this uncertainty he resolved to leave it to chance, and therefore, without returning an answer, he went forwards, the lady following him.  Amgrad led her through so many streets, lanes, and alleys, that both grew weary with walking:  at last, however, they came into a street, having a great gate at the end of it, which, being shut, prevented their going further.  The gate, which had a seat on each side of it, belonged to a house fronting the street.  Amgrad sat himself down on one seat to take breath, and the lady, being also much fatigued, seated herself on the other.

She then inquired of the prince, whether the house belonged to him.  Yes, madam, said Amgrad.  Why, then, do not you enter? replied the lady.  Whom do you wait for?  Fair lady, answered the prince, I have not got the key of the gate; I left it with my slave, who, being sent on an errand, is not yet returned:  besides, having been ordered to provide something good for dinner, I am afraid we shall be under the disagreeable necessity of waiting a long time for him.

The prince met with so many difficulties in satisfying her passion, that he began to repent of having undertaken it; he therefore contrived this answer, in hopes that the lady, out of resentment, would have left him, and gone in pursuit of another lover; but he was mistaken.

Your slave is an impertinent fellow, said madam, to stay so long:  when he comes back, I will chastise him myself as he deserves, if you refuse to do it.  It is by no means decent to sit here alone with a man to whom I am an entire stranger.  She then rose, and, taking up a stone, began to force open the lock of the gate, which being only made of wood, after the country manner, was very weak.

Amgrad did all he could to hinder her:  What are you doing, madam? said the prince.  For Heaven’s sake, stay a little!  What are you afraid of? replied the lady; is it not your house?  The breaking of the lock will be no great damage; a new one can be purchased at a trifling expense.  She accordingly broke it open, and entered the house.

Amgrad, when he saw the door forced open, gave himself up as a lost man:  he reflected whether it would be more advisable to go into the house, or to retreat as fast as he could, to avoid the danger which he believed inevitable, and was just going to have recourse to the latter, when the lady returned.

Seeing that he did not enter, Why do not you come into your house? said she.  Fearing we have nothing ready, answered the prince, I am looking to see if my slave is coming.  Come in, come in, said madam; it will be more prudent to wait within doors than without.

Amgrad, though with great reluctance, followed her into the house.  After passing through a spacious court, which had been newly paved, they ascended by several steps into piazzas, which led to a large, open, and well-furnished hall, where he and the lady saw a table ready spread with all sorts of delicate dishes, a side-board heaped with fruit, and a cistern full of bottles of wine.