So the Vizier replied, ’He hath had thwackings, yet is he not deterred from making further attempt on Shagpat.  I think well of him, and I augur hopefully.  Wullahy! the Cadi shall be sent for; I can sleep in his secresy; and he shall perform the ceremonies of betrothal, even now and where we sit, and it shall be for him to write the terms of contract:  so shall we bind the youth firmly to us, and he will be one of us as we are, devoted to the undertaking by three bonds—­the bond of vengeance, the bond of ambition, and that of love.’

Now, so it was that the Vizier despatched a summons for the attendance of the Cadi, and he came and performed between Shibli Bagarag and Noorna bin Noorka ceremonies of betrothal, and wrote terms of contract; and they were witnessed duly by the legal number of witnesses, and so worded that he had no claim on her as wife till such time as the Event to which he bound himself was mastered.  Then the fees being paid, and compliments interchanged, the Vizier exclaimed, ’Be ye happy! and let the weak cling to the strong; and be ye two to one in this world, and no split halves that betray division and stick not together when the gum is heated.’  Then he made a sign to the Cadi and them that had witnessed the contract to follow him, leaving the betrothed ones to their own company.

So when they were alone Noorna gazed on the youth wistfully, and said in a soft tone, ’Thou art dazed with the adventure, O youth!  Surely there is one kiss owing me:  art thou willing?  Am I reduced to beg it of thee?  Or dream’st thou?’

He lifted his head and replied, ‘Even so.’

Thereat he stood up languidly, and went to her and kissed her.  And she smiled and said, ’I wot it will be otherwise, and thou wilt learn swiftness of limb, brightness of eye, and the longing for earthly beatitude, when next I ask thee, O my betrothed!’

Lo! while she spake, new light seemed in her; and it was as if a splendid jewel were struggling to cast its beams through the sides of a crystal vase smeared with dust and old dirt and spinnings of the damp spider.  He was amazed, and cried, ‘How’s this?  What change is passing in thee?’

She said, ’Joy in thy kiss, and that I have ‘scaped Shagpat.’

Then he:  ‘Shagpat?  How? had that wretch claim over thee ere I came?’

But she looked fearfully at the corners of the room and exclaimed, ’Hush, my betrothed! speak not of him in that fashion, ’tis dangerous; and my power cannot keep off his emissaries at all times.’  Then she said, ’O my betrothed, know me a sorceress ensorcelled; not that I seem, but that I shall be!  Wait thou for the time and it will reward thee.  What! thou think’st to have plucked a wrinkled o’erripe fruit,—­a mouldy pomegranate under the branches, a sour tamarind?  ’Tis well!  I say nought, save that time will come, and be thou content.  It is truly as I said, that I have thee between me and Shagpat; and that honoured one of this city thought fit in his presumption to demand me in marriage at the hands of my father, knowing me wise, and knowing the thing that transformed me to this, the abominable fellow!  Surely my father entertained not his proposal save with scorn; but the King looked favourably on it, and it is even now matter of reproach to Feshnavat, my father, that he withholdeth me from Shagpat.’