A Message to
Frederick Hankey,
formerly of No. 2, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
My Dear Fred,
If there be such a thing as "continuation," you will see these lines in the farSpirit-land and you will find that your old friend has not forgotten you andAnnie.
Richard F. Burton.
When it was the Seven Hundred and Seventy-seventh Night,
She resumed, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that when the old Queenheard the handmaid's words she was wroth with sore wrath because of her andcried, "How shall there be accord between man and Jinn?" But Sayf al-Mulukreplied, "Indeed, I will conform to thy will and be thy page and die in thylove and will keep with thee covenant and regard non but thee: so right soonshalt thou see my truth and lack of falsehood and the excellence of my manlydealing with thee, Inshallah!" The old woman pondered for a full hour with browearthwards bent; after which she raised her head and said to him, "O thoubeautiful youth, wilt thou indeed keep compact and covenant?" He replied, "Yes,by Him who raised the heavens and dispread the earth upon the waters, I willindeed keep faith and troth!" Thereupon quoth she, "I will win for thee thywish, Inshallah! but for the present go thou into the garden and take thypleasure therein and eat of its fruits, that have neither like in the world norequal, whilst I send for my son Shahyal and confabulate with him of the matter.Nothing but good shall come of it, so Allah please, for he will not gainsay menor disobey my commandment and I will marry thee with his daughter Badi'aal-Jamal. So be of good heart for she shall assuredly be thy wife, O Sayfal-Muluk." The Prince thanked her for those words and kissing her hands andfeet, went forth from her into the garden; whilst she turned to Marjanah andsaid to her, "Go seek my son Shahyal wherever he is and bring him to me." SoMarjanah went out in quest of King Shahyal and found him and set him before hismother. On such wise fared it with them; but as regards Sayf al-Muluk, whilsthe walked in the garden, lo and behold! five Jinn of the people of the BlueKing espied him and said to one another, "Whence cometh yonder wight and whobrought him hither? Haply 'tis he who slew the son and heir of our lord andmaster the Blue King;" presently adding, 'But we will go about with him andquestion him and find out all from him." So they walked gently and softly up tohim, as he sat in a corner of the garden, and sitting down by him,