THE FORTY THIEVES 249

charged me to procure him the honour of your
acquaintance; and I desire you to add _ this
pleasure to those for which I am already in-
debted to you.”

Though it was the sole aim of Khaujeh
Houssain to introduce himself into Ali Baba’s
house, that he might kill him, without hazarding
his own life or making any noise, yet he excused
himself, and offered to take his leave. But a
slave having opened the door, Ali Baba’s son
took him obligingly by the hand, and in a
manner forced him in.

Ali Baba received Khaujeh Houssain with
a smiling countenance, and in the most obliging
manner he could wish. He thanked him for
all the favours he had done his son; adding
withal, the obligation was the greater, as he
was a young man not much acquainted with
the world, and that he might contribute to his
information.

Khaujeh Houssain returned the compliment,
by assuring Ali Baba, that though his son might
not have acquired the experience of older men,
he had good sense equal to the experience of
many others. After a little more conversation
on different subjects, he offered again to take
his leave; when Ali Baba, stopping him, said,