But no one answered her；and she looked about her and said，'Woe is me！they have buried me among the tombs！O Thou who knowest what is in the breasts and who wilt requite at the Day of Resurrection，who hath brought me out from among the screens and curtains of the harem and laid me between four tombs？'All this while Ghanim was standing by： then he said to her，'O my lady，here are neither screens nor curtains nor palaces；only thy bond slave Ghanim ben Eyoub，whom He who knoweth the hidden things hath brought hither，that he night save thee from these perils and accomplish for thee all that thou desirest.'And he was silent. When she saw how the case stoodshe exclaimed，'I testify that there is no god but God and that Mohammed is the Apostle of God！'Then she put her hands to her face and turning to Ghanim，said in a sweet voice，'O blessed youthwho brought me hither！See，I am now come to myself.'O my lady，'replied he，'three black eunuchs came hither，bearing this chest；'and told her all that had happened and how his being belated had proved the means of her preservation from death by suffocation.
Then he asked her who she was and what was her story. 'O youth，'said she'praised be God who hath thrown me into the hands of the like of thee！But now put me back into the chest and go out into the road and hire the first muleteer or horse-letter thou meetestto carry it to thy house. When I am thereall will be well and I will tell thee my story and who am I，and good shall betide thee on my account.'At this he rejoiced and went out into the road. It was now broad day and the folk began to go about the ways： so he hired a muleteer and bringing him to the tomblifted up the chest，in which he had already replaced the young lady，and set it on the mule. Then he fared homeward，rejoicing，for that she was a damsel worth ten thousand dinars and adorned with jewels and apparel of great valueand love for her had fallen on his heart. As soon as he came to the househe carried in the chest and opening ittook out the young ladywho looked about her，and seeing that the place was handsomespread with carpets and decked with gay coloursand noting the stuffs tied up and the bales of goods and what notknew that he was a considerable merchant and a man of wealth. So she uncovered her face and looking at himsaw that he was a handsome young man and loved him. Then said she to him，'O my lord，bring us something to eat.'On my head and eyes，'replied he，and going to the market，bought a roasted lamb，a dish of sweetmeats，dried fruits and wax candles，besides wine and drinking gear and perfumes. With these he returned to the house，and when the damsel saw him，she laughed and kissed and embraced him. Then she fell to caressing him，so that love for her redoubled on him and got the mastery of his heart. They ate and drankeach in love with the otherfor indeed they were alike in age and beauty，till nightfall，when Ghanim rose and lit the lamps and candlestill the place blazed with light；after which he brought the wine-service and set on the banquet. Then they sat down again and began to fill and give each other to drink；and they toyed and laughed and recited verses，whilst joy grew on them and each was engrossed with love of the other，glory be to Him，who uniteth hearts！They ceased not to carouse thus till near upon daybreak，when drowsiness overcame them and they slept where they were till the morning.
Then Ghanim arose and going to the market，bought all that they required in the way of meat and drink and vegetables and what not，with which he returned to the house；and they both sat down and ate till they were satisfied，when he set on wine. They drank and toyed with each othertill their cheeks flushed and their eyes sparkled and Ghanim's soul yearned to kiss the girl and lie with her. So he said to her，'O my ladygrant me a kiss of thy mouth；maybe it will quench the fire of my heart.'O Ghanim，'
replied she，'wait till I am drunk： then steal a kiss from me，so that I may not know thou hast kissed me.'Then she rose and taking off her upper clothes，sat in a shift of fine linen and a silken kerchief. At this，desire stirred in Ghanim and he said to her，'O my mistress，wilt thou not vouchsafe me what I asked of thee！'By Allah，'replied she，'this may not be，for there is a stubborn saying written on the ribbon of my trousers.'Thereupon Ghanim's heart sank and passion grew on him the more that what he sought was hard to get；and he recited the following verses：
I sought of her who caused my pain A kiss to ease me of my woe.
'No，no！'she answered；'hope it not！'And I，'Yes，yes！It shall be so！'
Then said she，smiling，'Take it then，With my consent，before I know.'
And I，'By force！'Not so，'said she： 'I freely it on thee bestow.'
So do not question what befell，But seek God's grace and ask no mo；Think what thou wilt of us；for love Is with suspect made sweet，I trow.
Nor do I reck if，after this，Avowed or secret be the foe.
