When Alia, upheld by her father, had drunk of it, she licked her lips and fell back upon the pillows.
“Art content?” whispered Shems-ud-dìn, bending over her.
“It is rest,” she murmured faintly, with closed eyes.
CHAPTER IX
It was the third hour after noon when Shems-ud-dìn, by the help of Zeyd ebn Abbâs, made his way to the khan, whither Shibli and the Circassians had gone before. Mâs had begged permission to remain in the house of the Frank, having discovered in the aged doorkeeper a kindred spirit and compatriot. And Shems-ud-dìn was glad to leave him within call of Alia.
At the khan they found two of the Circassians kicking their heels in the dark entry with the mien of unwilling idlers. At sight of Shems-ud-dìn their faces brightened. They asked leave to rejoin their chief, who, with the rest of his men and young Shibli, was gone forth to view the city. They had been left behind only to make report to the sheykh that all was well, and the beasts safely stabled.
“Is my donkey also safe?” asked Zeyd, with more of curiosity than concern.