So I comforted myself and abode in my place two days, unable to rise and leave it; and presently I took courage and went to the bath, for I was worn out with fatigue and troubled in mind for Ali bin Bakkar and Shams al-Nahar, because I had no news of them all this time and could neither get to Ali’s house nor, out of fear for my life, take my rest in mine own.  And I repented to Almighty Allah of what I had done and praised Him for my safety.  Presently my fancy suggested to me to go to such and such a place and see the folk and solace myself; so I went on foot to the cloth-market and sat awhile with a friend of mine there.  When I rose to go, I saw a woman standing over against me; so I looked at her, and lo! it was Shams al-Nahar’s slave-girl.  When I saw her, the world grew dark in my eyes and I hurried on.  She followed me, but I was seized with affright and fled from her, and whenever I looked at her, a trembling came upon me whilst she pursued me, saying.  ’Stop, that I may tell thee somewhat!’ But I heeded her not and never ceased walking till I reached a mosque, and she entered after me.  I prayed a two-bow prayer, after which I turned to her and, sighing, said, ‘What cost thou want?’ She asked me how I did, and I told her all that had befallen myself and Ali bin Bakkar and besought her for news of herself.  She answered, ’Know that when I saw the robbers break open thy door and rush in, I was in sore terror, for I doubted not but that they were the Caliph’s officers and would seize me and my mistress and we should perish forthwith:  so we fled over the roofs, I and the maids; and, casting ourselves down from a high place, came upon some people with whom we took refuge; and they received us and brought us to the palace of the Caliphate, where we arrived in the sorriest of plights.  We concealed our case and abode on coals of fire till nightfall, when I opened the river-gate and, calling the boatman who had carried us the night before, said to him, ’I know not what is become of my mistress; so take me in the boat, that we may go seek her on the river:  haply I shall chance on some news of her.  Accordingly he took me into the boat and went about with me and ceased not wending till midnight, when I spied a barque making towards the water gate, with one man rowing and another standing up and a woman lying prostrate between them twain.  And they rowed on till they reached the shore when the woman landed, and I looked at her, and behold, it was Shams al-Nahar.  Thereupon I got out and joined her, dazed for joy to see her after having lost all hopes of finding her alive.’” —­And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.

       When it was the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Night,