Read this excerpt from “the story of the porter and the three ladies” and answer the question.

once upon a time there was a porter in baghdad who was a bachelor and who would remain unmarried. it came to pass on a certain day, as he stood about the street leaning idly upon his crate, behold, there stood before him an honorable woman in a mantilla of mosul silk broidered with gold and bordered with brocade. her walking shoes were also purred with gold, and her hair floated in long plaits. she raised her face veil and, showing two black eyes fringed with jetty lashes, whose glances were soft and languishing and whose perfect beauty was ever blandishing, she accosted the porter and said in the suavest tones and choicest language, "take up thy crate and follow me."

the porter was so dazzled he could hardly believe that he heard her aright, but he shouldered his basket in hot haste, saying in himself, "o day of good luck! o day of allah's grace! " and walked after her till she stopped at the door of a house.

the above excerpt is a good example of the many storytelling devices used in 1001 nights except

a. dialogue

b. recurring theme

c. repetition

d. surprise ending