“Oh, Ghandûr, where hast thou been?”⁠—“I have a new tarbush.”⁠—“The bitch beneath our windows has five puppies⁠—blind, by Allah’s mercy! Come and see!”⁠—“My doll! Like a daughter of Adam⁠—a bride arrayed⁠—a virgin⁠—almost a sin for thee to look on! Come and see!”

Half weeping as he was, Ghandûr responded; and, unaware of his preoccupation, the children led him towards the women’s doorway.

“Go in as far as to the second screen⁠—no farther!” said the eunuch there on guard.

Ghandûr was careful to obey; but his attendant imps, regarding all authority as ground for sport, banded together suddenly and dragged him on. He shook them off and drew back quickly; the eunuch came and scattered them with swishing cane; and then the children, tumbling over one another, began to fight among themselves with fearful insults.

“By my maidenhood, I swear to kill thee and devour thy liver!” screamed out a girl of eight to a small boy who pushed against her.