And it went and it went through the forest and wilderness, till it arrived at a town full of fine houses. At the end of the chief road was a great house, beautiful exceedingly, built of sapphire and turquoise and marbles. ‘That,’ thought the gazelle, ‘is the house for my master, and I will call up my courage and go and look at the people who are in it, if any people there are. For in this town have I as yet seen no people. If I die, I die, and if I live, I live. Here can I think of no plan, so if anything is to kill me, it will kill me.’
Then it knocked twice at the door, and cried ‘Open,’ but no one answered. And it cried again, and a voice replied:
‘Who are you that are crying “Open”?’
And the gazelle said, ‘It is I, great mistress, your grandchild.’
‘If you are my grandchild,’ returned the voice, ‘go back whence you came. Don’t come and die here, and bring me to my death as well.’
‘Open, mistress, I entreat, I have something to say to you.’
‘Grandchild,’ replied she, ‘I fear to put your life in danger, and my own too.’
‘Oh, mistress, my life will not be lost, nor yours either; open, I pray you.’ So she opened the door.
‘What is the news where you come from, my grandson,’ asked she.
‘Great lady, where I come from it is well, and with you it is well.’