This, then, is what befell Alaeddin with the Maugrabin; but Alaeddin, for all this, was not altogether [FN#625] quit of the accursed enchanter, withal his body had been burned and given to the winds; for that the accursed one had a brother viler than he [and yet more skilled] in magic and geomancy and astrology; [nay, they were even] as saith the proverb, “A bean and it was cloven in twain;” [FN#626] and each dwelt in one quarter of the world, so they might fill it [FN#627] with their sorcery and craft and guile.  It chanced one day that the Maugrabin’s brother was minded to know how it was with his brother; so he fetched his sand-board and smote it and extracted its figures; then he considered them and examining them throughly, found his brother in the house of the tomb; [FN#628] whereat he mourned and was certified that he was indeed dead.  Then he smote the sand a second time, so he might learn how and where he died, and found that he had died in the land of China and by the foulest of deaths and knew that he who slew him was a youth by name Alaeddin.  So he rose at once and equipping himself for travel, set out and traversed plains and deserts and mountains months and months, till he came to the land of China [and entering] the city of the sultanate, wherein was Alaeddin, repaired to the Strangers’ Khan, where he hired him a lodging and rested there a little.

Then he arose to go round about the thoroughfares of the city, that he might spy him out a means of compassing his fell purpose, the which was to take vengeance of his brother on Alaeddin.  So he entered a coffee-house in the market, a mighty fine place whither there resorted great plenty of folk, some to play tables, [FN#629] some draughts [FN#630] and other some chess and what not else.  There he sat down and heard those who sat beside him talk of an old woman, an anchoress, by name Fatimeh, who still abode in her place without the city, serving [God], and came not down into the town but two days in the month, avouching her to be possessed of divine gifts galore. [FN#631] When the Maugrabin enchanter heard this, he said in himself, “Now have I found that which I sought.  An it please God the Most High, I shall achieve my quest by means of this woman.”  So [FN#632] he went up to the folk who were speaking of the devout old woman’s supernatural powers and said to one of them, “O uncle, I hear you talk of the divine gifts of one she-saint, [FN#633] by name Fatimeh.  Who [FN#634] is she and where is her place?” “Wonderful!” cried the man.  “What, thou art in our city and hast not heard of the divine gifts of my Lady [FN#635] Fatimeh?  Apparently, good man, [FN#636] thou art a stranger, since thou hast never chanced to hear of the fasts of this holy woman and her abhorrence of the world and the goodliness of her piety.”  “Ay, my lord,” replied the Maugrabin, “I am indeed a stranger and arrived but yesternight in this your town; wherefore I beseech thee tell me of the divine gifts of this