grain.'

Now, Kadza laughed a loose laugh, and jeered at Noorna, crying, 'Danger
to Shagpat! he that's attended by Genii, and watched over by the greatest
of them, day and night incessantly?'

And Noorna said, 'I ask pardon of the Power that seeth, and of thee, if I
be wrong. Wah! am I not also of them that watch over Shagpat? So then
let thou and I go into the palace and examine the doings of this
deputation and this dish of pomegranate grain.'

Now, Kadza remembered the scene on the roofs of the Vizier Feshnavat, and
relaxed in her look of suspicion, and said, ''Tis well! Let's in to
them.'

Thereupon the twain threaded through the crowd and locked at the portals
of the palace, and it was opened to them and they entered, and lo! the
hand that opened the portals was the hand of a slave of the Sword, and
against corners of the Court leaned slaves silly with slumber. So Kadza
went up to them, and beat them, and shook them, and they yawned and
mumbled, 'Excellent grain! good grain! the grain of Shiraz!' And she
beat them with what might was hers, till some fell sideways and some
forward, still mumbling, 'Excellent pomegranate grain!' Kadza was beside
herself with anger and vexation at them, tearing them and cuffing them;
but Noorna cried, 'O Kadza! what said I? there's danger to Shagpat in
this dish of pomegranate grain! and what's that saying:

"'Tis much against the Master's wish
That slaves too greatly praise his dish."