she arose and condoled with him, saying, ’Allah increase thy recompense for the loss of Abu al-Hasan al-Khali’a!’ And he said to her, ’None is dead save Nuzhat al-Fuad, may thy head outlive her!’ Quoth she, ’’Tis not she who is dead, but Abu al-Hasan al-Khali’a, thy boon-companion.’  And quoth he, ’None is dead save Nuzhat al-Fuad.’  And they waxed so obstinate that the Caliph became wroth and they laid a wager, and he hath sent Masrur the Sworder to see who is dead.  Now, therefore, ’twere best that thou lie down, so he may sight thee and go and acquaint the Caliph and confirm my saying."[FN#70] So Nuzhat al-Fuad stretched herself out and Abu al-Hasan covered her with her mantilla and sat weeping at her head.  Presently, Masrur the eunuch suddenly came in to him and saluted him, and seeing Nuzhat al-Fuad stretched out, uncovered her face and said, “There is no god but God!  Our sister Nuzhat al-Fuad is dead indeed.  How sudden was the stroke of Destiny!  Allah have ruth on thee and acquit thee of all charge!” Then he returned and related what had passed before the Caliph and the Lady Zubaydah, and he laughing as he spoke.  “O accursed one,” cried the Caliph, “this is no time for laughter!  Tell us which is dead of them.”  Masrur replied, “By Allah, O my lord, Abu al-Hasan is well, and none is dead but Nuzhat al-Fuad.”  Quoth the Caliph to Zubaydah, “Thou hast lost thy pavilion in thy play,” and he jeered at her and said, “O Masrur, tell her what thou sawest.”  Quoth the Eunuch, “Verily, O my lady, I ran without ceasing till I came in to Abu al-Hasan in his house and found Nuzhat al-Fuad lying dead and Abu al-Hasan sitting tearful at her head.  I saluted him and condoled with him and sat down by his side and uncovered the face of Nuzhat al-Fuad and saw her dead and her face swollen.[FN#71] So I said to him, ’Carry her out forthwith, so we may pray over her.’  He replied, ‘’Tis well’; and I left him to lay her out and came hither, that I might tell you the news.”  The Prince of True Believers laughed and said, “Tell it again and again to thy lady Little-wits.”  When the Lady Zubaydah heard Masrur’s words and those of the Caliph she was wroth and said, “None is little of wit save he who believeth a black slave.”  And she abused Masrur, whilst the Commander of the Faithful laughed:  and the Eunuch, vexed at this, said to the Caliph, “He spake sooth who said, “Women are little of wits and lack religion."[FN#72] Then said the Lady Zubaydah to the Caliph, “O Commander of the Faithful, thou sportest and jestest with me, and this slave hoodwinketh me, the better to please thee; but I will send and see which of them be dead.”  And he answered, saying, “Send one who shall see which of them is dead.”  So the Lady Zubaydah cried out to an old duenna, and said to her, “Hie thee to the house of Nuzhat al-Fuad in haste and see who is dead and loiter not.”  And she used hard words to her."[FN#73] So the old woman went out running, whilst the Prince of True