Then she threw the lute from her hand and shed tears till she drew tears from the Lady Zubaydah who said to her, “O Sitt al-Milah, he whom thou lovest methinks is not in this world, for the Commander of the Faithful hath sought him in every place, but hath not found him.” Whereupon the damsel arose and kissing the Princess’s hands, said to her, “O my lady, an thou wouldst have him found, I have this night a request to make whereby thou mayst win my need with the Caliph.” Quoth the Lady, “And what is it;” and quoth Sitt al-Milah, “’Tis that thou get me leave to fare forth by myself and go round about in quest of him three days, for the adage saith, Whoso keeneth for herself is not like whoso is hired to keen![315] An if I find him, I will bring him before the Commander of the Faithful, so he may do with us what he will, and if I find him not, I shall be cut off from hope of him and the heat of that which is with me will be cooled.” Quoth the Lady Zubaydah, “I will not get thee leave from him but for a whole month; so be of good cheer and eyes cool and clear.” Whereat Sitt al-Milah rejoiced and rising, kissed ground before her once more and went away to her own place, and right glad was she. As for Zubaydah, she went in to the Caliph and talked with him awhile; then she fell to kissing him between the eyes and on his hand and asked him for that which she had promised to Sitt al-Milah, saying, “O Commander of the Faithful, I doubt me her lord is not found in this world; but, an she go about seeking him and find him not, her hopes will be cut off and her mind will be set at rest and she will sport and laugh; and indeed while she nourisheth hope, she will never take the right direction.” And she ceased not cajoling him till he gave Sitt al-Milah leave to fare forth and make search for her lord a month’s space and ordered her a riding-mule and an eunuch to attend her and bade the privy purse give her all she needed, were it a thousand dirhams a day or even more. So the Lady Zubaydah arose and returning to her palace bade summon Sitt al-Milah and, as soon as she came, acquainted her with that which had passed; whereupon she kissed her hand and thanked her and called down blessings on her. Then she took leave of the Princess and veiling her face with a mask[316], disguised herself;[317] after which she mounted the she-mule and sallying forth, went round about seeking her lord in the highways of Baghdad three days’ space, but happed on no tidings of him; and on the fourth day, she rode forth without the city. Now it was the noon-hour and fierce was the heat, and she was aweary and thirst came upon her. Presently, she reached the mosque of the Shaykh who had lodged the young Damascene, and dismounting at the door, said to the old Muezzin, “O Shaykh, hast thou a draught of cold water? Verily, I am overcome with heat and thirst.” Said he, “’Tis with me in my house.” So he carried her up into his lodging and spreading her a carpet, seated