sick and sorry; whereby her report was bruited abroad in the city and the folk abounded in her praise.  All this while Salim lay in fetters and strait prison, and melancholy gat hold of him by reason of that whereinto he had fallen of this affliction.  At last, when care waxed on him and calamity grew longsome, he fell sick of a sore sickness.  Then the Kitchener, seeing his plight (and verily he was like to sink for much suffering), loosed him from the fetters and bringing him forth of the prison, committed him to an old woman, who had a nose the bigness of a gugglet,[FN#544] and bade her nurse him and medicine him and serve him and entreat him kindly, so haply he might be made whole of that his sickness.  Accordingly the old woman took him and carrying him to her lodging, began nursing him and giving him to eat and drink; and when he was delivered of that torment, he recovered from the malady which had afflicted him.  Now the old woman had heard from the folk of the lady who gave alms to the sick, and indeed the news of her bounties reached both poor and rich; so she arose and bringing out Salim to the door of her house, laid him upon a mat and wrapped him in an Aba-gown and sat over against him.  Presently, it befel that the lady passed by them, and the old woman seeing her rose to her and blessed her, saying, “O my daughter, O thou to whom belong goodness and beneficence and charity and almsdoing,[FN#545] know that this young man is a foreigner, and indeed lack and lice and hunger and nakedness and cold slay him.”  When the lady heard this, she gave her alms and presented her with a part of that which was with her; and indeed her charitable heart inclined to Salim, but she knew him not for her spouse.  The old woman received the alms from her and carrying it to Salim, took part for herself and with the rest bought him an old shirt,[FN#546] in which she clad him, after she had stripped him of that he had on.  Then she threw away the frock she had taken from off him and arising forthwith, washed his body of that which was thereon of grime and scented him with somewhat of scent.  She also bought chickens and made him broth; so he ate and his life returned to him and he abode with her in all comfort of condition till the morrow.  Next morning the old woman said to Salim, “When the lady cometh to thee, arise and buss her hand and say to her, ’I am a homeless man and indeed cold and hunger kill me;’ so haply she may give thee somewhat that thou mayest expend upon thy case.”  And he answered, “To hear is to obey.”  Then she took him by the hand and carrying him without her house, seated him at the door; and as he sat, behold, the lady came up to him, whereupon the old woman rose to her and Salim kissed her hand and, looking at her the while, blessed her.  But when he saw her, he knew her for his wife; so he shrieked and shed tears and groaned and plained, at which she came up to him and threw herself upon him; for indeed she knew him with all knowledge, even as he knew her.