ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES. 55

tended merchant was reaily the captain
of the thieves. So one day he asked
Cogia Houssain to do him the honour of
supping, and spending the evening at his
house.

“Sir,” replied Cogia, “I am grateful
_ for your kindness; but I must beg you
to excuse me, and for a reason which
Tam sure you will think sufficient. It is
this; I never eat of any dish that has
salt in it: judge, then, of the figure I
should make at your table.” “If this
be your only reason,” replied Ali Baba,
“it need not prevent your coming to
supper with me. The bread which is
eaten in my house does not contain any
salt; and as for the meat and other
dishes, I promise you there shall be none
in those which are served before you.”

So Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and
desired Morgiana not to put any salt to
the meat she was going to serve for
supper, and also to prepare two or three
dishes of those that he had ordered with-
out any salt.

Morgiana, who was just going to serve
the supper, could not help being annoyed
at this, and making some inquiries of Ali
Baba: ‘‘ Who,” said she, “is this man,
that cannot eat salt? ‘Your supper will