months, till he came to the land of
China [and entering] the city of the sultanate, wherein was Alaeddin,
repaired to the Strangers' Khan, where he hired him a lodging and rested
there a little.

Then he arose to go round about the thoroughfares of the city, that he
might spy him out a means of compassing his fell purpose, the which
was to take vengeance of his brother on Alaeddin. So he entered a
coffee-house in the market, a mighty fine place whither there resorted
great plenty of folk, some to play tables, [629] some draughts [630] and
other some chess and what not else. There he sat down and heard those
who sat beside him talk of an old woman, an anchoress, by name Fatimeh,
who still abode in her place without the city, serving [God], and came
not down into the town but two days in the month, avouching her to be
possessed of divine gifts galore. [631] When the Maugrabin enchanter
heard this, he said in himself, "Now have I found that which I sought.
An it please God the Most High, I shall achieve my quest by means of
this woman." So [632] he went up to the folk who were speaking of the
devout old woman's supernatural powers and said to one of them, "O
uncle, I hear you talk of the divine gifts of one she-saint, [633] by
name Fatimeh. Who [634] is she and where is her place?" "Wonderful!"
cried the man. "What, thou art in our city and hast not heard of the
divine gifts of my Lady [635] Fatimeh? Apparently, good man, [636] thou
art a stranger, since thou hast never chanced to hear of the fasts of
this holy woman and her abhorrence of the world and the goodliness
of her piety." "Ay, my lord," replied the Maugrabin, "I am indeed a
stranger and arrived but yesternight in this your town; wherefore I
beseech thee tell me of the divine gifts of this holy woman and where
her place is, for that I have fallen into a calamity and would fain go
to her and crave her of prayer, so haply God (to whom belong might and
majesty) may deliver me from my stress, by means of her intercession."
The man accordingly told him of the divine gifts of the holy woman
Fatimeh and her piety and the excellence of her devotion; then, taking
him by the hand, he carried him without the city and showed him the way
to her abiding-place, which was in a cavern on the top of a little hill;
whereupon the Maugrabin thanked him amain for his kindness [636] and
returned to his place in the Khan.

Now, by the decree of destiny, Fatimeh came down on the morrow t