human
Art thou a man? said the lady, regarding me intently,
gpt
This loosened my tongue, and I replied,
human
I am a man, as thou art a woman. She answered,
gpt
Yea, I am a woman, and thou art the first man I have seen for a space of twenty-five years, every day and night of which I have spent in this place. How camest thou hither?
human
O my master, thy case is not unlike mine.
gpt
I am the daughter of the King of the Ebony Isles, she said.
human
My father married me to my cousin, but on the night of our wedding an Efrite--a true son of Iblis--appeared, and, snatching me from my husband, carried me through the air to this spot where he had built this palace and filled it with all things necessary to my comfort. And from that night, twenty-five years ago, to the present, I have never seen the outside world. On every tenth day he cometh to me, to leave me on the following morning, but if I desire his instant presence at any time, I have but to press this panel of the wall whereon are inscribed some magic characters, and immediately he appeareth before me. Four days have now passed since he was here, so that there remain six of the ten. Do thou therefore dwell here with me for five days, and depart one day before he cometh.