第76章 KEMEREZZEMAN AND BUDOUR.(38)

However，when she was weary of waiting，she said，O my lord，thy servant tarries long；and here are we waiting in the street.'

And she took a stone and went up to the lock.'Be not in haste，said Amjed；but have patience till the servant comes.'However，she hearkened not to him，but smote the lock with the stone and broke it in half，whereupon the door opened.Quoth he，What possessed thee to do this？Pooh，pooh，my lord！' answered she.

What matters it？Is not the house thine？Yes，'said he；but there was no need to break the lock.'Then she entered，leaving Amjed confounded and knowing not what to do for fear of the people of the house；but she said to him，Why dost thou not enter，O light of mine eyes and darling of my heart？I hear and obey，'answered he；but my servant tarries long upon me and I know not if he have done aught of what I bade him or not.'So saying，he entered，sore in fear of the people of the house，and found himself in a handsome saloon，full of buffets and niches and settles，furnished with stuffs of silk and brocade.It had four raised recesses，each facing other，and in the midst was a fountain of costly fashion，on whose margin stood a covered tray （of meats），with a leather table-cloth hanging up and dishes set with jewels，full of fruits and sweet-scented flowers.Hard by stood drinking vessels and a candlestick with a candle therein.

The place was full of precious stuffs，and therein were chests and stools set，on each of which latter lay a parcel of clothes and a purse full of gold and silver.The floor was paved with marble and the house bore witness in every part to its owners fortune.When Amjed saw all this，he was confounded and said in himself，I am a lost man！Verily，we are Gods and to God we return！'As for the lady，she was transported at what she saw and said to him，By Allah，O my lord，thy servant has not failed of his duty；for see，he has swept the place and cooked the meat and set on the fruit；and indeed I come at the best of times.'

But he paid no heed to her，his heart being taken up with fear of the people of the house；and she said，Fie，O my lord，O my heart！What ails thee to stand thus？Then she sighed and giving him a kiss，that sounded like the cracking of a walnut，said，O my lord，and thou have bidden other than me，I will gird my middle and serve her and thee.'Amjed laughed from an angerful heart and sat down，panting and saying in himself，Alack，how I shall smart for it，when the owner of the house returns！'She seated herself by him and fell to jesting and laughing，whilst he sat careful and frowning，thinking a thousand thoughts and saying in himself，The master of the house will surely come and what shall I say to him？He will assuredly kill me without mercy.'Presently，she rose and tucking up her sleeves，took a table，on which she laid the cloth and the tray of food；then set it before Amjed and began to eat，saying，Eat，O my lord.'So he came forward and ate；but the food was not pleasant to him and he ceased not to look towards the door，till the lady had eaten her fill，when she took away the meats and setting on the dessert，fell to eating of the dried fruits.Then she brought the wine-service and opening the jar，filled a cup and gave it to Amjed，who took it，saying in himself，Alas！

what will become of me，when the master of the house comes and sees me！'Presently，as he sat，with the cup in his hand and his eyes fixed on the vestibule，in came the master of the house，who was one of the chief men of the city，being Master of the Horse to the King.He had fitted up this house for his privy pleasures，that he might make merry therein and be private with whom he would，and had that day bidden one whom he loved and had made this entertainment for him.When，therefore，this man （whose name was Behadir and who was a kindly，liberal and open-handed man） came thither and found the door open and the lock broken，he entered softly and putting in his head at the door of the saloon，saw Amjed and the lady sitting，with the dish of fruit and the wine-jar before them.Amjed at that moment had the cup in his hand and his face turned to the door；and when his eyes met Behadirs，he turned pale and trembled in every nerve.

Behadir，seeing his trouble，signed to him，with his finger on his lips，as who should say，Be silent and come hither to me.'

So he set down the cup and rose，whereupon quoth the lady，Whither away？He shook his head and signing to her that he wished to make water，went out into the corridor，barefoot.When he saw Behadir，he knew him for the master of the house；so he hastened to him and kissing his hands，said to him，God on thee，O my lord，before thou do me any hurt，hear what I have to say.'

Then he told him who he was and what caused him leave his native land and royal state，and how he had not entered his house of his free will，but that it was the lady who had broken the lock and done all this.When Behadir heard his story and knew that he was a kings son，he inclined to him and taking compassion on him，said to him，O Amjed，hearken to me and do what I bid thee，and I will ensure thee safety from that thou fearest；but，if thou cross me，I will kill thee.'Command me as thou wilt，'answered Amjed.'I will not gainsay thee in aught，for I am the freedman of thy bounty.'Then go back forthright into the saloon，rejoined Behadir，and sit down in thy place and take thine ease.

I will presently come in to thee，and when thou seest me （now my name is Behadir） do thou revile me and rail at me，saying，'Why hast thou tarried till now？'And accept no excuse from me，but rise and beat me；and if thou spare me，I will do away thy life.