She asked me how I did，and I told her all that had befallen myself and Ali bin Bakkar and besought her for news of herself. She answered，'Know that when I saw the robbers break open thy door and rush in，I was in sore terror，for I doubted not but that they were the Caliph's officers and would seize me and my mistress and we should perish forthwith： so we fled over the roofs，I and the maids； and，casting ourselves down from a high place，came upon some people with whom we took refuge； and they received us and brought us to the palace of the Caliphate，where we arrived in the sorriest of plights. We concealed our case and abode on coals of fire till nightfall，when I opened the rivergate and，calling the boatman who had carried us the night before，said to him，'I know not what is become of my mistress； so take me in the boat，that we may go seek her on the river： haply I shall chance on some news of her. Accordingly he took me into the boat and went about with me and ceased not wending till midnight，when I spied a barque making towards the water gate，with one man rowing and another standing up and a woman lying prostrate between them twain. And they rowed on till they reached the shore when the woman landed，and I looked at her，and behold，it was Shams alNahar. Thereupon I got out and joined her，dazed for joy to see her after having lost all hopes of finding her alive.''And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased saying her permitted say.
When it was the One Hundred and Sixtysixth Night，She said，It hath reached me，O auspicious King，that the slavegirl went on telling the jeweller，''I was dazed for joy to see her，after having lost all hopes of finding her alive. When I
came up to her，she bade me give the man who had brought her thither a thousand gold pieces； and we carried her in，I and the two maids，and laid her on her bed； where she passed that night in a sorely troubled state； and，when morning dawned，I forbade the women and eunuchs to go in to her，or even to draw near her for the whole of that day； but on the next she revived and somewhat recovered and I found her as if she had come out of her grave. I sprinkled rosewater upon her face and changed her clothes and washed her hands and feet； nor did I cease to coax her，till I brought her to eat a little and drink some wine，though she had no mind to any such matter. As soon as she had breathed the fresh air and strength began to return to her，I took to upbraiding her，saying，'O my lady，consider and have pity on thyself； thou seest what hath betided us： surely，enough and more than enough of evil hath befallen thee； for indeed thou hast been nigh upon death. She said，'By Allah，O good damsel，in sooth death were easier to me than what hath betided me； for it seemed as though I should be slain and no power could save me.
When the robbers took us from the jeweller's house they asked me，Who mayest thou be？ and hearing my answer，'I am a singing girl，they believed me. Then they turned to Ali bin Bakkar and made enquiries about him，'And who art thou and what is thy condition？； whereto he replied，'I am of the common kind. So they took us and carried us along，without our resisting，to their abode； and we hurried on with them for excess of fear； but when they had us set down with them in the house，they looked hard at me and seeing the clothes I wore and my necklaces and jewellery，believed not my account of myself and said to me，'Of a truth these necklaces belong to no singinggirl； so be soothfast and tell us the truth of thy case. I returned them no answer whatever，saying in my mind，'Now will they slay me for the sake of my apparel and ornaments； and I spoke not a word. Then the villains turned to Ali bin Bakkar，asking，'And thou，who art thou and whence art thou？ for thy semblance seemeth not as that of the common kind. But he was silent and we ceased not to keep our counsel and to weep，till Allah softened the rogues' hearts to pity and they said to us，'Who is the owner of the house wherein we were？' We answered，'Such an one，the jeweller；whereupon quoth one of them，'I know him right well and I wot the other house where he liveth and I will engage to bring him to you this very hour. Then they agreed to set me in a place by myself and Ali bin Bakkar in a place by himself，and said to us，'Be at rest ye twain and fear not lest your secret be divulged； ye are safe from us. Meanwhile their comrade went away and returned with the jeweller，who made known to them our case，and we joined company with him； after which a man of the band fetched a barque，wherein they embarked us all three and，rowing us over the river，landed us with scant ceremony on the opposite bank and went their ways. Thereupon up came a horsepatrol and asked us who we were；so I spoke with the Captain of the watch and said to him，'I am Shams alNahar，the Caliph's favourite； I had drunken strong wine and went out to visit certain of my acquaintance of the wives of the Wazirs，when yonder rogues came upon me and laid hold of me and brought me to this place； but when they saw you，they fled as fast as they could. I met these men with them： so do thou escort me and them to a place of safety and I will requite thee as I am well able to do. When the Captain of the watch heard my speech，he knew me and alighting，mounted me on his horse； and in like manner did two of his men with Ali bin Bakkar. So I spoke to her'
（continued the handmaid） 'and blamed her doings，and bade her beware，and said to her，'O my lady，have some care for thy life！' But she was angered at my words and cried out at me；accordingly I left her and came forth in quest of thee，but found thee not and dared not go to the house of Ali bin Bakkar； so stood watching for thee，that I might ask thee of him and wot how it goes with him. And I pray thee，of thy favour，to take of me some money，for thou hast doubtless borrowed from thy friends part of the gear and as it is lost，it behoveth thee to make it good with folk.' I replied，'To hear is to obey！ go on；' and I walked with her till we drew near my house，when she said to me，'Wait here till I come back to thee.''And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
