star; in short, I held my fortune to be made
I was so transported at what I heard, that I made use of a thousand incoherent expressions to my companion; I protested and vowed eternal love to her mistress, and promised the most liberal remuneration to herself