I hesitated, for I had heard strange stories of lures spread for unwary persons--how they were enticed into houses for the gratification of wicked women, and then murdered. But the thought was only momentary. "Courage! Ameer Ali," said I to myself; "trust to your good Nusseeb, and follow it up. Inshalla! there will be some fun." "Look you," said I to the girl, "you see I am well armed; I will follow you, but if violence is shown, those who oppose me will feel the edge of a sharp sword." "I swear by your head," said the girl, "there is no danger. My lord is gone into the country, and has taken all the men with him; there is no one in the house beside myself but two slaves and three old women." "Then lead on," said I; "I follow you." She entered the gateway and conducted me through a court into an open room, where sat a girl, richly dressed and of great beauty; but she covered herself immediately with her dooputta, and cried when she saw me, "Ya Alla! it is he; am I so fortunate?" "Yes, lady," said I, "your slave is at your feet, and prays you to remove that veil which hides a hoori of paradise from the gaze of a true believer." "Go," said she faintly; "now that you are here I dare not look on you; go, in the name of Alla! what will you not have thought of me?" "That your slave is the most favoured of his race," said I; "I beseech you to look on me, and then bid me depart if you will." "I cannot," said the fair girl, "I cannot, I dare not; ah, nurse, what have you made me do?" The old woman made me a sign to take the veil from her face, and I did so gently: she faintly opposed me, but it was in vain; in an instant I had removed it, and a pair of the loveliest eyes I had ever seen fixed their trembling gaze upon me--another, and I had clasped her to my heart. "That is right," said the old woman; "I like to see some spirit in a lover; Mashalla! he is a noble youth;" and she came and cracked her fingers over my head. "Now I will leave you," said she; "you have a great deal to say to each other, and the night is wearing fast." "No, no, no!" cried the girl; "do not leave us; stay, good nurse, I dare not trust myself with him alone." "Nonsense," cried the old woman, "this is foolishness; do not mind her, noble sir;" and she left the room. "Lady," said I, "fear not, your slave may be trusted;" and I removed from her, and sat down at the edge of the carpet. "I know not what you will think of me, Sahib," she said, "and I am at a loss how to confess that I was enamoured of you as I saw you pass my house yesterday; but so it was; my liver turned to water as I looked on your beauty, and I pined for you till my attendants thought I should have died. They said they would watch for you, and Alla has heard my prayer and sent you." "He has sent a devoted slave," said I; "one whose soul burns with love, such as that of the bulbul to the rose: speak, and I will do your bidding."