rooms where he lay, feeble and wasted, his color changed, his eyes sunken for lack of food and for much weeping by reason of his love and longing. When she saw him thus she was greatly troubled and knew not what to say. Presently she spoke, saying: "Tell me, what aileth thee, O my brother, that I may do away with the sorrow. I will be thy ransom." And he told his tale with tears.
When his sister heard this she marveled at his eloquence, and said: "O my brother, what hath happened to thee that thou speakest with tears? By our love as brother and sister tell me what aileth thee, tell me thy secret, nor hide aught of that which hath befallen thee during our absence, for I am sorrowful because of thee." Hasan sighed, and his tears fell like rain as he said, "I fear, O my sister, if I tell thee thou wilt not help me to win my wish, but wilt leave me to die in my pain." "Nay," she replied, "I will not leave thee, though it cost me my life." So he told her all that had happened, and how he had conceived a passion for the lady he had seen when he had opened the forbidden door. Then his sister wept and said: "Be of good cheer, O my brother, for though it cost me my life, I will devise means by which thou mayest wed her, if such be the will of Allah Almighty. But keep the matter from my sisters; tell it them not. If they question thee of opening the forbidden door, say 'I opened it not, but I was troubled at your absence and my loneliness in yearning for you!'" And he replied, "Yes; this is
