86 6h. The Story of Ali Baba

to-morrow’s market, and it is now so late that I do not know
where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome to you, do me
the favour to let me pass the night here, and I shall be very much
obliged to you.’

Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the
forest, and had heard him speak, it was impossible for him to
know him in the disguise of an oil-merchant. He told him he
would be welcome, and immediately opened his gates for the
mules to go into the yard. At the same time he called to a
slave, and ordered him, when the mules were unloaded, not only
to put them into the stable, but to give them corn and hay, and
then went to Morgiana, to bid her get a good hot supper for his
guest, and make him a good bed.

To make his guest as welcome as possible, when he saw the
captain had unloaded his mules, that they were put into the stables
as he had ordered, and that he was looking for a place to pass
the night out of doors, he brought him into the hall, telling him
he could not suffer him to remain in the court. The captain
excused himself, on pretence of not being troublesome, but really
to have room to execute his design; and it was not until after the
most pressing importunity that he yielded. Ali Baba, not content
with showing hospitality to the man who had a design on his life,
continued talking with him till supper was ended, and repeated
his offer of service. ede

The captain rose up at the same time,|and=went—awith-him to
the door, and, while~Ali Baba went into the-kitchen to speak to
Morgiana, he went into the yard, under pretence of looking at his
mules. Ali Baba, after charging Morgiana afresh to take great
care of his guest, said to her, ‘To-morrow morning I intend to
go to the baths before dawn. Take care that my bathing linen is
ready, and give it to Abdalla,’ (which was the slave’s name), ‘and
make me some good broth by the time I come back.’ After this
he went to bed.