I answered her, `O my mistress! a business of great importance.'

`Explain yourself, and I will see whether I can help you,' she said.

`I shall not speak to you about it until the door is locked,' I answered.

`Your boldness today is very great,' she said.

And I, `True, O my mistress! boldness is one of my qualities.'

She then addressed me thus, `O enemy of yourself! O you most miserable of your race! If I were to lock the door, and you have nothing wherewith to satisfy my desires, what should I do with you? face of a Jew!'

`You will let me share your couch, and grant me your favours.

She began to laugh; and after we had entered the house, she told a slave to lock the house door. As usual, I asked her to respond to my proposals; she then recited to me again the above-mentioned verses. When she had finished I began to recite to her those which Abou Nouass had taught me.

As I proceeded I saw her more and more moved, I observed her giving way to yawns, to stretch herself, to sigh. I knew now I should arrive at the desired result. When I had finished, my member was in such a state of erection that it became like a pillar, still lengthening. When Fadehat el Djemal saw it in that condition she precipitated herself upon it' took it into her hands, and drew it towards her thighs. I then said, `O apple of my eyes! this may not be done here, let us go into your chamber.'

She replied, `Leave me alone, O son of a debauched woman! Before God! I am losing my senses in seeing your member getting longer and longer, and lifting your robe. Oh, what a member! I never saw a finer one! Let it penetrate into this delicious, plump vulva, which maddens all who hear it described; for the sake of which so many have died of love; and of which your superiors and masters themselves have not been able to get possession.'

I repeated, `I shall not do it anywhere else than in your chamber.'

She answered, `If you do not enter this minute this tender vulva, I shall die.'

As I still insisted upon repairing to her room, she cried, `No, it is quite impossible; I cannot wait so long!'

I saw in fact her lips tremble, her eyes filling with tears. A general tremor ran over her, she changed colour, and laid herself down upon her back, baring her thighs, the whiteness of which made her flesh appear like crystal tinged with carmine.

Then I examined her vulva - a white cupola with a purple centre, soft and charming. It opened like that of a mare on the approach of a stallion.

At that moment she seized my member and kissed it, saying, `By the religion of my father! it must penetrate into my vulva!' and drawing nearer to me she pulled it towards her vagina.

I now hesitated no longer to assist her with my member, and placed it against the entrance to her vulva. As soon as the head of my member touched the lips, the whole body of Fadehat el Djemal trembled with excitement. Sighing and sobbing, she held me pressed to her bosom.