"
The lady laughed at the fellow's pleasant humor, and ordered him still
to follow her.
She then went to a druggist's, where she furnished herself with all
manner of sweet-scented waters, cloves, musk, pepper, ginger, and a
great piece of ambergris, and several other Indian spices; this quite
filled the porter's basket and she ordered him to follow her. They
walked till they came to a magnificent house, whose front was adorned
with fine columns, and had a gate of ivory. There they stopped, and
the lady knocked softly. Another lady soon came to open the gate, and
all three, after passing through a handsome vestibule, crossed a
spacious court, surrounded by an open gallery which communicated with
many magnificent apartments, all on the same floor. At the end of this
court there was a dais richly furnished, with a couch in the middle,
supported by four columns of ebony, enriched with diamonds and pearls
of an extraordinary size, and covered with red satin, relieved by a
bordering of Indian gold. In the middle of the court there was a large
basin lined with white marble, and full of the finest transparent
water, which rushed from the mouth of a lion of gilt bronze.
But what principally attracted the attention of the porter, was a
third most beautiful lady, who was seated on the couch before
mentioned. This lady was called Zobeide, she who opened the door was
called Safie, and the name of the one who had been for the provisions
was Amina.
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