prayed:[FN#307] then she brought out a rosary and began to tell her beads thereon, and the damsel said to her, “Whence comest thou, O pilgrimess?"[FN#308] Said she, “From visiting the Idol of the Absent in such a church.[FN#309] There standeth up no woman before him,[FN#310] who hath a distant friend and discloseth to him her desire, but he acquainteth her with her case and giveth her news of her absent one.”  Said the damsel, “O pilgrimess, we have an absent one, and my lord’s heart cleaveth to him and I desire to go question the Idol of him.”  Quoth the crone, “Do thou wait till to-morrow and ask leave of thy spouse, and I will come to thee and fare with thee in weal and welfare.”  Then she went away, and when the girl’s master came, she sought his permission to go with the old trot, and he gave her leave.  So the beldame came and took her and carried her to the king’s door, she, unknowing whither she went.  The damsel entered with her and beheld a goodly house and decorated apartments which were no idol’s chamber.  Then came the king and seeing her beauty and loveliness, went up to her to buss her; whereupon she fell down in a fainting fit and struck out with her hands and feet.[FN#311] When he saw this, he held aloof from her in ruth and left her; but the matter was grievous to her and she refused meat and drink, and as often as the king drew near to her, she fled from him in fear, so he swore by Allah that he would not approach her save with her consent and fell to presenting her with ornaments and raiment; but her aversion to him only increased.  Meanwhile, the youth her master abode expecting her; but she returned not and his heart already tasted the bitter draught of separation; so he went forth at hap-hazard, distracted and knowing not what he should do, and began strewing dust upon his head and crying out, “The old woman hath taken her and gone away!” The little boys followed him with stones and pelted him, crying, “A madman!  A madman!” Presently, the king’s Chamberlain, who was a personage of years and worth, met him, and when he saw this youth, he forbade the boys and drave them away from him, after which he accosted him and asked him of his affair.  So he told him his tale and the Chamberlain said to him, “Fear not!  I will deliver thy slavegirl for thee; so calm thy concern.”  And he went on to speak him fair and comfort him, till he had firm reliance on his word.  Then he carried him to his home and stripping him of his clothes, clad him in rags; after which he called an old woman, who was his housekeeper,[FN#312] and said to her, “Take this youth and bind on his neck yon iron chain and go round about with him in all the great thoroughfares of the city, and when thou hast done this, go up with him to the palace of the king.”  And he said to the youth, “In whatsoever stead thou seest the damsel, speak not a syllable, but acquaint me with her place and thou shalt owe her deliverance to none save to me.”  The youth thanked him and went with the old woman